Triumphrat

Bhakti-rider · 01-17-2006

MES:

I had a steering damper installed on my SV650 because it had a tendency to shake its head sometimes, like hard acceleration at 3rd or 4th gear speeds. It made a noticeable difference, and I was and am glad I did it.

On the T100, though, I've never experienced the least bit of head shake. It makes me wonder what people who want a steering damper on their Bonnie are experiencing. Are you having some instability? If so, under what conditions?

dazco · 01-17-2006

I too didn't find the stock rears too bad as far as handling. But what i did find to be a huge improvment was rough surfaces. Thats where the progs made the difference. But a big part of it was probably the speedy's cruiser position which literally could hurt your spine when you hit a pothole with the stockers. A few time it really hurt to the point i was afraid i might have injured my back. the progs eleiminated that and also made the generally rough areas smoother. they also improved handling tho that alone wouldn't have been enough to make them necassarily worth buying unless you could easily afford them. so i can see how with a bonnie which has the standard seating/leg position they wouldn't be real necassary. On mine thi i had to have them if for no other reason than potholes. But you do get the other perks along with that.

MES · 01-17-2006

Quote:

On the T100, though, I've never experienced the least bit of head shake. It makes me wonder what people who want a steering damper on their Bonnie are experiencing. Are you having some instability? If so, under what conditions?

It is only a problem at speed through the twistys.
No head shake here. More like the There is not enough Resistance in the front end. If I move my elbows or shoulders the least little bit it transfers straight to the bars and I'm off line semi-instantly. The whole front end just feels "lite" like I should only be using 2 fingers to steer the thing. It's not like I'm stiff-arming it through the corners either.
The best way to describe the feeling is this: after a hard days work when you first take off your work boots the first couple of steps you take it feels like your feet fly off the ground and your knees are going to hit your chin.
well that is how it feels.
I'm probably just not used to having to be that gentle with my in-puts.
I'm making a real effort to work on this. Better really that I should come to the bike and not make it come to me.
Subtle really isn't my forte'. But if you ever need to move a refrigerator, I'm your man.

ssjones · 01-17-2006

Quote:

On 2006-01-17 10:58, dazco wrote:
You might find the progressive 440's to be a good shock for you in this case. They have a patented system that opens a valve when it senses rough surfaces and allows oil to flow faster creating a softer setting. then when the surface is normal the valve closes making for a stiffer feel. Seems to work.

I learned the "Hagon lesson", cost me $80 in a restocking fee with Bella Corse. Al always, you get what you pay for. I invested in a set of Progressive 440 IAS shocks and found them to be much more complaint (and my rear pipes no longer drag...). Just ordered the Progessive springs on Monday.

rodburner · 01-17-2006

This could be the start of something big.I have a brand new set of stock Bonnie recall replacement shocks.Never mounted,still in plastic. Will entertain offers over $500.usd. :-D Pat,thanks for the info update. My Nitros are working OK,but now I won`t be afraid to go WAY less than the recommended settings. I`ve said it before and now I feel somewhat vindicated,that the Nitro`s are race bike shocks first and foremost. My Ikon fork springs work great after I dumped the 20w and refilled with stock 10w.By looking at the sliders, it seems to be getting more travel than before too. [maybe the 20w was too thick to use full travel before rebounding?] Don`t kick yourself too much,I have TWO sets of Nitro`s,340mm and 310mm

:-D

FattRat · 01-17-2006

I had/(have?) head shake.

BEFORE my visit to Lindemann Engineering, it was a given that when I sit up and adjusted my gloves, pull at my jacket, and settle into my seating position..... all the while with my hands off the handlebars, my front-end would shimmy as I decelerated while mucking about. It did this more often than not at speeds under 50 mph. I used to think it was my cold tires, not yet warmed and not yet pliable to the road's surface..... when I dismissed that, I used to think it was my front tire, a scalloped Battlax with more than 5,000 miles on it. And then there were occasions when my front-end would wiggle at higher speeds.... but NEVER while my hands were on the handlebar.

More disturbing still, my front end has always acted like that BOTH before AND after replacing the springs and fluid in my tubes! I was SURE that when I spent all that money on progressive springs, after-market shocks, a fork brace, and a lucky rabbit's foot hanging from the handlebars, that the shake, the shimmy, and the rock'n roll of my front end would be exorcised. It wasn't.

Then Lindemanns added a 15mm spacer: He had this slide rule / dip stick thingy, that he used to calculate the appropriate fluid level. But first he had me tilt all the weight off the front wheel while he took a measurement, then he took another reading..... he instructed me to sit on the bike (feet on pegs) and bounce the front end a bit, and he took another measurement. We did this a few times until he concluded that my spring/spacer was about 20mm too short. Then he took the spring out and studied it..... and frowned. Long story made short, he relieved each of the tubes of some of their fluid, compromised with a 15mm spacer, commented that the fluid was the wrong weight, and that the springs were too short and too stiff.

My ride home with the new spacer in place seemed to have arrested some of the head shake I had grown accustom to, though I can't be too certain as most of my 100 mile home was at higher speeds. The bike DID feel more solid on the freeway in a straight line though.

Apparently I bought my Hagon progressive springs over the phone from the distributor who sells to our popular vendors that we all know & love from the site here. I have no idea how I ended up dealing with him instead of newbonneville or bellacorse, but there I was on the phone with him, making a long thought out purchase with HIS 'help'........ and I believe it's possible the guy sold me the wrong springs. What concerns me, is that others beside myself are complaining of head shake..... in both the factory Bonnie's make-up, AND with after-market springs installed!?!?!?!?!?

Make of this story what you will........
But don't do a 'parts is parts' purchase like I did Instead, take your suspension to somebody who does that sorta thing for a living and buy your parts from him, and have HIM install them!

(And as much as I dig my bike, my nine hundred dollar suspension STILL sucks, and I gotta sink another $300.00+ into it to get it right! ((Or ride like an ignorant little old lady who NEVER tests the limits of her machine.))

ssjones,
were those YOUR "restocked" Hagon Nitros I purchased from Bella Corse??? Fine, now I'M stuck with them.......

[ This message was edited by: FattRat on 2006-01-17 21:35 ]

rickykarate99 · 01-18-2006

At 6' and 185lbs, I had to gradually up the Hagon cheap-o version to the third of the three preload settings (most stiff). It's the only setting that provides approriate sag (i.e. not using most of the travel just by sitting on the thing). But those Hagons work well for me, even at spirited pace, and a lot better than the stockers. The stock things are crude, and that's all there is to it. If they work for you, great, use your money for something else. Anywho Fatrat, good luck on getting the bike set up to yourself - it's the best $300 you can spend.