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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 7
| Is everyone else with a Vision getting the severe SHAKES when you are on the highway on a windy day and ESPECIALLY behind an 18 wheeler?!!! I was going down the interstate the other day and it was quite windy...THEN I got behind an 18 wheeler too!!! Man that thing was dancing around like crazy!!!! Normal riding, I LOVE it!!! But if these things aIsre SUPPOSE to be highway machines, the open road and a little wind should NOT be affecting these things like this!! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1117
Northeast Ohio | Try to loosen up on the grips a bit (relax) and see if that helps. Most of the time it is this.
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Cruiser
Posts: 79
| Lots of high windy days here in Nebraska and the Vision handles it better than anything I have ridden. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 215
W'ford Tx | How are the roads you're riding on? There's some road work out where I live and I notice the bike wants to follow the cuts, but I've had that happen with any bike. The vision cruises like a dream at highway speeds even when I've been passed in the opposite direction by 18 wheelers and the draft hits me it stays nice and steady. Where do you have your air ride set? |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | This is an OLD subject and has been discussed for a few years. The answer is always : RELAX - it's your fighting the wind that's causing the bike to do strange things. I actually can take one hand off the bars in that situation, or if on cruise - just one finger on each hand. If you don't 'fight' it - the bike is steady as a rock.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| Relax your death grip and you'll be fine. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | make sure your tires have at least 40psi front and rear. I usually run 42 rear 41 front, cold. Also, keep your rear shock at the proper load level pressure. you don't provide year or mileage, but if your bike has over 20,000 miles I'd check the steering bearings and grease as needed. Other than, let it ride its ride, loosen up and it will be smooth, even in truck wash. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | Vision1, just so you don't feel crazy, I have had a similar experience. I am convinced it is something about the aerodynamics of the front end. But that's just my opinion. I notice it especially when approaching an 18 wheeler. Not always, but usually the front end gets bounced around from the swirling wind generated by the 18 wheeler. I have ridden all sorts of bikes and while this happens to them all, the Vision just seems to transmit the effects of the wind vortices more than others. (It's a good thing to feel the road on a bike or a car, and on the Vision I feel most everything)
The wind from an 18 wheeler is called a wind vortice, and is the physical wind effect used by racers to "draft" behind another car. If you have ever seen the swirls coming off the tips of an airliner you know what I'm talking about. Another effect that sometimes happens is called wind sheer, but that's another story.
I usually relax, put my windscreen down, crank the throttle and pass. Putting the windscreen down seems to reduce the buffeting. My other alternative is to leave my shield up and just back off from the 18 wheeler. I hate riding behind an 18 wheeler anyhow. I have watched a tire retread coming off a semi and it ain't pretty. I don't want to play dodge ball with a retread at 70 mph.
Depending on the other windfactors the effects of an 18 wheeler can non-existant, or can cause some front end drift or bouncing. Everyone is right though, just relax and ride thru it. Tightening up on the grip only worens the effect and exaggerates the brain's impression of the event.
Just my 2 cents. Hope that helps.
Edited by MaddMAx2u 2012-04-24 6:12 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| Max may be on to something concerning the windshield. I ride with mine down unless it's raining and I don't get too close to an 18 wheeler in the rain. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 612
| Good explanation. This happens to me all the time on windy days or when there is a lot of vehicle turbulence, usually from trucks, on the highway. My feeling is that it's inherent in all bikes with this much body work. While that is great to isolate the rider from most of it, that is only possible because the bike is taking the brunt of the force, and you feel it. On a naked bike, the rider feels it more, so the bike doesn't "seem" to move as much. There is a thread entitled "twitchy vision" I believe that was started a while back on this very subject.
