VersusAllOdds
Member
Let's start with a few basics:
- I rode my bike fine a few months ago. No problems at all!
- The summers are pretty long and warm here... means riding from June to Sept is pretty uncomfortable. Therefore, my bike was almost entirely idle for the past two months (except for some very rare switch-ons, when I rode it a little and defied the heat).
- Recently, I took my battery off the shelf (kept it inside not to cook it), put it back in and started riding it (when I say riding it, I mean riding for like half an hour every 5-10 days, so very little). During one of those rides (now, I'm not even sure when), I felt vibrations. Very uncomfortable ones (more on that later).
- Two months ago I cleaned my chain with WD-40 and towel-rubbing, and applied a Motorex chain lube, off-road version (there's plenty of dust where I live, so I figured street riding here is basically the same as off road in a normal, non-desert country). After a dust storm or two I noticed that my chain was basically covered in dust and fine sand - therefore I had a ride or two with a chain in that condition (won't happen again, promise!).
- No new stuff installed on the bike. Whatever is installed (GIVI engine guards, GIVI top case mount), was installed before the vibrations appeared, and remain on the bike until now. The only thing I changed, was adding a side stand extender (the thing that makes it footing wider so that it doesn't sink into soft surface).
That was the intro... I hope those were some relevant info - I'm still searching for a source of my newly found vibrations, and wanted to provide details... actually, I wanted to show that nothing relevant changed on the bike before and after the vibes appeared. I would also like to state that I've read multiple threads for vibrations, and none of them fit the description of what I felt, so I felt compelled to start a new thread.
So, more on the vibrations, in detail:
When I start my bike, in neutral, for the first minute or so it works kind of unevenly.... the rpm in total idle varies slightly... as if I'm reving it very slightly, and I'm not. Maybe this is normal, maybe this is something every NC700X, or even every bike has, just pointing that out. The bike idle rpm is around 1000 or slightly above.
The vibrations appear regardless of whether the bike is moving, regardless of speed or gear. Maybe there are some differences based on those things, but they are just as annoying and intense anyway. That's why I will almost exclusively describe change in vibrations with varying rpm, considering the bike is standing in neutral all the time:
1- So, at idle, it vibrates, the front of the bike vibrates in particular. I hold the handlebars and it's uncomfortable... I would compare it to a vibrating phone, maybe not as intense, but the frequency is similar.
2- Then, I rev it up to 2000 - and the vibrations grow a little less intense... same frequency though.
However, at 2400-2500, they become very intense and uncomfortable. They become suddenly intense (like, 5x more intense exactly at that point) upon hitting the 2400-2500 rpm, and I can feel as if the bike has entered resonance.
3- On higher rpm, up to 3000, the vibrations subside considerably, but still remain at an annoying, and undeniable level.
4- With 3000, the vibrations are for the first time felt in the seat and foot pegs (actually they were felt there before, but nothing too bad as the handlebars).
5- At 4000, the entire bike vibrates intensely (not as on 2400-2500, however now it's the entire bike as opposed to the front from earlier).
6- At 4500, the entire bike vibrates as if at another resonance level, like the one on 2400-2500, only that this time it's very intense vibration of the entire bike. Of course, the engine is being very loud at this level as well, but that's expected.
Now I'm gonna compare riding experience - before and after the vibrations problem appeared:
Before, my favorite thing ever was pressing the gas for a strong acceleration in 3rd gear. The moment when I shift into 3rd (at up to 50kmh or 30mph) until the moment that I switch to 4th (somewhere around 80kmh or 50mph). The engine would give a very pleasurable shake with each chuck, as those chucks became closer to each other and more high pitched... I guess you guys know what I'm talking about.
Now, all those pleasures are very diminished, given the presence of a new high-frequency buzz that spreads discomfort through my body - particularly arms, but also my crotch and feet. During the acceleration that I described, those chucks somewhat hide the nasty vibration, but it's back as soon as I accelerate over the sweet spot... Also, riding above 100kmh vibrates the entire bike uncomfortably (does so before, but at that speed, the nasty ones start).
The bottom line is something I'd never thought I'd say: with these vibes, I do not enjoy riding my bike at all. Which is sad, because it felt awesome some two months ago...
That's about it... if anyone is left still reading, mind you help a total newbie figure this annoying problem out?
