headshake

[Guest davidb]

Riding on my favorite road, Parrots ferry road near murphys Ca I was passing on the bridge which is slightly "roller coasting" and uneven. At about 95, the bike went into a headshake. I had to pin the throttle because I was already commited. It stopped shaking and I was able to slow to my normal speed for the road conditions. If I didn't have a heavy grip, I would be typing this with casts on my arms or swimming with the rest of the bodies the russian mafia dropped over the side. I am going to raise the bike and check for a possible cause.

[jrt]

I didn't think the longer frames were as prone to headshake...

How's the tires?

[Guest davidb]

About 1000 miles on them with good air pressure. I will be the first to admit that I ride a bike pretty hard sometimes, but I won't own a bike that has these hidden quirks to surprise someone. I am going to sell it cheap. What is a good cheap price?

[Steve G.]

Even the hottest superbikes are prone to headshake. Don't sweat it. The head shake out of our bikes ulimately can be blamed on the tail heavy weight bias these models have.

Ciao, Steve G.

[al_roethlisberger]

About 1000 miles on them with good air pressure. I will be the first to admit that I ride a bike pretty hard sometimes, but I won't own a bike that has these hidden quirks to surprise someone.  I am going to sell it cheap. What is a good cheap price?

51753[/snapback]

 

 

David,

 

I'm sorry to hear that you are going to sell the bike, but I have to say that based on your comments over time, it has seemed from the start that you've never really been happy with Sport... so maybe it's the best thing

 

I know you had some poor experiences with your dealer early on, but maybe the bike just really isn't your style Everyone's taste and expectations are certainly different.

 

The Guzzi is essentially a hand-built low volume vehicle, that incorporates all the idiosychrocies embodied as such. I'm sure that is a much different experience than what you find with your BMW.

 

 

But as far as the headshake goes, I too am surprised to hear about this, especially on an 02+ bike with the longer wheelbase. But even the best sport-bikes out there can get a "surprise" headshake if the situation is just right(well, "wrong" ) That being said, I would check all the standard things.... tire pressure, tight head bearings, tight front/rear wheel, and also make sure your steering damper is working.

 

Good to hear you didn't get hurt, but if there isn't a mechanical issue to be found, I bet it's just "one of those things" that can happen on any bike at speed, as 95mph on "uneven" roads is a pretty good clip.

 

 

Good luck, and again, glad to hear you didn't go down I hope you give selling the bike some thought before pulling the trigger though, as from what I hear... they are about to become "collectors items"

 

al

[jihem]

i had terrible tankslappings on my bike. And i was baffled for explanations and/or solutions. I changed tyres, i changed pressures in tyres, I even changed way of riding the bike, etc...

 

eventually i did the right thing: i went to see a shop SPECIALISED in suspensions set - ups. they looked at the fork, the back susp, they tweaked it all and now the bike is back like it should: IT'S A RAIL.

 

try that before selling the bike, you may fall in love again !

[helicopterjim R.I.P.]

i

eventually i did the right thing: i went to see a shop SPECIALISED  in suspensions set - ups. they looked at the fork, the back susp, they tweaked it all and now the bike is back like it should: IT'S A RAIL.

 

This I also know! Try it everyone!

[Guest davidb]

Al, The dealer was a problem with getting the bike fixed, but it has broke down on me 4 times. First time was within 1000 miles, 3 times it needed a trailer ride. This is not acceptable for me as I ride out of state every year. Granted it has not broke down in 5000 miles (but had other non essential problems), but I rather ride than tinker to keep it running. I put over 18000 miles a year on my motorcycles and I can't be waiting for parts or dealers to fix things. Monroe motors is the closest good dealer @ 130 miles away.

[al_roethlisberger]

Al,  The dealer was a problem with getting the bike fixed, but it has broke down on me 4 times. First time was within 1000 miles, 3 times it needed a trailer ride. This is not acceptable for me as I ride out of state every year. Granted it has not broke down in 5000 miles (but  had other non essential problems), but I rather ride than tinker to keep it running. I put over 18000 miles a year on my motorcycles and I can't be waiting for parts or dealers to fix things. Monroe motors is the closest good dealer @ 130 miles away.

51809[/snapback]

 

 

.... I understand

 

Well, it's too bad it didn't work out for you though. Good luck with what you decide to do with the bike

[tomsp]

you know some of my thoughts on the subject dave! but as to tank-slapping - my old honda vtr 1000f would habitually tank slap going very hard out of turns. Seems like the tank slap thing would be at 90-100 mph. Like I said, I'd lighten my grip and keep the throttle on or add throttle, to settle it down. My ow goose hasn't done that but I don't ride it as hard as that I think. It has done wierd stuff going straight (!) at speed on bumpy roads - that's when I needed to grip like heck to keep the front end from falling away (3-4 times)! BTW- each time that happened I thought maybe the tires were contributing- as they were still coldish, and each time was in the early morning when it was cold out too ???

[dlaing]

I am going to sell it cheap. What is a good cheap price?

51753[/snapback]

To me, a fair price would be $1000, I'll take Amtrack up tomorrow to pick it up but to anyone else the bike is a deal at $6000(those who found better or worse deals will argue, but look around at the advertised prices)

But please don't sell it. I had a Conti on the rear that would cause the early signs of headshake at 80MPH, I followed racerx' setup guide on guzzitech and then it would not feel unsettled until 100MPH.

That tire is long gone, and now the bike feels steady up to 138veglias and probably higher, with the steering damper dialed out.

Maybe you could get an Ohlins steering damper. It is more of a bandaid, to a problem that needs surgery, but it would help. People on the list rave that they are so much better than the Bitubo.

Yah, if I hit a section where they longitudilly (spelling?) trowled the asphalt or there are raingrooves, the bike will become unnervy regardless of speed, but that is true with any bike if it finds the wrong rhythm.

[st. augustine]

To add another perspective to this debate....there are a lot of factors that go into man and machine performance. One thing I haven't heard discussed here is about "the man"...see scan from Sport Riding Techniques on riding position. If it can be determined without a doubt that it wasn't "the man" then it must be "the machine".

[dbdicker]

I don't know what to call it, but I also get a 'lightening' of the front end at around 90mph. It feels like a very slight headshake, but not so much that it's worth calling it that. I got the suspension dialed in by a 'genius' and I got the Ohlins steering damper, so I don't know if those are the fixes.

 

Tell ya what, my beemer don't do this................ <_>

 

More "character", I guess. We really oughta own up to some of these guzzi quirks. There's a reason these bikes get consistently pissed on by the motopress. We love 'em, it's true, but we also have a tendency to selectively ignore some of their shortcomings.

[Enzo]

The best way to avoid headshake is to lose 40 pounds! What Al says is true - these hand-built Guzzis all differ. I have had my short wheel base and steep rake 2000 V11 up to 130 mph actual with NO problems and no shakes. Never. But, I weigh 170 and always say that this bike is not made for anyone heavier than that unless you change out the suspension.

 

If you get a good Guzzi, you will NEVER want to sell it. But, if you are determined to sell it cheap, I offer you three grand and will ride up tomorrow to pick it up. Let me know.

[Guest davidb]

5000$ has a clear pink. Like I said in the post, it just isnt the headshake (only 2 times in 7500 miles) its the %$&&ing dealers and no support from MGNA, plus if I want to trailer a bike, I would get a HD. Enzo, I only weigh 220 pounds @ 5'10", If I lost 40 pounds, I would be skin and bones.