MaddMAx2u - 2012-04-24 6:03 AM
Vision1, just so you don't feel crazy, I have had a similar experience. I am convinced it is something about the aerodynamics of the front end. But that's just my opinion. I notice it especially when approaching an 18 wheeler. Not always, but usually the front end gets bounced around from the swirling wind generated by the 18 wheeler. I have ridden all sorts of bikes and while this happens to them all, the Vision just seems to transmit the effects of the wind vortices more than others. (It's a good thing to feel the road on a bike or a car, and on the Vision I feel most everything)
The wind from an 18 wheeler is called a wind vortice, and is the physical wind effect used by racers to "draft" behind another car. If you have ever seen the swirls coming off the tips of an airliner you know what I'm talking about. Another effect that sometimes happens is called wind sheer, but that's another story.
I usually relax, put my windscreen down, crank the throttle and pass. Putting the windscreen down seems to reduce the buffeting. My other alternative is to leave my shield up and just back off from the 18 wheeler. I hate riding behind an 18 wheeler anyhow. I have watched a tire retread coming off a semi and it ain't pretty. I don't want to play dodge ball with a retread at 70 mph.
Depending on the other windfactors the effects of an 18 wheeler can non-existant, or can cause some front end drift or bouncing. Everyone is right though, just relax and ride thru it. Tightening up on the grip only worens the effect and exaggerates the brain's impression of the event.
Just my 2 cents. Hope that helps.
Edited by Turk 2012-04-24 9:58 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
Princeton, MN | +1 Varyder!! I have 40k and just replaced my head bearings,, its like a new bike again,, I always thought my Vision was incredible but after the bearing replacement WOW! I can ride miles down the road with my arms crossed. Origionals were visibly chattered some with very little grease. Ditto on the air pressure too |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | The problem isn't all in your grip or in your head. I have noticed the same thing with my 08 VV and can't say that I've really found out a cure for it, but I will try a few of the tips except replacing the steering neck bearings. That will happen soon enough though from what I hear. I've had this bike since 10k miles and it's not any better or worse now than it was then. |
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Tourer
Posts: 373
Lansing, MI |
Nope! I wouold suggest you go faster and pass those dang 18 wheelers. When in doubt, twist the throttle.............. |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | cook06vegas - 2012-04-24 2:32 PM Nope! I wouold suggest you go faster and pass those dang 18 wheelers. When in doubt, twist the throttle.............. +1, that's the only way I've figured out |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | i try and Not "hang out" around 18 wheelers... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 53
Raleigh, NC | I've had my vision for about a month now and I can see what you are talking about. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a death grip by me. I'll try to relax more also. Whatever helps. Here is a question. Does the bike feel the wind more with the tour pack on? It seems to me that it would. I have done a few short ride ( 45-60 minutes) and don't necessarily need to keep the tour pack on. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I felt the wind my self and felt the front end is to high. So I loosened the fork tube pinch bolts slid the tubes up and lowered the front end. Its only 5/8's but I do think with out a dough it made a world of difference. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 192
Republic of Tejas | Only 'shake' i ever perceive is around 105+ mph. Of course I would never admit to running that hard..... ;-)
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | you better have it checked out OG, I've done 118 and it was as smooth as glass, which that alone was scary because I wanted to give more throttle but that car was in front of me. 
Edited by varyder 2012-04-24 8:07 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 73
Nor Cali | Vision1 - 2012-04-23 8:02 PM Is everyone else with a Vision getting the severe SHAKES when you are on the highway on a windy day and ESPECIALLY behind an 18 wheeler?!!! I was going down the interstate the other day and it was quite windy...THEN I got behind an 18 wheeler too!!! Man that thing was dancing around like crazy!!!! Normal riding, I LOVE it!!! But if these things aIsre SUPPOSE to be highway machines, the open road and a little wind should NOT be affecting these things like this!! Anything with a fairing is gonna get lots of turbulence behind a Simi...back off, give it some space or pass it.
