front end float follow-up

[windchaser1942]

I did a 240 mile run today without my Givi Top Box on the back of the bike. I had fairly strong head and quartering winds hitting me and I am happy to report the bike was rock solid unlike the weaving (scary I might add) feeling of riding in similar conditions with the box attached. This discovery is a mixed blessing. First off....I am happy to know the cause of the problem as originally posted. The bummer part is that I really like that box as it has been very usefull to me. I also had a chance to talk with another FJR rider with extensive use of the Yamaha top box and he reported the same experience.

Thanks again to all those who replied to my original post.

 

[Bungie]

I did a 240 mile run today without my Givi Top Box on the back of the bike. I had fairly strong head and quartering winds hitting me and I am happy to report the bike was rock solid unlike the weaving (scary I might add) feeling of riding in similar conditions with the box attached. This discovery is a mixed blessing. First off....I am happy to know the cause of the problem as originally posted. The bummer part is that I really like that box as it has been very usefull to me. I also had a chance to talk with another FJR rider with extensive use of the Yamaha top box and he reported the same experience.
Thanks again to all those who replied to my original post.

Your welcome, its just something you get used to. That being said, the thought of doing some serious MPH with it on doesn't appeal to my well being.

It also seems to help if the box is loaded.

 

[Bounce]

Here's a tip. Pack the dense, heavy stuff low in the saddle bags and the bulky, light stuff in the top box. Then pack a decent size duffel on the passenger seat (or a passenger) to fill in the empty area between the rider and the tour pack. Manage your air flow so that it doesn't catch the tour pack like a drag chute.

 

[Panman]

I've ran mine at about 120 with my top box (Yamaha) and saddle bags on for about fifty miles one day, no big deal. I really have no right to run that fast but felt comfortable doing so. I just kinda think this to top box deal is over talked! If your out running hard the little lady should be undressed (you know NAKED) common sense should prevail. No matter how you look at her she is a big girl pushing a lot thru the air when she is dressed up. The day I ran that hard I wanted to see what all of the complaining was about I didn't find it. I new I had better grab a hold of her and ride her but big red did what she was told and I felt fine with it. Bottom line is for me ride the conditions, there are days that fifty seems fast for the conditions.

 

[Sir Price]

I ride mine with the Top Box most of the time and sometimes side bags ,in all configurations and loads.

Weaving is never a problem at any speeed upto about the same speed as Panman with and with out a passenger.

I do however have the FJR slight head shake with hands off the bars during deccel at about 70KPH which is no biggie .

 

[brazos parker]

I rode across southern Wyoming w/ CB +4+3 partially up, Givi V46 & North Face duffel on passenger seat at triple digit+ speeds for abt 150 miles. Normally, I wouldn't ride at those speeds but I did so just to maintain position w/ interstate traffic. There were some quartering winds from 1-2 o'clock direction. I never noticed a wobble/weave. The bike was rock solid the entire time...albeit short!

 

[windchaser1942]

Here's a tip. Pack the dense, heavy stuff low in the saddle bags and the bulky, light stuff in the top box. Then pack a decent size duffel on the passenger seat (or a passenger) to fill in the empty area between the rider and the tour pack. Manage your air flow so that it doesn't catch the tour pack like a drag chute.

Thanks for the tip. Actually, the most recent trip with the box on the back had a duffel (sort of). It was one of those waterproof "seabags" that I keep my camping equipment. To seal the bag you roll down the top and it forms into a handle. The handle portion sticks out into the windstream. That could have been part of the problem. Again, thanks for your imput!

 

[windchaser1942]

I've ran mine at about 120 with my top box (Yamaha) and saddle bags on for about fifty miles one day, no big deal. I really have no right to run that fast but felt comfortable doing so. I just kinda think this to top box deal is over talked! If your out running hard the little lady should be undressed (you know NAKED) common sense should prevail. No matter how you look at her she is a big girl pushing a lot thru the air when she is dressed up. The day I ran that hard I wanted to see what all of the complaining was about I didn't find it. I new I had better grab a hold of her and ride her but big red did what she was told and I felt fine with it. Bottom line is for me ride the conditions, there are days that fifty seems fast for the conditions.

The last line of your comment: "ride the conditions"...says it all. I'll bet you weren't riding that fast with a strong quartering wind hitting you. Let me tell you, when that happens "you'll know it and it will scare the crap out of you"!

