Normal vibration level in Vrod Engine

15732 Views 70 Replies 32 Participants Last post by sxrxrnr, Aug 25, 2004

sxrxrnr

Discussion Starter · Mar 25, 2004

I just purchased a new 03 Vrod. Have owned a 03 Heritage for past couple of years.

As noted in another thread, I am having a stalling problem that I hope will go away once I have emptied my first tank of fuel and fill with new fuel.

However another issue that I am uncertain how to deal with is the perceived vibration level of this bike verses that of the Heritage. At any engine speed, whether not moving or cruising I feel a quite noticeable vibration thruout the bike and particularily in the hand grips. If cruising say at 50 mph it is as though an automobile has out of balance wheels or driveshaft. If I disengage the clutch all is well and smooth.

I took bike to the shop where I purchased and had 2 different mechanics and one salesman sit on the bike and run to 3000 rpm. Vibration was quite noticeable but they all agree that it is normal. In the Heritage there is some at idle, but at any engine speed is goes completely away and is smooth.

My question is, is this normal? Perhaps the Heritage is so smooth because of the internal balance shaft, which the Vrod does not have.

Max, in another thread suggested that engine should be smooth and if mine is not, that perhaps my plugs could be somewhat fouled. I guess my real problem is that I do not know what is normal and I am being too critical, but again it is a very severe vibration thru my hands via the grips. I suspect that I need to mount another Vrod to see how it feels.

Thanks to all for any help :vrod:

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vroddrew

· #37 · Jun 3, 2004

Sorry if this hurts anyones feelings - but IMHO this is the worst thread I've seen on this forum in a long while.

Do us all a favor - and hold off from posting anything more in this thread until such time as you actually find something wrong with your bike.

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vroddrew

· #40 · Jun 3, 2004

mjw930 said:
but he DID find a problem and has posted a very detailed explanation, one that could help out many who seem to have uncomfortable vibrations.

Yeah - he found out he had a loose exhaust system. I'm sure glad it wasn't the "electronics" that were causing the problem - you know how those electrons bouncing around can be so unpleasant.

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vroddrew

· #43 · Jun 3, 2004

mjw930 said:
Read the message completely,

Sorry - but after about the seventh or eighth lengthy post from the same guy on the same subject, my eyes begin to get blurry.

Seriously - I can, and do, often choose to completely ignore certain threads. But as V-Rodforums.com gains a wider audience, I think we owe it to new riders, and readers, to maintain a certain "editorial balance". So, to counterweigh those prior posts -

Firstly, doesn't this thread belong in the "Problems" section?

Secondly, with 36 posts in the thread, you'd think that the V-Rod had some sort of serious endemic problem with vibration. It doesn't.

Thirdly, I question the whole idea of trying to solve a "vibration problem" via the Internet. If trained Harley technicians, seeing, hearing, and touching the bike in question were unable to offer up any assistance- then any opinions offered up here are necessarily going to be speculative, at best.

Lastly, as far as the "usefulness" of the thread - I question that. What is the "solution" offered up? Loosen and retighten every fastener in your bike's exhaust system, including the header bolts. Maybe if you are experienced and trained working on motorcycle exhaust systems - but for a "newbie" that advice is frankly ill-advised. The inexperienced reader is much more likely to crush a header gasket or round off a cap screw than anything else. And then they've really got themselves a problem.

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vroddrew

· #70 · Aug 25, 2004

Since this thread has been dragged out of the attic again, I thought I'd bring up a real source of vibration, one that you actually can do something about.

Most bike tires are balanced when they are installed on the wheels. Unfortunately, as the tire wears, it can cause the wheel to go out of balance again; and sometimes well before the tire reaches the end of its useful life.

If you have three or four thousand miles on your tires, and sense a buzzing or slight pulsation at speed - you might consider having at least your front wheel rebalanced. It will considerably add to the life of the tire, and will in many cases reduce the vibration. Most bike shops will spin-balance a tire for less than $30 - a fraction of what a new tire costs.

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