Slightly skittery front end

Hello All

Bonding well now with my SWing of a few weeks and enjoying some nice autumnal evenings in UK.

I do notice a jitter at the front if I cross a white line/catseye at speed, especially on motorway .Tyres/pressures Ok - it is instantaneous and immediatly corrects - I just wonder if this a normal characteristic of the smaller wheels and/or it is something that might be helped by hyper pro's.

Any comments appreciated - thanks
John

Hi John and welcome from just down the road in Dorset!

I have found all my previous two wheeled steeds 'jittery' when crossing white lines in the wet or damp. Not noticed in dry conditions.

I'll defer to the experts regards front end specifics.

I would guess that the reflective bits in the cats eyes, etc. get a lot slicker with water on them.

Thanks Gents - Dorset - not too far away. Actually it happens in the dry - yes I guess it can always happen, noticed it a lot on HD when tyres getting worn. Just wondering if small wheels enhance susceptability, and tougher fork springs help.
Regards
John

Yes, small wheels magnify the effect.
Frankly, I wouldn't bother with different springs; it's a maxiscooter, not a racer.

Incidentally, I had a few moments when the back-end slipped on both 'polished' tarmac and zebra-crossings in France last week.
The bike was quite heavily-laden so was handling differently.
I think one needs to be extra careful in damp conditions as rough handling of the throttle will cause the rear wheel to break free very easily......all that power!

I think MikeO answer very good--adding #1 lines, dots and just about everything are slippery when wet. #2 SilverWing is scooter, desires respect as engine can be much faster than chassis especially when rear is loaded heavy and high.

John Grinsel

Ok thanks - pretty much what I suspected - I was never much of a scratcher anyway even on some of my more hairy ar*ed bikes. I ride mostly for pleasure now so avoid the wet when possible - been there etc.

I am enjoying the bike, getting a 'to do' list - mostly ergo's but overall very pleased , it is an 01 model but with less than 7k miles and history. Looking forward to a long trip on it sometime.
John

JohnJ wrote:

I am enjoying the bike, getting a 'to do' list - mostly ergo's but overall very pleased , it is an 01 model but with less than 7k miles and history. Looking forward to a long trip on it sometime.
John

NEC this year?

Thats a thought - is it usually around Nov?
John

JohnJ wrote:

Thats a thought - is it usually around Nov?
John

Nov/Dec. time!!! Cold and wet.

I have to try and fit it in around my shifts as a rule. Haven't been for a few years due to exhibiters withdrawing. May be worth a look this year if I warn SWIMBO off early enough!!

Just found the link! http://www.motorcyclelive.co.uk/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=nec%20motorcycle%20show%202010&utm_campaign=MCI_cpc_nec%20motorcycle%20show%202010_google 27 Nov to 5 Dec.

It might be that the forks could use an oil change, might be low on oil. The oil doesn't do much for suspension but it's important for damping which might be cause an uncertain feeling when the wheel travels over small bumps.

Hi, I'm a new rider, getting my SW with 1600 miles, and after two months having 6K on it, including a 3500 mile trip to Canada. I, too, notice an instability in the front end. I have the standard Bridgestone tires, correctly inflated and I find that particularly at lower speeds, 5-35 mph, I get a wobble when hitting an inregularity such as bumps. But it also wobbles quite noticeably when I make a "u" turn. It's controllable, but feels like a real weakness in the front geometry. Ok, some of the folks suggest that it's the small tires and "the nature of the beast." Frankly, I think it's more an engineering flaw. I have a lot of experience with bicycles and have experienced this instability in bicycles before. It's a product of poor relation between wheel size, trail and rake aspects of the particular bike. Eventually, bicycle companies usually work out the fix. I just think that Honda may be shining it on. MHO. My SW is an 07, and things may have changed since then. Then wobbling experience isn't reasuring to me. In fact if I could sell my '07, I would because of this feature. I've owned the scooter for three months. I've put 4K on it. Otherwise, it is just what one would expect from a Maxi-scooter.

First it ain't a bicycle.

2. I notice a rear weight bias---add top box and weight up high---and that adds to it. Not a great handling improver.

3. too me front is ok, fork brace (that I cannot find to buy may help)

4. practice low speed feet up u turns----linked brakes make using rear brake as balancing aide a little more difficult.

5. And silverwing is not a motorcycle.


And to me Silverwing is older design---Honda makes no year to year improvement in what appears to be dead giant scooter market. My Yamaha TMAX handled much better with top box....but more expensive to maintain.

John Grinsel And as your bike was bought used----do you know maint. history or is everything right?

Are you sure it's not a bicycle? Let me run out to the lot and check mine. I really thought it was a bicycle.

redtailhawk wrote:

... But it also wobbles quite noticeably when I make a "u" turn. It's controllable, but feels like a real weakness in the front geometry. ...

If it is very noticeable during a "U-turn" then I'd have a tendency to think it may be that you are feeling the tire wear (cupping) transmitted through the front suspension.

The tires are quite susceptible to this and it does have a tendency to be noticeable.

You should be able to rule this out by running the palm of your hand in line with and along the rolling surface of the front tire. If you feel very abrupt (not smooth) transitions along the leading or trailing edges (I can't remember) of the "sipes" (grooves that are perpendicular to the enter of the tire face) your tires are "cupped". They are also probably very loud at speed. When the tires are worn out and then replaced the wobble is likely to be gone in the U-turn.

jdeereanton wrote:

... snipped ... If it is very noticeable during a "U-turn" then I'd have a tendency to think it may be that you are feeling the tire wear (cupping) transmitted through the front suspension. The tires are quite susceptible to this and it does have a tendency to be noticeable.

Dale, you bring up an interesting issue. I have lots of front tire "cupping" with my K4 Burg 400 and it really shakes at low speed, tight turns. I do not belive the tire was balanced when replaced and for the first 5,000 kms., it was fine.

I've always wondered what causes the cupping to occur in the first place. Insights?

In my opinion - I'm not a tire guy - the prime issue is inflation for the load. I've run sets of tires that I've not monitored closely and they cupped rather quickly. Those that I am very good at monitoring seem to go a long time before the cupping appears.

jdeereanton wrote:

The tires are quite susceptible to this and it does have a tendency to be noticeable.

You should be able to rule this out by running the palm of your hand in line with and along the rolling surface of the front tire. If you feel very abrupt (not smooth) transitions along the leading or trailing edges (I can't remember) of the "sipes" (grooves that are perpendicular to the enter of the tire face) your tires are "cupped". They are also probably very loud at speed. When the tires are worn out and then replaced the wobble is likely to be gone in the U-turn.

Run your hand on the tire all the way around in forward direction,
then all the way around in the reverse direction ... you may find a significant difference in the opposite direction.

Waspie - if you ever go for a Sunday tootle around Sherborne way give me a nod - I am not far from Cheddar so Sherborne around middle and Blackmore vale area is nice riding.

Trouble and Strife does not ride anymore since we were knocked off a Pan Euro in Oxford 5 years ago - but she loves her classic car.
John