 

[Panman]

The last line of your comment: "ride the conditions"...says it all. I'll bet you weren't riding that fast with a strong quartering wind hitting you. Let me tell you, when that happens "you'll know it and it will scare the crap out of you"!

Most definetlly, I've been out with the bags and top box off and been blowen all over the place! I'll also admitt that the bike was loaded and I wiegh at least 260.

 

[luvtoride]

Here's a tip. Pack the dense, heavy stuff low in the saddle bags and the bulky, light stuff in the top box. Then pack a decent size duffel on the passenger seat (or a passenger) to fill in the empty area between the rider and the tour pack. Manage your air flow so that it doesn't catch the tour pack like a drag chute.

Agreed with this statement. I've found that when riding w/ the top box w/o weight in the rear, it does act like you're talking about.

As soon as I add weight to the rear, this feeling is gone.

 

[Phugedaboudet]

I ride an 07. I use the color matched Yamaha top box daily for commutes, along with the side bags mounted. Of the 9K miles I have on the bike all three bags have been mounted for well over 5K of those miles. Most of my commute is freeway, with significant traffic on at least on the way home.

The only "weaving" or "wobbling" I've experienced is when in the "bow shock" of large trucks or behind huge SUV's. This is in speeds excess of 80mph (GPS confirmed). Half of this daily commute is also on grooved pavement, with plenty of tar snakes. I've had no handling issues with the bags on the few times I've crossed triple digits. The top bag is very lightly loaded, with a work shirt, my lunch, and some assorted paperwork in a Yamaha saddlebag liner (since I don't have the topbox liner yet) Sidebag left has my rain gear, spare gloves and clear visor. Sidebag right is empty most of the time.

Windshield is still stock too. Tires are Metzeler's but on the factory BT's there wasn't a wobble/weave issue either.

I do take the topbox off for canyon carving to lower the CG a bit.

Those of you who're experiencing handling issues, are you riding with just the topbox and not the sidebags? Maybe the combination of both cleans things up a bit?

 

[bmwhd]

I've often wondered if my Vstream helps, hinders, or just doesn't matter. What I do know is that as much as I love the features and functionality of my Yamaha top box, it almost never gets on the bike. It radically alters the bikes handling in a way I hate. Bothers and distracts me the whole time I'm riding as it feels like the front end is on ice. This is true with or without the saddle bags on.

Too bad really as it's a nice top box otherwise.

 

[Graham Downunder]

It is not just the FJR 1300 that suffers from this most bikes will be affected by a top box some more than others .My experence is the Top box affects youonly when you are Solo above about 75mph , a pillion changes the airflow at speed

My opion on weaving on deceration is the FRONT tire. The front tire wears from heavy braking particularly with low tire pressure, try running a few (about 4psi higher ) on the front tire.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Damn this place is startin' to look retarded :glare:

Of course the top box is gonna effect stability.... It's a fukin' box hangin in the wind ya dip *****!

:dribble:

:jester:

 

[Harald]

Here's a tip. Pack the dense, heavy stuff low in the saddle bags and the bulky, light stuff in the top box. Then pack a decent size duffel on the passenger seat (or a passenger) to fill in the empty area between the rider and the tour pack. Manage your air flow so that it doesn't catch the tour pack like a drag chute.

Thanks for the tip. Actually, the most recent trip with the box on the back had a duffel (sort of). It was one of those waterproof "seabags" that I keep my camping equipment. To seal the bag you roll down the top and it forms into a handle. The handle portion sticks out into the windstream. That could have been part of the problem. Again, thanks for your imput!

Motorcycle aerodynamics are challenging. Just that handle hanging out there could cause shaking.

I was riding my Blackbird on a "closed course" one day and because I had my vertical vent zippers open on the back of the jacket I couldn't go over 140mph without violent shaking of my body. I would have never thought that having these vents open could have such a affect, but they damn sure did. With the vents closed I had no problem going almost 170 with no different body positioning.

 

[bandit]

I tried severl top boxes on my connie 1000. Found a 1520 pelican case bolted down worked best, And it was the most secure. Now you know why I have a pelican case on the rear of my bike. I pack with a huge duffle bag behind me so I have lumbar support and use the pelican case for my extra gear and items I might need during my travels. I sodl my Givi and my 2 other boxes and use my pelican case exclusively. I have one for my ninja 500 also. Its lockabel storage and its watertight.

 

[SilveradoSlick]

The steering head was starting to feel loose so I tightened it up. It really seemed to cut down on the weaving with the Givi box mounted.