Clunks, Rattles and things that go bump while on the road.

[CDNRatMan]

  I too had windsheild issues when I first bought my ride and it was a matter of taking it off and cleaning around it and then reinstalling it with rubber grommets at all the bolts and bingo the rattle was gone and it was a easy fix with nothing but good things resulting.

[45 Bravo]

After I fixed the last clunks, about a week later while on a benefit ride, I developed  another front end rattle, it happened on any bump, and even at a particular rpm while in neutral, or in first gear.

While tapping with a small rubber mallet, on various places on the front end, I narrowed it down to the windshield area on the right side..

I took the 4 Allen bolts off that hold / adjust the height of the windshield, and took the windshield off, and determined that the right side bracket was just a little loose.
I mean just a little, about a quarter turn loose.

I snugged it down, checked all the others in the vicinity.

I also used this time to clean between the windshield and the lower curved insert.
When I reassembled it I raised the insert somewhat.

When I took it for a test ride, there were no more rattles, and with the insert raised a little, it allowed more airflow through the front end, instead of over the windshield, side benefit?

Less helmet buffeting.

So, I cured 2 issues with one 30 minute fix.

Later gents.

45 Bravo

[cochise]

I developed a hard clunk when going over a bump that drove me crazy. Couldn't pinpoint it , hit every part of the bike with a rubber mallot , overtightened every bolt ...... It was so loud on the Friday the 13 th Port Dover run the rider beside me was looking down at " his " bike. It sounded like the front, then the back, then the side. It came to me one day, could it have started when I made a clever bracket to move my regulator away from the leather bag I put on ? The was 1/8" clearance away from the frame but that wasn"t enough when hitting a bump. Moved the bracket and the sound was history. It was hard to believe that small piece of metal made that loud of a sound.

[CDNRatMan]

  I am the oldest of 2.

I have taken to riding my 800 to work almost every day weather permitting. In fact the other day we ahd a parade and I was not notified and so had to come home and change into my dress blues....lol rode back to work for the parade in my dress blues. I have an 8 km ride to work (4.9 miles) but a lot of the time I'll take the back rode of the escarpment and along the lake just to get some extra miles on and relax before I get home.
So much to learn and digest form all the minds on this forum it is great. Fun to tinker with the ride and try and get it to suit me better and it will soon be set just right.

[45 Bravo]

Cool, glad to hear it.
This is what we are here for, helping each other out, and sharing knowledge..

So you say we are on the same wavelength on figuring things out?

Yea, I have always been the baby brother, (the youngest of 5).

On my normal day to day ride to work & back (1.5 miles each way) I don't have too many bumps on the way, so I mainly get the bumps on the weekend.

I really love my drifter, it just seems to be more finely tuned than other bikes I have owned, as in it is more susceptible to tire pressure, shock preload, and shock pressure, and spring rates, as the load changes...
In my opinion..

45 Bravo

[CDNRatMan]

  45 having you here is like the little brother I never had. Glad I read your post before I made mine. I had read all the posts about tire pressure because my 800 just did not corner like my old bike (1980 FXS Lowrider) and truth be told I have not done much riding in the past 8 years or so. So my bestest buddy who rides a Honda something 1000cc machine decided to help me out and he inflated my tires to the tire manufactures specs. Sat. I went on a recce because I have been asked to find a route for a Autum Leaves Ride this weekend. Found a couple of nice roads and man lots of bumping and noise in my bike. Not a smooth ride like I want nor quiet. So once I got home I checked the tire pressure and found them too high, so I lowered them to 29 front and 32 back. Then I checked the 2 compartments, which I had never done before because I did not need them. In the big one on the right I found a couple of nuts and a socket. other one the tools were just lose.  Shock I had already played with before.
Sunday went for a ride along the other half of the route, fantastic, smooth, no noise other then wind and the rumble of the exhast. Corners a lot better and holds the pavment really nice now.

[45 Bravo]

My wife finally felt up to a ride Sunday, (She has been over the pain from the cracked ribs, just our schedule never allowed for the time to ride 2 up lately)

For the last few weeks every time i hit a minor bump in the road (like where a concrete bridge meets the asphalt roadway) my front end and rear end sounded like they were about to fall off the bike.

I checked the bearings in the neck, and the swing arm for looseness or slack, the fender tightness, but nothing was loose.
its been driving me crazy.

then while changing the seat back to the 2 up configuration, I remembered I had put a 1/4 inch ratchet and sockets in the front tool bag over the front fender, below my headlight, inside was the tools inside a work glove, (to keep them from rattling i had hoped) and apparently still rattling on the bumps. I took them out, also my left plastic side cover was loose, apparently where the key lock twist to hold it in place, the small rubber pad had fallen off, i used some contact adhesive to put in a new piece of rubber, problems solved, almost.

It still rode like a hard tail, then i remembered i have been running max pressure in both tires for riding 2 up, (42psi per the pirelli sidewalls)

Now we have both lost a little weight recently, so i decided to drop the pressure a little.

Since we were riding 2 up i dropped the front to 30, and the rear to 38.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

It just glides over the bumps, and rail road crossings it is like a cruiser should.
No rattles, No clunks, smooth as can be. Oh Yea BABY!

So, while it may not apply to the long time riders, for the newer riders, if you don't like the ride, adjust the shocks & tires, if you have abnormal noises, check your tool bags or saddle bags for loose noisy things.

Now the downside, I am back on the 2 up seat, that means i am riding about 3 inches higher again, I really need to get that taller windscreen one day.

Later Guys.

45 Bravo