Harsh Ride

[Beemerman59]

Before I go down the route of suspecting the shocks I'm wondering if there is anything else I should check first. Irrespective of suspension settings, when the bike goes over minor road imperfections it feels as if every bump is being transmitted through to me via the frame. I can't tell whether this is through the front or rear of the bike - it just seems the whole bike is jolting. In all other respects the suspension is working fine, it goes up and down, there's no wallowing and fast cornering is as good as ever. No sign of oil leaks. I have had this bike for over 3 years and this hasn't just happened but has been making itself known gradually to the point that I now think somethings not as it should be.

Is there anything else that pivots that I should look at? Swing arm bearings?

Bike is an '08 1200GSA, with ESA and 28K on the clock.

 

[Greenman14]

I guess you checked the ESA is working properly? Easy to check the preload is varying as the seat height changes noticably. It does sound like the ESA might not be working, though I hope it's something else for the sake of your wallet.

If the swinging arm bearings were shot you would feel it in the corners and it's easy to check with the bike on the centre stand, just pull the wheel fron side to side, there should be zero play. Have you checked the suspension unit mountings and the steering head bearings?

 

[Schtum]

ESA stuck on Sport setting....

 

[Beemerman59]

The ESA is working for rebound and I think the damping is working because I can detect a difference going from sport to comfort. The ride still feels a bit harsh though, its noticable when I go over those multiple lines they put on the roads just before entering a speed limit area in a town. Its not really a huge problem as such I'm just trying to work out if I have something looming. My K1100RS goes over these types of undulations very smoothly. If the shock seals had gone I would have noticed the oil but if not, the bike would be wallowing all over the place which it isn't - wouldn't it?

Had not thought about the steering head bearing - thats a good shout. I have some new PR3's coming so will have a look at this and the swingarm when I fit those. I can't detect any play from the rear wheel though.

 

[heathy]

I found that changing to Dunlop road smarts made the ride a touch harsher, must be a stiffer construction, interestingly the roadsmart 2 I now have fitted seem a little more compliant. The point being that tyres make quite a difference to ride quality.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Heathy has a point. The Avon Azaro/STs I run give a significantly smoother ride than other tyres I've tried.

Andres

 

[Skipssong]

Just moved from CTA's to Pilot Road 3 Trail's today. Only done about 15 miles getting home but these new tyres are noticeably harsher. Moved the 3 Trails down to 2.3 F/2.6 R and they still feel jittery.

 

[Beemerman59]

I found that changing to Dunlop road smarts made the ride a touch harsher, must be a stiffer construction, interestingly the roadsmart 2 I now have fitted seem a little more compliant. The point being that tyres make quite a difference to ride quality.

Interesting since I am just changing a knackered set of Roadsmarts - both front and rear are down to the wear marks. Putting on a set of PR3's so will see what its like then.

 

[original_concept]

Interesting since I am just changing a knackered set of Roadsmarts - both front and rear are down to the wear marks. Putting on a set of PR3's so will see what its like then.

That should explain feeling all the small bumps then...rear tyre down to the wear bars.

 

[Beemerman59]

Not so bad but still harsh

I have 600 miles on the new PR3's and the ride still seems harsh over small ripples. Not as bad as before the tyre change so that has made a difference of some sort. I'm beginning to question my memory of the last 3.5 years I have had this bike. Has it always been like this? I have been riding my K1100RS a lot more recently which handles the road imperfections so much better. Is it just because that has highlighted the harshness in the GSA which has always been there? If I stand at the side of the bike and bounce up and down on the rear and the front, the shocks all seems to be doing what they should. Fast cornering two up around the cornish lanes last week didn't throw any issues up at all - it was firm but precise and the damping was doing its job as normal. No wallowing either. My pillion felt the harshness straight away and commented on it and she's an experienced rider herself. It does seem to "loosen" up and smooth out a bit when the bikes done a few miles. Strangely it seems less harsh on "Sport" than on "Comfort".

Its liveable with at the moment so I guess I can wait and see if I can actually identify anything wrong. The three options of BMW, WESA and Ohlins are all expensive to just buy as trial and error. I can feel it through the seat so I'm pretty sure its the back end so my logic says its either the shock, swingarm or pivot pins/bearings that can potentially cause this in anyway because nothing else is linked that can affect the ride. Or is there anything else I may have missed? I think its at least worth dropping the bevel box down and checking the pivot pins that I assume are there to see if they are notchy or corroded at all. Can I drop this with the oil still in or do I need to drain it first?