Lately, I have noticed a

[iba1990]

Hey Everyone. Lately I have noticed a squeaking noise fron my right rear shock. I also notice a squirrely feeling with the sickle. Sickle means motorcycle. In the old days we called motorcycles sickles. Bikes were bicycles. Anyway, when I am coming to a slow stop involving some distance to stop, it feels like the front tire is bouncing rapidly up & down sorta rike riding on a wash board. My first thought is the front forks are failing for some reason. In turns is when I feel something is just not right. My tires air pressure is correct. Has anyone ever had problems with the swing arm bushings? I had an old Harley that needed swing arm bushings & it sorta feels like that. Maybe I need new rear shocks & the front forks overhauled. Don't rightly know...yet. Winter should be here sometime soon ( it was 97 degrees today & is supposed to be in the mid to high 80's the rest of the week. Here in Colorado sometimes we miss fall altogether & go right to winter...one never knows for sure. Normally I ride all year round unless there is snow & ice on the roads but this year I am not going to ride on those 20 degrees & lower days. So, I may be performing some maintenance on the sickle. Has anyone ever heard of these symptoms??? Tahnks for any advice you may have on the subject. tommy t IBA 1990

[eric in md]

check your top shock bushings first ..   yea swing bushings have gone bad also . new shocks and new fork springs do wonders,, o yea     my guess its shocks bushings or bad tires..

[Michvalk]

My guess would be front tire out of round. The squeek could be the rubber in the bushings. Mine squeeked until I pulled them for rear maintanance. When I put the shocks back on, I used a little lube to get them to slide on easier, and they don't make noise anymore

[Black Dog]

You have the classic symptoms of worn out shock bushings...  If the feeling you get when dipping in to a long sweeper, is sort of a 'wallow', or a feeling of not tracking on a controled arch, I'd look at the upper shock bushings.

Easy to check...  Look at the upper shock bolt.  It should be dead cented in the shock eye...  If it seems to be off center, your bushings have worn to an oval shape, and allow for some sloppy travel.  There are a few alternatives to replacing with stock...  Gary 'Pruior' sells his version through Chet's Rattlebars page, and my buddy Daryl sells his version through his XF6 Customs page.  I know the bushings Daryl sells are warrented forever, and I believe Gary's are too.

XF6's Site;

http://www.xf6-custom.com/partpages/bushings.html

Chet's Site;

http://www.rattlebars.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=RM

Disclaimer... 

I have no affiliation with Chet or Gary.  I've been a customer of Chets quite a few times, and have been very happy with any product from him. 

Daryl (XF6) is a friend of mine.  I have purchased and used the bushings he makes, and can attest to their quality.  I have purchased other items from him, and have been a happy customer.  I get no $$ for endorsing his products, just the satisfaction of knowing I helped a friend.

Black Dog

[Strider]

The same as others have replied.  I was riding the Tail of the Lizard in Mississippi and got a lot of slop in twisters.  Bird and Moonshine were behind me and said, man, you are scaring us, you are all over the road.  I almost even naturally put my foot down when the scoot healed over in a twister.  Something didn't feel right.

Got home and the upper shock bushing had split on me on the right side and worn on the left.  Everytime I would take a right twistie, the shock post would all of a sudden bottom out in the split bushing and the bike would give me this instant healing feeling and would not track worth a darn in curves at all.  Same thing...I checked tire pressure and rubber condition because it felt like something had given in the tires or something.

As others said, check your bushings first.

[asfltdncr]

This is not always a worn out bushing.
There is something called "stiction" and this is where the shock movement is restricted by improper torque and/or lubrication.
Remove top shock-mount bolts, lub bushing and bolt, install and torque to specs.

[iba1990]

Hey Y'all... I just read your replies after getting home from work. I went out to the garage & removed my saddle bags & lo & behold the upper shock tower bushing are in really bad shape. As soon as I finish this reply, I am going to order some new ones. Thanks very much for the tip to all who responded. I sure hate the squirrly feeling I am getting now with the bad ones. What about the bottom ones??? Thanks again. Ride safe all.  tommy t IBA 1990.

[iba1990]

okay...it is done...just ordered a set. Thanks again. tommy t IBA 1990