- I rode my bike fine a few months ago. No problems at all!
- The summers are pretty long and warm here... means riding from June to Sept is pretty uncomfortable. Therefore, my bike was almost entirely idle for the past two months (except for some very rare switch-ons, when I rode it a little and defied the heat).
- Recently, I took my battery off the shelf (kept it inside not to cook it), put it back in and started riding it (when I say riding it, I mean riding for like half an hour every 5-10 days, so very little). During one of those rides (now, I'm not even sure when), I felt vibrations. Very uncomfortable ones (more on that later).
- Two months ago I cleaned my chain with WD-40 and towel-rubbing, and applied a Motorex chain lube, off-road version (there's plenty of dust where I live, so I figured street riding here is basically the same as off road in a normal, non-desert country). After a dust storm or two I noticed that my chain was basically covered in dust and fine sand - therefore I had a ride or two with a chain in that condition (won't happen again, promise!).
- No new stuff installed on the bike. Whatever is installed (GIVI engine guards, GIVI top case mount), was installed before the vibrations appeared, and remain on the bike until now. The only thing I changed, was adding a side stand extender (the thing that makes it footing wider so that it doesn't sink into soft surface).
That was the intro... I hope those were some relevant info - I'm still searching for a source of my newly found vibrations, and wanted to provide details... actually, I wanted to show that nothing relevant changed on the bike before and after the vibes appeared. I would also like to state that I've read multiple threads for vibrations, and none of them fit the description of what I felt, so I felt compelled to start a new thread.
So, more on the vibrations, in detail:
When I start my bike, in neutral, for the first minute or so it works kind of unevenly.... the rpm in total idle varies slightly... as if I'm reving it very slightly, and I'm not. Maybe this is normal, maybe this is something every NC700X, or even every bike has, just pointing that out. The bike idle rpm is around 1000 or slightly above.
The vibrations appear regardless of whether the bike is moving, regardless of speed or gear. Maybe there are some differences based on those things, but they are just as annoying and intense anyway. That's why I will almost exclusively describe change in vibrations with varying rpm, considering the bike is standing in neutral all the time:
1- So, at idle, it vibrates, the front of the bike vibrates in particular. I hold the handlebars and it's uncomfortable... I would compare it to a vibrating phone, maybe not as intense, but the frequency is similar.
2- Then, I rev it up to 2000 - and the vibrations grow a little less intense... same frequency though.
However, at 2400-2500, they become very intense and uncomfortable. They become suddenly intense (like, 5x more intense exactly at that point) upon hitting the 2400-2500 rpm, and I can feel as if the bike has entered resonance.
3- On higher rpm, up to 3000, the vibrations subside considerably, but still remain at an annoying, and undeniable level.
4- With 3000, the vibrations are for the first time felt in the seat and foot pegs (actually they were felt there before, but nothing too bad as the handlebars).
5- At 4000, the entire bike vibrates intensely (not as on 2400-2500, however now it's the entire bike as opposed to the front from earlier).
6- At 4500, the entire bike vibrates as if at another resonance level, like the one on 2400-2500, only that this time it's very intense vibration of the entire bike. Of course, the engine is being very loud at this level as well, but that's expected.
Now I'm gonna compare riding experience - before and after the vibrations problem appeared:
Before, my favorite thing ever was pressing the gas for a strong acceleration in 3rd gear. The moment when I shift into 3rd (at up to 50kmh or 30mph) until the moment that I switch to 4th (somewhere around 80kmh or 50mph). The engine would give a very pleasurable shake with each chuck, as those chucks became closer to each other and more high pitched... I guess you guys know what I'm talking about.
Now, all those pleasures are very diminished, given the presence of a new high-frequency buzz that spreads discomfort through my body - particularly arms, but also my crotch and feet. During the acceleration that I described, those chucks somewhat hide the nasty vibration, but it's back as soon as I accelerate over the sweet spot... Also, riding above 100kmh vibrates the entire bike uncomfortably (does so before, but at that speed, the nasty ones start).
The bottom line is something I'd never thought I'd say: with these vibes, I do not enjoy riding my bike at all. Which is sad, because it felt awesome some two months ago...
That's about it... if anyone is left still reading, mind you help a total newbie figure this annoying problem out?