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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Vibration / Buzz at highway speed /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1366174256 Message started by boratedoc on 04/16/13 at 21:50:56 |
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Title: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by boratedoc on 04/16/13 at 21:50:56 Hi folks, new S40 owner here. I found a 2009 in showroom condition with VERY low miles (still in break in period but no warranty) for a great price so I picked it up. Have put about 200 miles on it so far, mostly backroads @ 45 mph or less with no issues at all, and really like it - BUT I just got it out on the highway today and at 55-60 good golly! - does it ever vibrate !! MUCH more than I expected @ 3800 - 4000 rpm in 5th. I'm hoping the bike might smooth out some with some more miles on it ( only @ 500 now) but at this point I'm concerned either something might be wrong mechcanically or I just plain bought the wrong bike (for me). (Seller / dealer didn't allow test rides- lesson learned) Now I know it's a thumper (my first street bike after several dirt bikes - singles also, but 2 strokes, 10 yrs riding experience) and there's going to be vibration, it's supposed to vibrate, but my hands (and butt) were completely numb after only a few minutes at 55 - 60 mph. Grips, tank, pegs, seat -everything buzzes like crazy, to the point of real discomfort, to the point of avoiding any road with a speed limit over 45mph. I didn't buy the bike to cruise the superslab, and don't expect "Gold Wing " style smoothness at any speed, but I would like to be able to drive the thing across town and right now I wouldn't even try. (Numb hands and feet don't opertae those controls very well) Has me wondering if something is amiss, or my expectations are just unrealistic. I think my front wheel might be slightly out of balance, but disengaging the clutch (at 55) greatly reduces the vibes, so it's mostly engine (?) vibes I'm feeling I think. Drive belt is centered and correct tension bike is box stock other than mix screw adjutsment. I've read a lot here on the forum before posting and my thanks go to all of you who have contributed to this great site. Hoping you guys can give me some insight - give it to me straight, no candy coating, is there a possible mechanical issue here or just the nature of the Savage thumper beast? Did I get a lemon or am I just a wuss ?? I know the issue of vibration is a subjective thing, but how much is too much? Many thanks for your help! |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by Serowbot on 04/16/13 at 22:23:48 The Savage has a huge counter-balancer... it's generally smoother than most v-twins... (nothing like a 60's thumper)... I would check belt tension,... motor mounts, and wheel balance... If you have custom bars or pegs,... they may be culprit... Seriously,.. friends that ride my bike, are shocked by how smooth it is... From your description,... I'd say, particularly check the top motor mount... Otherwise,... just quit being such a wuss... ...(kidding) ;D... ... it honestly is, the smoothest thumper over 250cc that I've ever ridden... I feel hardly any vibes under 70mph... and then, I start to get some finger numbing,... but, that's mostly me holding myself on, without a windshield... Deathhh Griipppp!.... ;D... |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by verslagen1 on 04/16/13 at 22:31:51 Where you at? You'd have to meet a fellow savagidian to see if it's your bike or you. |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by Serowbot on 04/16/13 at 22:33:42 5D4E5958474A4C4E451A2B0 wrote:
That was a lot easier.... why didn't I think of that?... ...(rhetorical... please don't tell me)... :-?... |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by boratedoc on 04/16/13 at 23:01:19 Serowbot, I think the belt tension is Ok (can do the 90 deg twist w/ 2 fingers & thumb), but have NOT checked motor mount bolts yet - just assumed with bike @ only 500 miles (300 by me) this was a non- issue, but that word "assume" can bite ya, eh? Not a bolt or nut on the bike looks like it's ever seen a wrench, but assembly stuff happens. Is there any way the counterbalancer could shift or be indexed incorrectly??? I don't have a service manual yet and couldnt download the one in the link in FAQ for some reason. I know the peg bolts are also motor mt bolts and can probably locate the others - are there any "hidden ones"? (And loctite seem to be in order if loose obviously) Not averse to doing my own maintenance work and have some auto experience, but limited somewhat by tools at present (no torque wrenchs specifically). And not about to let a dealer touch it - one of the main reasons I bought this bike. Been there done that. But also not into engine teardown/ rebuild type stuffDid quite a bit of reading on this forum before purchase. As mine stands right now "smooth" in only applicable when it's below 45 mph. Only bike I ever rode that buzzed this bad was an old 70's Honda 350 twin, but that was @ right about the ton! Verslagen, Im in East TN, not too awfully far from Deal's Gap (but I don't even drive my car on that road!) Don't know of another Savage owner nearby but that sure would provide a good perspective if everything mechanical checks out. Thanks guys! |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by verslagen1 on 04/16/13 at 23:06:44 maybe the dragon riders will call on you. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1304436941 |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by Dave on 04/17/13 at 04:44:19 475443425D5056545F00310 wrote:
The people going to visit the Dragon would be happy to help, and would love to meet another Savage owner. Not sure you want to wait 2 months to get your problem solved though! I would check the motor mount bolts ass suggested. Also check the front pulley nut. |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/17/13 at 08:04:09 467D7067767A61677C747966150 wrote:
