Need HELP with my new Wee! Tooo much vibrations!

[maro]

Hi all, new stromer here.

On Jan 30th, I got an used 650, '06. The bike was in OK condition, crashed once, fixed and sold as is, with 10K on it. It was in ridable condition, and since then I clocked 2000km on it.

Love the bike. When I got it, the front wheel was slightly bent and was giving me considerable vibration, I'd say 'motion - sickening' feeling in my stomach, even after just 30 min on it.
When I got it, the front wheel was bent, near the valve, but I got it repaired 95%, balanced and the vibrations were greatly reduced. HOWEVER, yesterday I tried my friends Wee, same mileage, a year newer, and the ride on his Wee was different as night and day!!!

His bike was soo smooooooooooth, stable, well balanced and confidence inspiring!

So this is what a new Strom should feel like??? In corners, on a very low speed, I even have a tank slapper (I hope this is the term used here, when bars tend to dive towards the tank on a turn)

All in all, compared to my friend's Wee, my bike now feels like riding a John Deere on atop of a 20 thousander mountain - downhill!

Bummer.

So here is what I'm going to do this week.
1. Replacing the old Trailwings (hopefully with Anakees II.) The originals are pretty much toasted.
2. Will balance and check the front wheel, again for extra bending and damage.
3. Will check the liquid in the front forks and see what the deal is inside with the springs and all.
4. Will replace the chain.
5. The following has no effect on the riding feel, but I'll replace the damaged right foot peg and brake pedal, mount bunch of crash bars and cases, soft bags, hand guards and the whole shebang!

If this doesn't sort the problem, I'll get the Suberbrace everyone are drooling about, but are there any other stuff I should check in order to repair this scooter which I hope to keep and abuse it for some time?
Are there any other things I should be aware of? Any fixes?

Myself I'm an adventurer and since I grew fur on certain body parts I was seeking thrills like mountain and rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing, going to war zones etc etc... For the last 15 years I've been paragliding actively around the world.

Since I'm a photojournalist, you are more than welcome to check my photos on my web www.photomarko.com

At the moment, I'm based in Macedonia, SE Europe.

ANY feedback is GREATLY appreciated!!!

[maro]

...aaaaand it seems I have put this message to the wrong thread as well... I have no idea how to change it to the proper one.

[honest bob]

Originally Posted by maro

...aaaaand it seems I have put this message to the wrong thread as well... I have no idea how to change it to the proper one.

Welcome to the pack Maro. Which thread location would you like to put it in? This location seems OK to me. We are not too anal about this kind of thing, especially with newcomers.
With respect to your bike's problems, what you are doing should help. New tires are always better than old worn damaged ones. If you think the chain is worn you should have a close look at the sprockets. It is common to replace them at the same time, but also unlikely that they are worn out in 12000km. The tank slapper term is used to describe the situation where the handle bars begin to move on their own, from one side to the other. It can become so violent that they actually slap the tank. Your problem would tend to indicate some form of front end misalignment (crash damage?).

[maro]

Hi Bob,
thanks for the reply.
Yes, on low speeds, in turn, leaned or not, the bars tend to keep turning and I actually have to slightly counter steer to prevent them from hitting the tank. I assume the problem will go away with instaling the new tires, since the old ones are so old I doubt I can call them tires any more.

I'm actually more worried about the front vibration/very soft suspension/i have no idea what causes it...

[brianjonesphoto]

Check everything in the front end. Are the forks straight? Is the tripple tree aligned?

Take the time and pull the forks. prop up the front end with something remove the wheel and calipers. undo the 3 allen pinch bolts that hold each for tube in the clamp. Take a good straight edge too the upper forks tubes does it sit flat all the way down?

If the leg check out OK then you are ready to put it all back together, but with an extra step. Break the locknut under the handle bars loose no need to remove it just enough so the upper tripple moves on it's own. Now install the forks, but leave the upper tripple pinch bolts, upper lock nut and axel clamp loose. Stand over the bike and compress the suspension a few times with the front brake locked.

Everything should be lined up now go ahead and do up the axel clamp and upper pinch bolts and do the tripple lock nut last.

[honest bob]

Originally Posted by maro

Hi Bob,
thanks for the reply.
Yes, on low speeds, in turn, leaned or not, the bars tend to keep turning and I actually have to slightly counter steer to prevent them from hitting the tank. I assume the problem will go away with instaling the new tires, since the old ones are so old I doubt I can call them tires any more.

It seems odd that the tires wore that badly in 10,000km. I have over that on a set of trailwings, and I would say they are 1/2 worn. Is it very hot in your area during the riding season? I'm wondering if the bike was damaged a while ago and has been ridden on those tires for some time.


I'm actually more worried about the front vibration/very soft suspension/i have no idea what causes it...

Very soft suspension? Can you explain that some more? (these bikes do have a lot of suspension travel.) Change the tires and let us know how that works.

[maro]

Thanks brianjonesphoto!
Athough I have no idea what you just suggested, I'll take this email to the chop shop and will go over the steps.
I guess I'll do this after I replace the tires and do a simple form maintence, right?
thanks again people!

[maro]

Bob, It feel sensitive even on the slightest bump on the road. even when there are no bupms at all. There was no such feeling on my friend's Wee. His bike rode perfectly smooth.

[honest bob]

Get the new tires and if you are still having trouble, +1 for what brianjonesphoto says maro.

[honest bob]

Originally Posted by maro

Bob, It feel sensitive even on the slightest bump on the road. even when there are no bupms at all. There was no such feeling on my friend's Wee. His bike rode perfectly smooth.

By sensitive do you mean you can feel every bump no matter how small? This could mean that the previous owner (PO) has overfilled the shocks or has put a heavy oil in them.