HARD RIDING

[currahee2-6]

Greetings again,
Second topic.  I notice that when I ride over smaller bumps or ruts, or even the reflective lane markers in a hardtop roadway, I really feel the "whack" in the suspension. I feel it all over the bike. I'd try to describe it as if I had a solid rubber front wheel and NO springs or forks up front. I don't notice it too much in my seat, but more up front in my hands and feet.  Railroad track crossings make me feel like something is going to break.  Front tire pressure was determined to be 42#. I reduced it to 38# with no real difference in feeling.

So, my question is; Are Valk IS's suspension like that? This is my first one and have had it a week. (a 2000 w/69K miles.) I am very surprised at how hard the ride seems.  I rode a '74 CB750 new, for 15 years and don't ever remember getting the same thud feeling.  What should I expect in the ride? What do you recommend I check if this is not normal?  Should I be looking at the bearings/race at the neck?  Thanks for looking. Peace

[Hook#3287]

First thing I would check would be the rear shock bushings.  If their gone, it's possible you could feel it more in the bars then in the seat.

[YoungPUP]

Try checking the head bearings, for the steering.  I lay into the front brake, and ease out the clutch, If they're bad enough to be making bad noises, you should be able to see, feel the front end move .  Havent had to try this on the Valk, but that trick worked on the dirt bikes years ago....

[John Schmidt]

It's entirely possible the fork oil has never been flushed out and changed. With that mileage it would make a difference. I always fill mine a slight amount less than called for.

Welcome aboard, I'm in the Orlando area.

[GOOSE]

it's the shock bushings.

[R J]

Has the front wheel been off recently?

If so, loosen it up and retighten per the procedure in the shop manual.

I had a tire changed on th road once and they really had the tubes all firked up and not in alignment.    Fork shocks would hardly work or not at all.

[9Ball]

also, changing to Progressive fork springs will remedy this situation.  You'll get more of a float sensation than a jolt sensation with the upgraded suspension.  Add some Progressive 440s to the rear and you will have a totally different (much improved) handling bike.

[BlueValk]

My Standard had the same feeling when I first got it.  I was shocked and unhappy how hard the front end felt.  Just like you said, railroad tracks made it feel like something could break (like my elbows).  I changed to soft race tech springs without much difference.  I eventually went back to the stock springs.  I tried lighter fork fluid (5 wt).  Somewhere along the way, I switched to transmission fluid.

I don't know if it was the fluid or just eventually getting the forks adjusted correctly (alignment), but the front end is much better now.  So, there is hope.

Progressive forks are actually stiffer.  I don't know how they could fix your problem.  Unless during the install, you realigned your forks better.  

So, I'd change the fluid and make try to align the forks real well.

[9Ball]

My Standard had the same feeling when I first got it.  I was shocked and unhappy how hard the front end felt.  Just like you said, railroad tracks made it feel like something could break (like my elbows).  I changed to soft race tech springs without much difference.  I eventually went back to the stock springs.  I tried lighter fork fluid (5 wt).  Somewhere along the way, I switched to transmission fluid.

I don't know if it was the fluid or just eventually getting the forks adjusted correctly (alignment), but the front end is much better now.  So, there is hope.

Progressive forks are actually stiffer.  I don't know how they could fix your problem.  Unless during the install, you realigned your forks better.  

So, I'd change the fluid and make try to align the forks real well.

you have to ride a bike with the progressive fork springs to feel how they react differently to bumps like expansion joints, etc.  Much different feel compared to stock...to each their own, but it was probably the best, cheapest thing I've done to my bike for handling.

[currahee2-6]

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WARM WELCOME TO THE VRCC. I plan to take the bike in and let the dealer/shop have a look-see and maybe a test ride to see what I'm talking about. Then, with a technical evaluation, I'll know what to try first.  Thank you all for your suggestions and observations. Peace

[ptgb]

Where are you located?

The reason I ask this, maybe you might have a Valkyrie owner look at it or ride it first before getting a dealer involved.

First, everyone's perception is much different as to what the ride is like... one man's "harsh" might be another man's "plush". A long-time Valk owner might be able to tell you in 15 minutes (for no cost), that the ride is normal or that it's not right.

Second, I have never took my Valkyrie to a dealer for anything except the must-have-done tire change in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming. I would think that as these Valks get longer in the tooth, many "techs" at the dealer have little or no experience whatsoever with a Valk. I would go as far to say, maybe, the newer techs have probably never even seen one on their lift (in smaller market areas).

Please understand I am not trying to criticize your decision making process, but you might just be able to get a more experienced (than the dealer) second opinion and maybe a fix for no cost whatsoever.

I am in NE Ohio.

[Hoghead]

+1 on PTGB

[currahee2-6]

Thank you all for your time and responses. I live in West Palm Beach, FL.  The ride is surprising for sure and something I can get used to. I was concerned however that something was about to break or wasn't adjusted correctly. I have a '67 Plymouth GTX and the lower control arm bushings were overtightened (i'm learning about that too) and when I'd run over something like a railroad crossing I got the same banging on the frame sensation. It was like there was no suspension give and had a solid tire feeling. So, when I noticed the same on the Valk, I got worried. It's as if there are no bushings and I have a metal on metal connection.  I have located a few Valk riders here in this general area through my postings. I will ask them to give it a ride and tell me what they feel, if anything. That suggestion is a GREAT idea and I really appreciate it.  Dealers have a conflict of interest at work when they inspect something looking for a cause or diagnosis. I don't blame them, I just can't afford a carte blanche  approach to a, "well, lets see what we got here."  Thanks to all of you again. Peace.

[Chiefy]

It takes about 2 seconds per side to check the shock bushings, and bushings do go bad on Valks.  Mine had 44K on it when I got it, and when I checked my bushings they were trash.  Here is a picture of what to look for:

http://www.rattlebars.com/cart/bushings.html

It's a place to start, and doesn't cost anything to look.  Replacing them is pretty easy too even for a novice wrench.

BTW if you replace them, do top and bottom.  It's cheap enough and my bottoms were at least as bad as the tops.

[gordonv]

Wrecking the 99 IS with 50K miles, the 2 top bushings where trashed, and the 2 bottom where in big need of replacing.