Vibration

[Troll]

After you replace the tires, if the vibration persists, please try to give us some specific circumstances under which it occurs...I have an idea about  what I found after chasing a vibe for about 3,000 miles, and eventually fixed. The international Rubber Manufacturer's Association recommends replacing tires that are 10 years old, no matter how good they look, since the internal structure deteriorates without visible external clues.

[chief]

So you now own NovaDrifter's bike? Wow, that machine has seen some changes.

It sounds like you have the original bridgestone's on the bike... those are ok tires, but they ARE hard and they tend to cup, causing a lot of vibration. I changed mine after about 600 miles and have never used that brand again on my bike.
Also, those are some VERY old tires. Personally, I'd change them out for a better (and newer) set. I like Metzlers in WWW... but there are several other good makers, more if you are interested in www's.

[Rider]

I now own this bike and the tires are stamped 99 on side wall and talked to NovaDrifter  about it after I rode it home from VA to AR over a 1000miles and they seem hard and maybe a slight flat spot or the dealer didn't tighten the axle nut to the correct ft. lbs. .I've checked out the bike when I got it home and found many loose bolts and nuts and its seems better but haven't had a chance to ride it much since Monday after a 800 mile day.

[chief]

To keep the thread together I killed this part out of your original message and added to this one.

[chief]

Posted by: Ironraven on: Today at 15:25:06

Have you checked the tire pressure?  Ironically my bike felt really heavy and rode rough until I stopped during my test drive and checked the pressure... the rear had almost no air and the front only had 10 pounds! Talk about dangerous... after stopping at a gas station and properly filling them it was a completely different animal.

Posted by: NovaDrifter  on: Today at 14:59:37

Thanks everyone.  The tires, from what I was told, were replaced not too long before the guy I bought the bike from got it.  The Bridgestones seem hard to me too.  The feeling is like I'm riding on tires made of solid rubber instead of air.  Guess I should move this to another forum.  Hate to take it to a dealer to look at it, but I was really expecting a smoother ride!

Posted by: 49Reo on: Today at 14:35:33

Nice bike! My first guess would be tires if they are old; my 02 had original tires on it, had to change them out same year; got hard to handle and developed a shake at certain speeds.

Regards and such,
49Reo

Posted by: chief on: Today at 14:31:56

The air shocks need to be setup for you... they may or may not have been adjusted. This will help a lot. Also, the oem front fork springs can be improved. Also look at those tires... are they 13 years old? If so, I'd be rid of them... the bridgestones are hard as bricks IMHO

[NovaDrifter]

I mentioned this in my introduction, but I'd like to mention it here too.  Last Thursday I bought a '99 1500 with 8,000 miles.  "Pristine" is the best way to describe it.  The guy I bought it from bought it from the original owner last fall intending to put a sidecar on it.  He found another bike with a sidecar and decided to sell the Drifter.  It has Bridgestones, the guy I got it from said the original owner had recently put new tires on it, and they now look to be about 90%.  He had the B
'B' service done was well as the fork oil. I rode it about 500 miles over the weekend and was expecting a smoother ride than I got.  There's a vibration that I can best describe as the tires feeling like they are made of solid rubber instead of having air in them.  Seems worse about 50 mph (I think). So I just wanted to ask what others have experienced as far as vibrations are concerned and what you did to fix it.  Thanks for any input!