Help Mr. Wizzard....

[HondaFreak]

Last night I had a scare. I was traveling 280 South from SF. I decided to take 85 South for a little more riding. At the 280 S. and 85 S. merge there is evidently a rough transition between roadways traveling parallel to riding. When I went to switch lanes I hit this M.F.’r. I was doing about 70mph to 74mph I got caught in a crevice and my handlebars started to wobble so violently I thought I was ground beef fo sho. I slowly (in a matter of seconds) let off the throttle at the same time trying to fight with all my strength the wobble. After about mmmmm I’d say 5 or so seconds it subsided and I was riding true again.
So here’s where you all can help me understand wobble? WTF? I am assuming I took the correct actions to avoid grinding my body on the pavement. But what, man I am at a loss for words, kinda freaked, how can I avoid this again? What if any M/C parts help with this? Thank GOD I didn’t freak at the time.
Thanks in advance!

HondaFreak

 

[uhmeebuh]

I used to hit that patch every day on my commute. I always tried to make my crossing as perpendicular as possible and never had a problem...

I think you already answered part of your question: you kept a cool head and made it through OK. Most people (including myself) tend to just react (chop throttle and grab brakes) which is usually a bad idea...

 

[firstbuell]

tips -

plan lane changes well ahead and expect/observe paving seams/roughness/elevations mismatches/potholes every single time.

watch autos ahead for suspension movements, both up-&-down & pitching/yawing

weight pegs slightly & loosen death grip on bars during all such transitions - supermoto it as a habit

others here may suggest $400+ steering damper as well - dunno how necessary that'd be on yer particular moto

 

[xgambit]

time to get a steering damper

 

[HondaFreak]

huh?

What do I have a lisp?

 

[V4]

What do I have a lisp?

one of the things you can do is get the suspension sorted out....

have your preload adjusted to your weight and set the rebound and then compression....

then practice riding with a loose grip on the clip ons/bars cuz time to time the longer you ride, you will encounter such a thing and how you react can be more of a danger that the road hazard itself....

keep your legs loose as well to abosrb the bumps on the road so it doesn't effect the rest of you and let the bike do its job....

 

[Ezekiel]

All the suggestions so far are good, damper, stay loose...

One thing I didn't see mentioned is to make sure your tires are properly inflated. I've found that riding a bike a few PSI low in the tires makes it track the cracks and grooves horribly!!

 

[Wrong Way]

Downshift and wheelie out of it.














Neutral input. Weight the pegs not the bars and just keep the gas even.

 

[HondaFreak]

Downshift and wheelie out of it.....

I just got bitched at for laughing so hard after that comment.

Great stuff, now I know why I keep coming back here.

"V4" You have some keen senses my friend.
This was also pointed out to me that suspension setup could help. I have yet to hit a shop for a complete setup. I have also noticed I tend to get tense after riding for a while, and it was after 90 miles of non-stop riding. As for the tires I am gonna go check em at lunch.

Thanks again. All.
HondaFreak

 

[GO.]

time to get a steering damper

+1

 

[budman]

tips -

plan lane changes well ahead and expect/observe paving seams/roughness/elevations mismatches/potholes every single time.

watch autos ahead for suspension movements, both up-&-down & pitching/yawing

weight pegs slightly & loosen death grip on bars during all such transitions - supermoto it as a habit

others here may suggest $400+ steering damper as well - dunno how necessary that'd be on yer particular moto

Very good advice...some one has some experience.

Glad you kept your ass off the pavement!

 

[V4]

no problemo, mang....

assuming you got an 05 CBR600F4i and you got Dunlop 208ZRs, them tires are sometimes finicky over certain surfaces when on the throttle and in a bit of an angle.....

check out the tire pressure too even though its new cuz Ive found more than a few time a shop over-inflated my tires by over 15psi.......

lotta small simple things you can do can remedy a situation rather than spending $$$ to mask an existing problem....

peace....

 

[firstbuell]

budman,

ve are too soon old unt too late schmart, eh?

 

[budman]

Yup...It kills me having good knowledge and lousy knees!

 

[HondaFreak]

UUhhh yea umm 35psi cold in the front
and 40psi cold in the rear. Both should be 42psi max cold. Wow that could have been an ugly lesson. Maybe a low front tire almost got me. So check tires is a daily thing now. As far as the dampener, I am gonna have to investigate further.

Thanks all...
HondaFreak

 

[budman]

35 sounds fine.. I use 34 front and 36 rear for the street.

I don't think that is your issue.

A dampener will help for sure..

 

[deaconblues]

tires don't sound that far off, but still a good idea to keep an eye on them (they'll increase pressure as they heat up, yanno.)


I'd check the supension settings, esp. the forks (leaking oil? blown seal, perhaps?), and reiterate the "stay loose on the bars" advice.

Plus, if you're getting tense after 90 miles, stop riding and walk it off. take breaks. tense leads to fuckups, fuckups lead to pain, pain leads to suffering........