Why would a bike handle better *after* hitting the twisties?

[Holeshot]

I *may* have figured out the mystery of the high speed squirming. It's my new slip-ons.

GP suspension is the shop/ manufacturer. (Oxnard)

Everything you're posting is pointing to the rear end of the motorcycle that I can tell. I'd look at the rear shock and start there. Make sure it's sprung correctly and is dampening within its stated range.

 

[Lkatzman]

If you haven’t ridden a bike with tight steering (to know what it feels like), you might check for that. With the wheel off the ground it should be very fluid. It should flop side to side with a very narrow range in the center where it could balance. Roller bearings in a steering head should be near zero preload but not loose. Ball bearings are more forgiving in that regard, they roll more easily at normal bearing preloads.

 

[W800]

I *may* have figured out the mystery of the high speed squirming. It's my new slip-ons.

While it did all begin 2 years ago, with the tow truck driver up in Oregon, and he did damage the steering head and swing arm bearings, in between the process of my fixing those issues, I may have inadvertently created a new new, similar issue, when I installed my new aftermarket HD touring slip-ons this past summer.

My R* is a softail, and when I went with true duals some years back, I got an exhaust system made for a softail, i.e. all softail daul exhaust system use a different support than the typical HD touring duals. The touring duals are mounted to the underside of the saddlebag support, unlike the softail duals which have their own frame mounted support.

What I think may be happening, is at higher speeds, the combination of the saddlebags and exhaust are flexing and swinging side to side; similar to what you were saying about the frame flex W800. At certain speeds this sets up an oscillation that makes the back end feel like it's weaving under me, because it is. I essentially have these two, heavy ass pendulums, swinging back and forth behind me as I ride.

The good news is there is a solution. Many bikes with similarly mounted duals use a middle support that ties the two bags together. I never fully understood way, but I think I may have found out. Now I just need to come up with a way to do this. Stay tuned.

Interesting. Yes - I am totally not an expert, but seems to me that side to side could be caused by this. Have you tried putting a shit ton of weight in your saddle bags to see if it has any effect one way or another? Don't overload them, just see what happens at capacity. Also see what happens if you remove them (if that's possible).

 

[Doc_V]

I've normally got a good amount of weight in the bags. I'm actually considering removing the weight to see what that does. The whole bag and exhaust assembly can freely move back and forth a about 2-3 inches, which is why I'm thinking it might be the cause.

I've already torqued and retorqued the steering head bearings several times. The shock was recently rebuilt. It's an upgrade from stock. In fact, I just pulled it off today to send back to the rebuilder, because it's got a slow leak in the gas charge. I put the stock one back on and, holy crap, that thing was useless. I forgot how bad it was. Even with the leak the other is still way better.

 

[W800]

I've normally got a good amount of weight in the bags. I'm actually considering removing the weight to see what that does. The whole bag and exhaust assembly can freely move back and forth a about 2-3 inches, which is why I'm thinking it might be the cause.

I've already torqued and retorqued the steering head bearings several times. The shock was recently rebuilt. It's an upgrade from stock. In fact, I just pulled it off today to send back to the rebuilder, because it's got a slow leak in the gas charge. I put the stock one back on and, holy crap, that thing was useless. I forgot how bad it was. Even with the leak the other is still way better.

Hmmm. . . Did the weaving get worse or better with the stock shock? Maybe also try different preload. I think sometimes just changing preload has effects because it moves weight back or forward. I know on my last bike I increased preload and it steered quicker. Admittedly, it was a primitive bike - but I think the general principle holds true. Maybe in your case decrease preload?

 

[Whammy]

Adrenaline euphoria.:ride :teeth