There's the contradiction... I think most Honda's are too hard in the back. The
issue is not a simple one, the springs are too stiff and the actual shock
absorbers are really poor. The shocks give up after a couple thousand miles and
you're left with a hard ride with little control. The front is easy to change
and relatively cheap. Change springs, fork oil, air pressure (for those so
equipped) damping rate (for those..) {the 700s had all those things} BUT, the
rear is another story. lotsa', bucks to purchase new (after market) assemblies.
Few do. SO, you're riding a bike that smacks your bottom on every bump. The
Japanese used to have an impression that all Americans where the size of John
Wayne. Size 12 shoes, 6'2", 250lbs... Made for some bad suspension choices. The
ergo thing was bad too. The distance between shifter and peg was terrible on
early 70's bikes. Hand span to levers was huge. Modern cruisers and sport bikes
are much better now, but entry
level bikes still have poor suspension. There is spring rate and then there is
damping. Up the spring rate to support a load but without proper damping
(control) you just get higher bounces. A great suspension has lots of travel
with control. A higher than needed spring rate gives up travel. What am I
saying ? Mine's at #2, I weigh 145 and ride alone. #1 too soft, #3 too hard.
Since a 700s has damping controls for front and rear, I get a chance to tailor
mine more. The ant-dive makes for a ride comfort adjustment as well. Again, #1
too soft, #3 too hard. I couldn't get all warm and fuzzy with the damping
adjustments on the forks so I changed the springs and oil viscosity. The air
pre-load in the forks was trial and error. Bike now rides well with enough
control.
________________________________
From: the Bargers <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, March 31, 2010 11:39:24 PM
Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Bounce and Squeal
Thanks Dennis. Will check. It doesn't sound like
something that could cause a critical event. In in an effort to match the front
and rear tire pattern, they (the dealer) may have put a wider than OEM tire on
the back. It also could be a nuance of this type of Pirelli. I will look for
the
shiny spot and react accordingly. So far, it's been more of am irritant than
anything else. I've put 2k on it with some lengthy trips on interstates and
restricted access 4 lanes so far without any real handling issues. The
major squeaks have occurred on residential streets with patched up potholes.
Unless you think I need to stiffen up the rear shocks, I will leave them in the
#2 setting.
Barge
----- Original Message -----
>From: Dennis
> Hammerl
>To: [email protected]
>Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 11:05
> PM
>Subject: Re: [Nighthawk Lovers] Bounce
> and Squeal
>
>
>I'll take another guess. But first, I find the late model 750 front end a
> bit too soft for me. I have no way of knowing what was done to yours. The
> rear
> at #6 must have been a filling loosener. Now, about those tires... Is the
> back
> one wider than OEM ? Like maybe the sidewall is rubbing the trailing arm
> when
> it gets deformed by impact ? I'd look for a shiny spot somewhere under the
> rear fender too. 1/4" is not enough clearance in the dynamic of riding.
>
>
>
>
>
________________________________
From: the Bargers
> <[email protected]>
>To: > [email protected]
>Sent: Wed, March 31, 2010 8:30:55
> PM
>Subject: [Nighthawk
> Lovers] Bounce and Squeal
>
> >
>Subject titles can be misleading. After having
> returned from a lengthy stint of work travel, I have gotten back in the
> saddle
> and am still experiencing some skid like squeal whenever I go over
> asphalt patches, manhole covers, railroad tracks, and any bumps or dips at
> above 35 mph. I have backed off the brake pedal adjusting nut to where I
> almost have to stand on the rear brake to make it work, and the tires still
> make that noise. So I don't believe it's dragging the real wheel.
> Frankly, I can't even tell if it's the front or rear tire. The bike is an 03
> 750 with 6k. The rear suspension is now set at the #2 setting vs. the #6
> setting when I bought it. I weigh 170. The bike's previous owner had
> extra large grips put on and I assume was a pretty big guy (or rode double a
> lot with that #6 stiffer setting). The only other visible modifications were
> the 30-06 bullet shaped tire valve caps.
>I put new tires on it before I rode it out of the
> dealership--Pirelli Sport Demons. I have also tried dropping the air
> pressure
> down from 33 to 28 and that seemed to help a little.
>Could it be simply the tires themselves or is it
> a suspension problem? Does the squeal come from a bounce that comes from too
> soft or too hard a suspensiion setting. Could the previous owner have
> installed stiffer springs and/or heavier fork oil causing the front end to
> hop
> more? I had a Honda mechanic sit on it, pump the front end and ride around
> iin
> the parking lot and he said it seemed fine to him (but he didn't have time
> to
> get out on the road and get over 15 mph.). This is driving me nuts, so
> Dennis
> or anybody else who has some things I can try out please give me some
> feedback. Thanks, Barge --
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