Bouncy Ride - Help Please

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by SuperHans, Apr 6, 2021.

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  1. SuperHans

    SuperHans Senior Member

    Mar 11, 2020
    297
    113
    Sweden
    Ok, since I got my Speed Triple S we haven't really become as good a friend as I hoped for.
    It feelt alright during the testdrive but after some more extensive driving I initially thought there was something wrong with the suspension.

    The sensation is that it feels like the suspension isn't absorbing the uneven road and its constantly bouncing a little. It feels a bit like the front suspension is completely stiff.

    Cleaned the fork and lubed it, swapped the oil, changed the setting but still the same thing.
    Did have a proper look and the forks are moving but I still feel the bouncy feel like it isn't working properly.

    So, off to rebalance the wheels, straight after the testdrive I got a pair of new Pilot Power 5, could it be them?
    Ok, so the tires deffo needed balancing so I moved some weights around and now at least it isn't shaking in high speeds (also swapped the discs after the tyre guy damaged it).

    Still.....flippin bounce, and its just when I cruise in slow speeds I can feel this.

    Could it be the map? Did some tests to pull the clutch in around 40 mph and I can still feel a slight bounce, not as bad but still there.

    Ok.....so can it be the chain and/or sprockets?
    The bike has around 6000 miles on the clock, should't be worn out but I ain't to good with maintanance and the former owner seemed particularity useless at it.

    Had a look at it and the looking from above the chan moves from left to right when on the central stand.
    The links are a bit sticky and it seems to be a bit more stretched at some places...but still doesn't look to bad.
    When sticking it in first gear on the stand I can feel she shaking/bouncy sensation.

    Have any of you guys ever experienced what I do and its related to the chain?
    Can a chain get bent/warped and cause this?
     
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  2. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
    2,035
    1,000
    High Wycombe
    I had exactly this when I got my first 2010 Speed Triple
    A sort of undulating sensation in the front forks
    It turned out to be the chain had a massive tight spot which ment the drive to the rear wheel was soft then pull which gave the effect of bouncy front suspension
    I changed the chain and sprockets and it was sorted, nice and smooth
     
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  3. TimmyTheHog

    TimmyTheHog Member

    Feb 20, 2020
    24
    8
    Surrey BC Canada
    Sounds like your suspension isn't tuned to your body weight...

    Get your preload & damping properly and find out if the spring in your bike is the right one for your weight range before start changing stuff.

    I am not a mechanic but that seems to be one of the biggest miss when one purchased a road bike. For some reason this is addressed more readily with dual sports/ADV bikes.
     
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  4. SuperHans

    SuperHans Senior Member

    Mar 11, 2020
    297
    113
    Sweden
    Man I am glad someone have had this as well and that it is pointing in the direction where I am now.
    I ordered myself a new chain and sprocket (and took the chance of going for a 45T instead of 43T in the back). Hopefully this will solve it all.
    Many thanks for that input.
     
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  5. SuperHans

    SuperHans Senior Member

    Mar 11, 2020
    297
    113
    Sweden
    I would absolutely agree with you and that's where I started off. Have done a good bit of reading up and set the suspension to hard and less hard, and tweaked some more but the sensation is still the same.
    My old Speed triple wasn't like this at all plus that I discovered the sensation when it was on the central stand.
    So a new chain it is...and sprockets.

    And as you say, I do think tuning suspension is a good investment and will improve the ride anyway. Flippin Dave Moss had me convinced.
     
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  6. TimmyTheHog

    TimmyTheHog Member

    Feb 20, 2020
    24
    8
    Surrey BC Canada
    #6 TimmyTheHog, Apr 7, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2021
    I guess a set of new chain & sprocket ain't expensive so no harm to have a spare if comes to that.

    but I would still play a bit more with suspension and perhaps have someone close have a 2nd set of eye on it.

    Suspension is a funny thing...I am still learning myself. (that or I am too cheap to refuse to give it LOL)

    Happy riding :)
     
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  7. sprintdave

    sprintdave Nurse,he's out of bed again

    May 25, 2014
    1,491
    750
    Birmingham
    Have you checked your tyre pressures too, that wouldn't help if over inflated. Dont rate your tyre place much either, not balanced and he screwed your disc up as well. Mmm
     
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  8. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
    2,035
    1,000
    High Wycombe
    When I got my bike with this problem it had over 15k miles on the clock but had been sat for a long time
    The front bouncing sensation was most noticeable between 30-40mph.
    The tight spot caused a loose then pull effect on the chain which was hidden at slower and higher speeds but between 30-40mph it felt like there was constant bouncing on the front end, I was constantly looking at the road to see if it was my imagination but as it was happening on totally smooth surfaces I know it was the bike.
    I then bought a rear stand and was able to have the engine turning over in gear and at tick over the chain would pulse

    The Triumph garage (not where I bought it from) were adamant the chain could not cause that effect and that that I should take it in for them to look at and take for a test drive costing 2 hours labour at least. But as it was cheaper for me to buy a chain splitter, 3ft breaker bar and other tools, plus ZVMX gold chain and sprockets all cost less than for the garage to look at at it.
    I bought the stuff I needed and changed sprockets and chain myself and it was instantly cured. Nice and smooth and I didn't have to worry about stressing the bearings either
    I also greased the rear hub as this is known to seize.
     
