Drifter ride problems

joe nash · November 16, 2015, 08:06:13 AM

Water will not evaporate, If your tire is not
leaking air the dampness will never get out.
did you ever try to wipe the dampness out of a plastic bag? Next to impossible
Been riding for over 50 years, I'm impressed with the dyna beads, just that water will make them stick and not roll around.
If in doubt last resort change the tubes.
MUST HAVE A DRY AIR SUPPLY!

CDNRatMan · November 15, 2015, 18:22:28 PM

Good answer but would the water not dry up over time?

joe nash · November 15, 2015, 15:51:03 PM

WET DYNA BEADS, WATER IN AIR SUPLY WILL GET YOU. jOE NASH

kw-retrorider · October 14, 2015, 13:12:19 PM

Fink: Agree with Greenbarn....hang in there. It should be smooth running. I have the same 2002 and it doesn't bounce.
I have stock never been changed fork oil and springs as well as original monoshock. I am just starting to feel the tight spot in the chain consistently, but I have almost 24k miles on the bike.....and even the tight spot is not a bounce...it's more of an uneven surge when you decelerate.
So, it shouldn't "bounce"....Even though you covered this, I say tires and wheel balance....there can be so much variation, even with name brands.
We'll keep scratching our heads...keep us posted.

pcarrell · October 14, 2015, 07:53:59 AM

Quote from: 49Reo on October 13, 2015, 22:37:36 PM
Now I'll go out on a limb here, and hope no one shoots me out of the tree.

BANG!!!

49Reo · October 13, 2015, 22:37:36 PM

Now I'll go out on a limb here, and hope no one shoots me out of the tree. Have you made SURE that the engine is running correctly? A cylinder missing for any number of reasons will cause an unholy shake on a 2 cylinder bike, even one cylinder not firing full power. Maybe that needs looking at too. Just sayin'.....

greenbarn · October 13, 2015, 21:16:26 PM

Quote from: pcarrell on October 13, 2015, 18:28:01 PM
How would that effect the front wheel?

SOunds to me, from Fink's initial description, that the whole bike is bouncing/shaking. I'm inclined to agree with Troll to think maybe it's the chain.

Raise the back wheel, and turn it by hand to see if there are any tight spots in the chain, for one.

Could be a bad tire, too. DO you know if the problem started before or after the new tires??
I put Shinko 777's on mine, and regret it. There is evidently an out-of round tire on mine. If these tires were truly spin-balanced, they should have seen (and pointed out) any out of round or bent conditions with the tires/wheels (especially if you pointed out you have a problem like this). But, wouldnt' hurt to turn both the front and rear wheel on the bike to check.

Hang in there- we'll figure this one out. That should be a smooth running bike.

CDNRatMan · October 13, 2015, 19:40:51 PM

at this point I am not sure but it just might be a feel thing.

pcarrell · October 13, 2015, 18:28:01 PM

How would that effect the front wheel?

CDNRatMan · October 13, 2015, 17:44:06 PM

Ok so you are saying it could be something simple as a stiff or tight spot on the chain. So Fink what type of chain and how old is it?

Troll · October 13, 2015, 12:10:02 PM

There are many possibilities with wire wheels. With no mileage on this bike to speak of, it's hard to point at any one thing, especially wheel related. Radial and axial run out need to be checked, but there is one thing that most people never think of with "modern" o ring chains...They develop stiff spots that cannot be lubricated. Chains in use get them, so why not one that sat, unmoved for a long (years, apparently) time? I have no problem with chain drive bikes, in general, but I would never replace an o ring chain with another o ring chain because of the inability to lube them correctly.

pcarrell · October 13, 2015, 11:19:51 AM

Could the rims be out of true?

pcarrell · October 13, 2015, 11:17:18 AM

Oops.....missed that one.....

CDNRatMan · October 13, 2015, 10:45:27 AM

boys .........

Quote
I had the fluids changed, new metzler tires, heavier fork oil with restricters put in to the front forks, I also had a rear progressive shock put in the rear.

Unless they been on the shelf a long time they should be good to go.

Has anyone looked at the sprockets?

so rims checked, tires checked, balanced,

did they check the bearings while doing all this?

we will solve this problem

pcarrell · October 13, 2015, 08:06:02 AM

Quote from: LarryInSeattle on October 13, 2015, 01:56:30 AM
You have an 01 with 4200 miles on it. I bet those tires are original. 15 years old. Check the date stamp. Time to replace them anyway.

