a little worried

ive fixed my problems withe the knocking sounds it was my cluch after all but ive been riding my bike every where in the mountains to the lake and maybe next weekend the beach

but as im driving on the freeway the bike feels very light it wants to wooble just a little at 70 and i get sucked in to the cars and any wind thats side ways at 70 feels like the bike just wants to fall over its a naked bike of corce if you look at my gallery but is it just me or is it every body im kinda new at riding so thats the question


ohh my paint chiped on the back of the front tire fender i think that they did a bad prep job

 

Smaller bikes are always going to be bothered by wind gusts.

I'm not sure if you have the orginal crusier handlebars but if you were to change them to something straighter you would notice better handling. The orginal down turn handlebars don't give you the control that a straight handlebar does.

I have a xj650 and I changed the handlebars and the handling is vastly improved. Got a pair of super bike bars off ebay. You'll have to change mirrors if you go with this type of handlebar.

 

Interesting. I thought the handling improved with the stock bars. I removed the straighter after market bars because they were driving me nuts.

Po-TAY-to, po-TAH-to, I suppose.

I agree about the wind, though. For cross breezes, your bike is a giant sail. A good hard gust can put you in the next lane, if you aren't careful. So be careful! Slow down and lean into the wind a little bit.

But yes, it's everybody. Every bike I have experiences this.

 

You will find that just following another car or even worse a truck at highway speeds produces buffeting when you are caught in their windstream. This is caused by vortex produced as wind comes off the back of the vehicle in front of you. Alot of turbulance follows a car for quite a distance. You will also notice that when passing a semi that you break through the turbulence in the back of the rig and then smooth sailing until reach the front of the truck where the turbulance is created by the truck punching through still air. This is the time you feel like you will get sucked under the wheels. All you can do is anticipate these this before they happen. You also ride a longer distance behind another vehicle or get in front of it.

I have found that the bikes that we own and love do have some weaknesses. One of those is ridgidity or the lack there of. Especially in the forks. The forks on these bikes flex alot. I have not come up a fix for this, it's just another nature of the beast.

I would, if you haven't already, check for play in the fork / steering head bearings. I had a "lively" bike too at one time but this improved greatly after replacing them. To check them put your bike on the center stand and have one of your heavy buddies hold the rear wheel on the ground. Then take hold of the forks and give it a few shakes. If there is any play I would replace them.

Ride Safe

The Buff