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  9. joe mc donald

    Dec 26, 2014
    13,874
    1,000
    slough / burnham
    Red Thunder
    Agree fully. My Honda was exactly the same till i changed the chain and sprockets.
    Joe.
     
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  10. SuperHans

    SuperHans Senior Member

    Mar 11, 2020
    297
    113
    Sweden
    Yea, triple checked the tyres and got my self wheel balancer so I can double check them as I find that many of the tyre places still claim that motorcycle tires don't need to be balanced and just leave it as it is.
    Need to find another tyre place and will stick post-it on the discs saying "treat these like you want your boyfriend to treat your daughter"
     
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  11. SuperHans

    SuperHans Senior Member

    Mar 11, 2020
    297
    113
    Sweden
    Great idea to re-grease the rear hub and bearings, haven't done this on this bike yet.

    Your description of the issue is spot-on to how I experience the bike to behave, I also feel it in lower speeds such as 20mph. It was when I put it on the rear stand I realized that this has nothing to do with the suspension. So thanks again for the input and also @joe mc donald giving the same, always good to know more has had the experience and cured it.

    Have ordered the highest spec EK chain and JT sprockets and have the tools after changing it on a few other bikes.
    Will have to have a look at the "not a motorcycle mechanic" again about greasing the bearings. That fellas videos is great..

     
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  12. SuperHans

    SuperHans Senior Member

    Mar 11, 2020
    297
    113
    Sweden
    Wohoo, new chain and sprockets installed (went for a 45T instead of 43T that's standard).

    Just did my first drive a few minutes ago and ..............

    Image-1.jpg

    .........nothing has changed, the problem is still there.......FECK!!!

    Well at least I got the bearings lubed and I have to say I do like the 45T sprocket..

    Thinking of other things to try..

    * Change back to the original Map using Tune ECU, have a custom one now.
    * Mess around with the suspension settings some more.

    Don't think the first one will make much difference as there are still a little of the "bounyness" there even if I pull the clutch in. Its not as bad though.
    The bouncy ride is mostly there when I ride without almost any acceleration just cruising.
     
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  13. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
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    Sorry to hear the chain and sprockets didn't solve the problem
    I would have put money on that being the cause

    Other possible causes
    Tyres with a flat spot
    Tyres not balanced correctly
    Wheels not running true
    Brake disks with a sticky spot, do they get hot on a gentle run without hard braking
     
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  14. SuperHans

    SuperHans Senior Member

    Mar 11, 2020
    297
    113
    Sweden
    THanks for the input.

    I was dead sure it was the chain and sprockets too, but at least I have a brand new chain and a new 45T sprocket, always good. Plus that I lubricated the bearings in the back.

    Have brand new discs in the front, but the wheels not running true and tires that has a flat spot is something I will look into after checking the suspension a bit more.
    One of the first things I did to was changing the tyres.
    Wheelies prob didn't help either.

    So, new map and mess around with the suspension today it is.
     
  15. SuperHans

    SuperHans Senior Member

    Mar 11, 2020
    297
    113
    Sweden
    Ok, have been messin with the suspension all day and its even so slightly better.
    Now its possible to do stoppies easy :-D

    But the hunt for a smother ride continues....
     
  16. t552

    t552 Senior Member

    Nov 17, 2014
    415
    113
    Bristol UK
    Start with basics get you loaded sag correct rear aim for around 30mm from top out to sat on the bike and front about 32-36mm loaded sag from top out.
     
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  17. SuperHans

    SuperHans Senior Member

    Mar 11, 2020
    297
    113
    Sweden
    Yes, I do think there is something wrong tho. Even if I set it to the "softest" preload it still doens't bottom out so I do start to think there is something wrong with the fork.
    Will head over to a suspension specialist and see what they can do.

    Maybe its a combo of things, who knows.

    The bike hasn't been serviced at a dealer since 2017 so maybe its time for a visit and see what they have to say.

    Its just a very jerky ride when crusing without accelerating hard to starting to think it could be something else in combination with the suspension setup.
     
  18. Red Thunder

    Red Thunder Crème de la Crème

    Dec 2, 2014
    2,035
    1,000
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    If it isn't bottoming out or getting near it, it could be that the oil level is too high, leaving not enough of an air gap that would normally compress and absorb the compression stroke
    Or a previous owner liked their cakes and had a bloody hard spring installed with high viscosity oil and spacers!
     
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  19. SuperHans

    SuperHans Senior Member

    Mar 11, 2020
    297
    113
    Sweden
    Yea, I have been thinking the same thing. The guy I got it from didn't do much to it and I changed the oil in the forks. But did the "pump and dump" version and refilled with the same amount of oil. (but wasn't to off from specs).
    But it seems like the forks are very sensitive to both oil type and the amount.
     
  20. Bolosun

    Bolosun Well-Known Member

    Aug 25, 2020
    218
    93
    Crewe/Cheshire
    Have you tried turning just one of the settings right down to 0, and see what affect it has? I would try the rebound first. Just do one at a time.

    As an aside, tyre pressures do make a big difference. Took my Triple out this week on the track and mine was diving badly when I was braking hard. Spoke to MCT who have done my suspension and he said that it was my tyres. Dropped the pressure on the front and rear by 10% ish and the bike was transformed.
     
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