Blown around

Brydgy · 08-11-2019, 06:59 PM

Looking for some help. Close to selling bike. I am experiencing being “blown “ around on my 2003 Nomad when there is no wind. I am forever correcting and can’t really relax. I put a Batwing on last season as well as removing the pillion seat and rear back rest and putting a rack on to match the bags. I have since put the shield back on, changed the lowers back to original or totally removed. No difference. I can’t hear anything indicating a possible bearing failure. Getting tired. Would anyone have an idea what this might be? Thanking in advance.

Brydgy

sam · 08-11-2019, 07:59 PM

Check back shocks, set at lower air psi. My 06 is set up for2 and when I am alone I get bad buffeting at higher speeds.

**MAS Tequila** · 08-11-2019, 08:17 PM

Yep, check the shocks then check the tires.

A bad belt can have the same symptoms.

recumbentbob · 08-11-2019, 08:58 PM

Inspect the tires very carefully, Jack the bike up and rotate each wheel and check the tires.
tire pressure cold before you ride 38 PSI front, 40 PSI rear. Put 20 PSI in each rear shock, and let us know how it does.

VulcanJeff · 08-11-2019, 09:59 PM

Most importantly regarding the shocks, make sure both shocks have the same amount of air. If you don't have a suspension pump, you'll be pissing into the wind trying to sync the psi from side to side.

Chuck A. · 08-11-2019, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recumbentbob

Inspect the tires very carefully, Jack the bike up and rotate each wheel and check the tires.
tire pressure cold before you ride 38 PSI front, 40 PSI rear. Put 20 PSI in each rear shock, and let us know how it does.

My bike also did better at 30-32 psi front. Anything more and it was all over the road.

Check your steering neck bearings if you can jack the bike off the ground.

DragonLady58 · 08-12-2019, 01:22 AM

Yes,. Check your shocks, and the steering bearings.....make sure you have the correct tire pressure and your wheel bearings are tight....

Brydgy · 08-12-2019, 09:20 AM

Thanks for all the info everyone. Much appreciated. I will check these as time allows during the week and get back to you.

VulcanJeff · 08-12-2019, 10:44 AM

Steering neck bearings came to mind after I posted as did swing arm bearings.

Brydgy · 08-18-2019, 10:43 PM

OK. I checked tires and wheel bearings as well as the swing arm bearings. All seem to be tight. I haven't had an opportunity to ride with a lower front tire pressure or look into the shock pressures yet. Steering bearings appear to be fine too. I'm going to borrow a no pressure loss pump for the shocks. I also took the 9" shield off the batwing and replaced with my 5" shield. I'll report back once I am able to do a ride. Thanks again for all the help.

redjay · 08-19-2019, 08:52 AM

What brand of tires are you running ? How much tread is on them. Does it wander all the time or are you checking it on the same stretch of road ? The 401 near you is rutted really bad in places. It feels sometimes like you have a flat tire as the bike goes into grooves made by transport trucks.

Brydgy · 08-19-2019, 11:15 AM

Morning redjay,
Commander 2 on back new last year and Bridgestone Spitfire on the front. Tread seems fine. I checked the sticker on the bike and dropped the pressure from 38 to 34 on the front. Recommended is 32. Back is 40 with 41 recommended. It is only at highway speeds that I am getting moved by what seems like wind yet it isn't windy. The front tire also grabs everything. If I hit the painted line, it wants to follow it. Not sure if that is normal.

redjay · 08-19-2019, 12:12 PM

Personally I would change the front tire to a Commander II or Avon Cobra.

duffy · 08-19-2019, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redjay

Personally I would change the front tire to a Commander II or Avon Cobra.

I won't make any tire recommendations but if all the items previously mentioned are good I would certainly start looking for a different front tire (I have had some of those rut chasing tires, un-nerving to say the least).

redjay · 08-19-2019, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brydgy

Morning redjay,
Commander 2 on back new last year and Bridgestone Spitfire on the front. Tread seems fine. I checked the sticker on the bike and dropped the pressure from 38 to 34 on the front. Recommended is 32. Back is 40 with 41 recommended. It is only at highway speeds that I am getting moved by what seems like wind yet it isn't windy. The front tire also grabs everything. If I hit the painted line, it wants to follow it. Not sure if that is normal.

How old is the Spitfire tire ?
I remember them from years ago.

Check the date code on the side of the tire to determine its age.