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Cruiser
Posts: 171
San Antonio, Texas | Whenever I get that shaky feeling on the Vision, not only do I check my grip and relax my hands, but I also check my shoulder position--I usually find that my shoulders have moved up in an advanced shrug position. Then, I relax both my hands and my shoulders, which pretty much relaxes my whole upper body--and away we go!! |
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Tourer
Posts: 520
Simi Valley, CA | I never ride behind an 18 wheeler.... the turbulence behind big trucks and motor homes is crazy on any bike. Swing around them and twist the throttle... problem solved. |
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Tourer
Posts: 373
Lansing, MI |
Not to mention, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near one of those rigs when one of those POS retreads comes apart..... |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 7
| Hey guys, thanks for the comments! Yeah I have had a 2006 Yamaha Venture and NO problems, a 2010 Kawasaki Voyager and NO problems, the Vision just seems to get wobbley, shakey or whatever you want to call it in wind turbulance or 18 wheeler wash. Any other time, I can set the cruise control lay back and cross my arms and go for miles and never touch the bars!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| The Vision dance is caused by you, not the bike. As you receive turbulence from the vehicle or wind you shake around and the visions responsiveness receives your input and causes the shake. There is NOT an easy cure for this and it really does come down to lightening up your grip as much as possible. I found if I tossed my elbows outward and leaned slightly forward it helped, much like you'd do riding the Vision on dirt roads or when making VERY slow manuevers where turning to the stops are necessary.
After a while you won't even think about it. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 612
| Teach - 2012-05-01 5:23 PM
The Vision dance is caused by you, not the bike. As you receive turbulence from the vehicle or wind you shake around and the visions responsiveness receives your input and causes the shake. There is NOT an easy cure for this and it really does come down to lightening up your grip as much as possible. I found if I tossed my elbows outward and leaned slightly forward it helped, much like you'd do riding the Vision on dirt roads or when making VERY slow manuevers where turning to the stops are necessary.
After a while you won't even think about it.
So, when my arms are crossed to my chest and no where near the handle bars, I should lighten my grip? Wrong answer. Plain and simple, it's caused by the body work taking a beating from turbulent air, the same way an airplane would get bounced around in turbulent air. Anyone who doesn't experience this on a Vision doesn't ride in traffic on the highway.... or above 45mph. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Not to argue this point, but if your bike is being tossed about, check the suspension, check the tires, check the steering bearing. I have passed three semis behind a tour bus with the bike on cruise and never touched the handle bars until the bus pulled into the slow lane. I then speed up, reset the cruise and headed on down the highway. Sure, there was buffeting, but the Vision held the track and I never felt unstable during the whole event. As far as all that hookie stuff, I don't know, but ride on the bike and let it do it's thing. I went from riding an '84 Gold Wing to the Vision, and my early days of riding the Vision I was trying to ride it like the Gold Wing. I finally devoided my brain, (an easy thing for me to do) and let my body readjust to the Vision and it has been sweetness ever since. I've done some very stupid manuevers on the Vision and never flinched because it goes and does want I expect it to do. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 612
| I've never stated that I felt the bike was unstable when it gets bounced around by turbulence, I merely state that it does get bounced around. No, the front wheel doesn't wobble or bounce, and the handlebars don't oscillate. The entire bike merely reacts to the turbulence. When an airplane goes through turbulent air and gets tossed and jostled around, does that mean that there's something wrong with it? Is the pilots grip on the yoke too firm? No... It's merely a reaction to aerodynamic forces in dirty air. Just because you get used to it, doesn't mean it's not happening. I'm used to it, it doesn't bother me, but that doesn't mean it's not occurring as a direct result of air turbulence. I will state again that any 2 wheeled vehicle with as much body work as the Vision WILL get bounced around in turbulent air.
Edited by Turk 2012-05-02 8:45 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | As far as getting blown or bounced around, the 84 gold wing was a nightmare compared to the Vision With the square bag design the buffetting was bad all away around and could shake me up some, depending on the over all traffic situation. To me, the Vision is more like an airplane wing, cutting through the wind, keeping the bike more stable than any other. |
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Vision SHAKE!!!!!!