Topic: Bouncy highway ride

[gregripko]

%90 of my riding occurs on surface streets and for the most part it's a smooth ride... However there's a stretch of highway that I sometimes take that has rough uneven slabs that create a head shaking and unpleasant ride. The effects of the bounce can be felt from the front end for the most part. Any remedies? My rear shocks are at their greatest/loosest position. Not sure about fork oil but pretty sure I used Dexton VI ATF fluid. I weigh about 143lbs

[flybox1]

Fork oil refresh/ or change wt.
progressive fork springs
be sure you have a fender or fork brace
check swingarm for play.
add a steering dampener.

[oldhatt45]

gregripko,

Are your Front and Rear Wheels aligned with each other?? 

If you have Hondaman's 750 book (assuming you have a 750) he talks about Alignment of the wheels.
Something else to look at in addition to what flybox1 has already said,

Charlie

[scottly]

The rule of thumb is "If you feel it in the front end, the problem is in the rear".
Bouncing after hitting bumps in the road indicates a lack of damping in the shocks..

[750cafe]

Have you ever greased the steering bearings and set the preload on those bearings?

Eric

[goldarrow]

Or just simply get used to SoCal freeways where concrete is used

[gregripko]

I replaced the steering bearings a while back to tapered.......cb550 btw

[scottly]

Stock, worn-out rear shocks?

[gregripko]

I have about 36,000 miles on the bike....not sure if they're stock rear springs....is there an indicator?

[Stev-o]

I think you are feeling the indicator, time for some new shocks.  And not cheapo eBay shocks, get some Hagons or Ikons.
Have you checked the swing arm bushings?

[bjbuchanan]

I have about 36,000 miles on the bike....not sure if they're stock rear springs....is there an indicator?

If you can't tell then they are probably worn out junk

[gregripko]

I have my shocks set to this position

[bjbuchanan]

That is the softest position on there. You can tweak it higher but it probably won't help anything, just be stiffer on bumps.

If there are no identifying marks on the shocks then they are probably stock. These shocks, by reputation, sucked @ss from the factory. I have never seen an aftermarket supplier that doesn't brand their stuff, its usually a big tip off. The stock shocks might have a little logo near the bottom clevis too.

Deal with it for now as long as it isn't unsafe feeling and get yourself some good shocks after a bit. You already seem to do right by the bike by the looks of that Motogp pipe 

[Maurice]

Check tire balance, whether you've thrown a weight or tire may have worn unevenly.

[Muckinfuss]

Springs and spring rate, whether front or rear have to do with getting the suspension back to 'static' compression while navigating road surfaces.  When sitting on the bike, the compression of the front or rear is controlled by the springs.  Too much static compression gives a soft, wallowing ride prone to bottoming out; too little ....you get an iron butt. 

Pogo-ing is a failure in the dampening of the shock/fork.  Given your weight, the ATF should be ok in the forks.  However, put a 15 wt fork oil in and see if it improves anything.  ATF is about a 7 wt.  If it changes things for you...you're done for now.  If it doesn't .... then you're off to buy some new rear shocks.

[gregripko]

Thank you for all your responses.... This will def help me resolve the issue systematically rather than blind guessing.