08-11-2019, 06:59 PM	#1
Brydgy Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 115	Blown around Looking for some help. Close to selling bike. I am experiencing being “blown “ around on my 2003 Nomad when there is no wind. I am forever correcting and can’t really relax. I put a Batwing on last season as well as removing the pillion seat and rear back rest and putting a rack on to match the bags. I have since put the shield back on, changed the lowers back to original or totally removed. No difference. I can’t hear anything indicating a possible bearing failure. Getting tired. Would anyone have an idea what this might be? Thanking in advance. Brydgy __________________ Brydgy 2003 Nomad 1500Fi V & H pipes MS Batwing Meanie spring with Judges washers Phat risers ‘97 Royal Star rear fender rack Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-11-2019, 07:59 PM	#2
sam Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 223	Check back shocks, set at lower air psi. My 06 is set up for2 and when I am alone I get bad buffeting at higher speeds. __________________ Sam 05 1600 nomad
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08-11-2019, 08:17 PM	#3
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	Yep, check the shocks then check the tires. A bad belt can have the same symptoms. __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
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08-11-2019, 08:58 PM	#4
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	Inspect the tires very carefully, Jack the bike up and rotate each wheel and check the tires. tire pressure cold before you ride 38 PSI front, 40 PSI rear. Put 20 PSI in each rear shock, and let us know how it does. __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
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08-11-2019, 09:59 PM	#5
VulcanJeff Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Galesburg, IL Posts: 309	Most importantly regarding the shocks, make sure both shocks have the same amount of air. If you don't have a suspension pump, you'll be pissing into the wind trying to sync the psi from side to side. __________________ 2005 Vulcan 1600 Nomad - lovin' it! 2009 Vulcan 1700 Classic LT - gone, mostly forgotten 2005 Vulcan 1500 Classic FI - gone but not forgotten Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-12-2019, 01:22 AM	#7
DragonLady58 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Somewhere South of Alaska.... Posts: 2,359	Yes,. Check your shocks, and the steering bearings.....make sure you have the correct tire pressure and your wheel bearings are tight.... __________________ --------------------- Don't start no schit, there won't be no schit.... My Sarcasm is directly proportional to the amount of Stupidity involved --------------------- VBA#03239 VROC#37400 VRA --------------------- 2014 Vaquero 2001 Nomad FI 2003 Street Glide (sold) 1500 Meanie, fresh rebuild (sold) 90s BUBF Bobber (sold) 2001 UltraCycle FatPounder (Sold) 1975 HD ElectraGlide (Sold) 1982 Kawasaki Z1 Chopper (Sold) Suck It Up & Ride!
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08-12-2019, 09:20 AM	#8
Brydgy Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 115	Thanks for all the info everyone. Much appreciated. I will check these as time allows during the week and get back to you. __________________ Brydgy 2003 Nomad 1500Fi V & H pipes MS Batwing Meanie spring with Judges washers Phat risers ‘97 Royal Star rear fender rack
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08-12-2019, 10:44 AM	#9
VulcanJeff Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Galesburg, IL Posts: 309	Steering neck bearings came to mind after I posted as did swing arm bearings. __________________ 2005 Vulcan 1600 Nomad - lovin' it! 2009 Vulcan 1700 Classic LT - gone, mostly forgotten 2005 Vulcan 1500 Classic FI - gone but not forgotten
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08-18-2019, 10:43 PM	#10
Brydgy Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 115	OK. I checked tires and wheel bearings as well as the swing arm bearings. All seem to be tight. I haven't had an opportunity to ride with a lower front tire pressure or look into the shock pressures yet. Steering bearings appear to be fine too. I'm going to borrow a no pressure loss pump for the shocks. I also took the 9" shield off the batwing and replaced with my 5" shield. I'll report back once I am able to do a ride. Thanks again for all the help. __________________ Brydgy 2003 Nomad 1500Fi V & H pipes MS Batwing Meanie spring with Judges washers Phat risers ‘97 Royal Star rear fender rack
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08-19-2019, 08:52 AM	#11
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,978	What brand of tires are you running ? How much tread is on them. Does it wander all the time or are you checking it on the same stretch of road ? The 401 near you is rutted really bad in places. It feels sometimes like you have a flat tire as the bike goes into grooves made by transport trucks. Last edited by redjay; 08-19-2019 at 08:54 AM.
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08-19-2019, 11:15 AM	#12
Brydgy Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 115	Morning redjay, Commander 2 on back new last year and Bridgestone Spitfire on the front. Tread seems fine. I checked the sticker on the bike and dropped the pressure from 38 to 34 on the front. Recommended is 32. Back is 40 with 41 recommended. It is only at highway speeds that I am getting moved by what seems like wind yet it isn't windy. The front tire also grabs everything. If I hit the painted line, it wants to follow it. Not sure if that is normal. __________________ Brydgy 2003 Nomad 1500Fi V & H pipes MS Batwing Meanie spring with Judges washers Phat risers ‘97 Royal Star rear fender rack
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08-19-2019, 12:12 PM	#13
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 6,978	Personally I would change the front tire to a Commander II or Avon Cobra.
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