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13th September 2007
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Senior Chief Know It All 1st Class
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 1,124 Sportster/Buell Model: XL1200 Custom Sportster/Buell Year: 2006
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What the heck do I need to do to keep from going airborne?
So many of the roads near me suffer from the same problem -- lumps (maybe frost heaves) that traverse the entire lane and rise up maybe 3 inches. On many roads, they're every hundred feet or so and I feel like I'm running a steeple chase taking hurdles on my horse, going airborne over each one.
These bumps usually throw me off the seat and I've got to hang on for dear life. With forward controls, there's not much I can do to de-weight the seat. Today I had a real sphincter tightener -- had to to a mild panic stop when the van in front of me jammed on his brakes. Just as I'm grabbing a fistful of brake, I hit one of the damn bumps and go airborne. I'm thinking the brakes could easily have locked up once the wheels got in the air and I'd come down into a skid.
So here's my bike -- I have a wide-glide front on an AME kit (which extends my wheelbase by maybe 14"). I would think a longer wheelbase would help and not make things worse. In the rear, I have Progressive 812's (Heavy Duty). I've tried 'em on the highest and lowest settings and don't really feel much difference. The ride is fine on normal roads, but I can't keep the damn wheels on the ground. Considering my weight (215#), I would think my ass would stay firmly in the seat.
So what can I do to help the bike soak up the bumps better? Is this just a Sporty thing?
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13th September 2007
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XL FORUM TEAM MEMBER
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 649 Sportster/Buell Model: 883 XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 2003 Other Motorcycle Model: Dyna Street Bob Other Motorcycle Year: 2008
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Ride slowly!
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13th September 2007
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Land Speed Record
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NE Georgia
Posts: 780 Sportster/Buell Model: XL 1200C Sportster/Buell Year: 2006 Sportster/Buell Model #2: Softail Standard Sportster/Buell Year #2: 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fafcpa
Ride slowly!
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Yep, what he said. Slow yer ass down...a lot!
LOL
Pirate
__________________
Ride like you are invisible.......not invincible.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler. Henry David Thoreau
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13th September 2007
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Chief Harley Engineer
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Macomb, IL area
Posts: 516 Sportster/Buell Model: 883 xlc Sportster/Buell Year: 2001 Other Motorcycle Model: Suzuki GS1000 rat-cafe Other Motorcycle Year: 1981
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do the vespa conversion...
[IMG]  [/IMG]
__________________
2001 xlc883 - Pearl white - Taxes paid - Chain conversion - Kevlar clutch - SE Coil & ignition - Scratches and dirt!
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13th September 2007
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Senior Chief Know It All 1st Class
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 1,124 Sportster/Buell Model: XL1200 Custom Sportster/Buell Year: 2006
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pirate50
Yep, what he said. Slow yer ass down...a lot!
LOL
Pirate
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Yeah, well, that's a great idea, but when you're going 55 on a road with a 55mph speed limit and you've got a truck on your ass, that's not much of an option.  |
13th September 2007
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Master Mechanic
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 299 Sportster/Buell Model: XL1200R Sportster/Buell Year: 2006 Sportster/Buell Model #2: Honda Magna 700 Sportster/Buell Year #2: 1986 Other Motorcycle Model: Honda CB350 Other Motorcycle Year: 1972
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Go slower or raise the bike up.....
__________________
Black 2006 XL 1200 Roadster
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13th September 2007
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Master Mechanic
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 271 Sportster/Buell Model: 883 Custom Sportster/Buell Year: 2002
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Did you ever think about riding a little slower till you got to smoother roads?
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13th September 2007
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Master Mechanic
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 271 Sportster/Buell Model: 883 Custom Sportster/Buell Year: 2002
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Truck on my ass = spark plugs falling out of my pocket
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13th September 2007
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Land Speed Record
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NE Georgia
Posts: 780 Sportster/Buell Model: XL 1200C Sportster/Buell Year: 2006 Sportster/Buell Model #2: Softail Standard Sportster/Buell Year #2: 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dagsportster
Yeah, well, that's a great idea, but when you're going 55 on a road with a 55mph speed limit and you've got a truck on your ass, that's not much of an option. |
OK, I'll get serious here. It happens, and usually when we least expect it. Not a lot to do except hang on, say "Oh Shit" and ride on.
Pirate |
13th September 2007
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Luvs me an artsy chick...
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Chautauqua County, NY
Posts: 11,674 Sportster/Buell Model: 883>1200 XLH Sportster/Buell Year: 97
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dagsportster
So many of the roads near me suffer from the same problem -- lumps (maybe frost heaves) that traverse the entire lane and rise up maybe 3 inches. On many roads, they're every hundred feet or so and I feel like I'm running a steeple chase taking hurdles on my horse, going airborne over each one.
These bumps usually throw me off the seat and I've got to hang on for dear life. With forward controls, there's not much I can do to de-weight the seat. Today I had a real sphincter tightener -- had to to a mild panic stop when the van in front of me jammed on his brakes. Just as I'm grabbing a fistful of brake, I hit one of the damn bumps and go airborne. I'm thinking the brakes could easily have locked up once the wheels got in the air and I'd come down into a skid.
So here's my bike -- I have a wide-glide front on an AME kit (which extends my wheelbase by maybe 14"). I would think a longer wheelbase would help and not make things worse.
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I would think the opposite.... 
More shock is being transferred upward, meaning your front shocks are LESS effective.....????
__________________
~Chuck
"entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem"
Occam's Razor...
in English: "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity."
My definition: "The simplest answers are the most likely"
~NRHS machined 1200 conversion, shittin and gettin...
Chuck's favorite tuning posts
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