Excellent point!

LarryInSeattle · October 13, 2015, 01:56:30 AM

You have an 01 with 4200 miles on it. I bet those tires are original. 15 years old. Check the date stamp. Time to replace them anyway.

49Reo · October 12, 2015, 18:44:48 PM

Might not hurt to check the sprockets, see if they are bent/worn/loose. Check motor mounts as well. Just fishin' here, sounds like one of those "try something, check it off the list" things until you find it. Don't be discouraged; there is more bike repair talent on this forum than you can imagine. Either you or someone will figure it out, then you will be very happy. These are great bikes.

CDNRatMan · October 12, 2015, 18:11:12 PM

I have been mulling this over all day or since the post was made and I am now to the part of

Quote
The front and rear fenders shake up and down.

so not the bike is shaking it is just the fenders?

Quote
It is not a wobble but a bounce I can feel in the seat and handlebars.

ok so what is bouncing the whole bike or is it just the fenders?

if it is the fenders then my first guess would be that some of the hidden brackets inside the fenders are missing or not secured properly. I went out and grabbed both my fenders and they are some stiff, so not sure about what else it could be.
I would go and check all the fender mounts first thing and go from there. If possible try and get someone to ride next to you like Troll suggested or behind you and then try and get a video of the bike and see if you can see what is happening.

pcarrell · October 12, 2015, 16:56:13 PM

Like Ratman said, the first thing I'd do is verify that all of the proper mounting screws and brackets are all there and done up properly. You can see exploded views of your entire bike here to see if anything is not as it should be: http://www.ronayersmotorcycles.com/fiche_select2.asp?category=Motorcycles&make=Kawasaki&year=2002&fveh=9082

Troll · October 12, 2015, 16:16:19 PM

I think you need to have somebody ride next to you and see if they can see the problem.

CDNRatMan · October 12, 2015, 15:57:33 PM

ok I can not find the first post either. But I know a few people did check in on it.

My 99 800 does not bounce, I know that the first time you see the fender going up and down it is surprising. The amount of travel is surprising. Now to narrow this down is it just the fenders are moving? Are they loose? Are they missing the mounting brackets inside the fenders?
Reading what you have done, fluid changed, new tires, heavier oil in the front forks, as for restricters are those spacers? New rear shock, those all sound like you have done what needs doing. It is not the nature of the beast because all the 800 owners here will tell you it is not so. I would love to take it for a ride and see and feel what it actually does.
Were are you located?

LarryInSeattle · October 12, 2015, 15:49:29 PM

Mine don't bounce a bit. I have the rear shock set as high as it goes. Mine is an 01 800 with 11,000 miles. I wish I had a suggestion.

Did it bounce before you started the suspension work?

Tires unbalanced? How old are the tires?

Fink · October 12, 2015, 15:31:54 PM

So I hope I am not repeating myself or posting two times but I was unable to find my previous question. Sorry if I am. I picked up a 2002 drifter 800 and it only had 4200miles when I bought it. It must have sat for a while. The front and rear fenders shake up and down. I had the fluids changed, new metzler tires, heavier fork oil with restricters put in to the front forks, I also had a rear progressive shock put in the rear. I have had it to the dealer and another shop. They told me it is the nature of the beast. It is not a wobble but a bounce I can feel in the seat and handlebars. I can see and feel with my hand the front and rear fenders bouncing when going down ANY road. I took the bike on some fresh paved blacktop and I could still feel it. The problem really starts up after 50mph but you can still feel it before. I had them spin balance the tires 3 times and "check" the bearings. I always wanted a drifter but I am regretting buying one. I have had a couple shops tell me "Its the nature of the beast" I think hogwash as they would not release a bike to the public that bounced like this. The problem still seems the same after all the work. The brakes do not seem to be sticking. Tires are both fully beaded. Tire pressure seems to not change anything. I have been riding for 12 years. Everything from a V-max to a c90. I have had front wobble problems with my c90. I smack the handle bars on this bike and it balances the wobble out fine. I am pretty desperate as I got this for 3k and have sunk a little over 2k in to it already . Thanks for all the help.