The people going to visit the Dragon would be happy to help, and would love to meet another Savage owner. Not sure you want to wait 2 months to get your problem solved though! I would check the motor mount bolts ass suggested. Also check the front pulley nut.[/quote] I would check the motor mount bolts ass suggested. WHO suggested? |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by bill67 on 04/17/13 at 08:17:09 Bot did,JOG you do have trouble understanding posts. |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by Greg on 04/17/13 at 09:55:25 72797C7C2627100 wrote:
::) |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by boratedoc on 04/17/13 at 10:00:08 Hey Bill666 just go crawl back in your hole OK? |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by boratedoc on 04/17/13 at 10:05:18 Verslagen are you referring to the front belt pulley nut? |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by boratedoc on 04/17/13 at 10:23:30 The people going to visit the Dragon would be happy to help, and would love to meet another Savage owner. Not sure you want to wait 2 months to get your problem solved though! I would check the motor mount bolts ass suggested. Also check the front pulley nut. Dave - very kind of you to offer your assistance, but this will be sorted one way or another before then I assure you ;) On re-reading guess it was you not verslagen who sugggested front pulley nut as a possibility - if I recall it has a high torque spec does it not? Based on the responses so far, and my past experience, I'm leaning toward a mechanical issue, as opposed to "the nature of the beast" (unfortunately) Thanks to everyone for their suggestions, I'll keep you posted on the what I find (if I can find time to work on it |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by Dave on 04/17/13 at 10:26:31 I had a loose flywheel nut on mly engine that started at about 400 miles and got horribly loud at 1,000 miles. It was more noise than vibration - but as it got worse it did start to vibrate the foot pegs. The front pulley nut is a big torque item - but you should be able to tell if things are loose as the nut has a lock tab - and if the tab is in place and looks like it is bent over properly - the nut has probably not moved. The bike is pretty smooth when it is working as it should. |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by bill67 on 04/17/13 at 11:31:29 All singles vibrate the bigger it is the more,I have had Suzuki Gn400,Yamaha SR 500 ,the S40 vibrates harder.If they had geared it higher it would be better for a faster speed than it is now. |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by Mattdw on 04/17/13 at 11:45:00 Start with checking the TOP motor mount. I bought a Savage for cheap and the guy thought something was wrong with it. So did I. At highway speeds it felt like your teeth were gonna rattle right out of your head. I brought it to a sealership and they told me they checked all the mounts and suggested I buy new tires. I bought the new tires. A few hundred dollars later, no change. I decided to tear into it myself. 5 minutes and zero dollars later I confirmed the top motor mount loose. Righty tighty and it drove perfectly. I've learned my lesson at taking any of my bikes to a stealership. |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by boratedoc on 04/17/13 at 12:02:24 Mattdw I've had a similar experience with a stealerships in past. From merely complete incompetence, well into outright fraud. Burned too often, only reason I would ever visit one again would be to buy new (if that). Owned Yamis, Honda, Kaw & now Zuke, seems there is little differenece. Won't even trust them for warranty work. Whether idiot or crook, resulta are same. I'm sure there are good ones out there, but I'm over spending my hard earned cash looking. Guess a tank removal is in order to check top mount which seems a likely culprit. Is this a one person job or should I arrange for a buddy to help? Any other helpful hints appreciated. Thanks! |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by Mattdw on 04/17/13 at 12:12:15 000D10031607060D01620 wrote:
One person...super easy. Remove seat, remove tank. |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by v-pilot on 04/17/13 at 16:59:47 easy...Just be careful of the petcock against the frame |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by apache snow on 04/17/13 at 17:03:01 I take the petcock off. It makes it a lot easier. |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by boratedoc on 04/18/13 at 19:58:05 You guys nailed the problem! Very loose top center motor mount @ frame tube and also the front bottom one @ pegs was not tight enough. The rest of the mounts were good. Improvement was evident immediately, even at low rpms & lower speed - MUCH, MUCH SMOOTHER! Now there's just a little buzz beginnning @ 55 - 60 (which was as fast as I got for just a short stretch today) but not uncomfortable at all, nowhere near like before. Almost like a different bike - yes, THAT much improvement! I can definitley live with this! I realize now this problem has existed since I've owned the bike (I bought it used but with less than 100 miles on it) and suspect the top bolt never got torqued down properly at the factory - althought it looked snug, the entire bolt & nut turned easily with the slightest effort. I wonder now if this was the reason why the original owner traded it in on another bike with so few miles on it. Many thanks to all who responded with your suggestions and advice! |
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Title: Re: Vibration / Buzz at highway speed Post by jcstokes on 04/18/13 at 21:10:17 RE the buzz, if it sounds like a loose or dry roller bearing push your hand down on the speedo when the noise comes in, if the buzz goes away it will be in the speedo. |
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