[singhg5]

Ok, let's review...

Check your tire pressure again, something like 18/26 should be a good start.  

Set you're rear shocks softer, not harder.  One notch down from the middle would be a good spot to start.

Loosen the front axle, axle pinch bolt, and lower triple pinch bolts, bouncy-bouncy-bouncy, tighten the triple, tighten the axle.  

Make sure your rear wheel is properly aligned.

Make sure you don't have excessive play in the steering head bearnings (you probably don't or you'd notice it sooner).

Scott - This was very helpful review.  My G5 handlebar and overall bike vibrations had become so bad that it was very uncomfortable above 50 mph. The forearms and elbows would become numb, very uncomfortable - on the verge of pain - due to constant shaking, as if attached to a vibrator. I even bought foam grips that slide on top of the OEM handlebar ends. Obviously the problem was still there because they were not going to fix the real problem !

After I read your post, I thought why not try it - the bike is in bad shape anyway. So, I took off the windeshield. Loosened pinch bolt of front axle, loosened front wheel axle nut, loosened pinch bolts of each fork - G5 has a brace between upper forks attached by the pinch bolts. Put the bike on center stand, ran engine at idle with a couple of blips of throttle and then let it idle. Keep the handlebar front wheel straight. Went round and round tightening the fork pinch bolts, then axle nut and finally pinch bolt of front axle - got that really tight.  

Set the front tyre air pressure at 19 psi and rear at 27 psi. Rear shocks all the way down, at the soft setting.

Went for a ride - What a significant difference it made, as if I got my bike back. The vibrations were of much shorter duration and more like mini-vibrations. Took bike to 70 mph but the wind was too much to go any faster so came back   !

I am going to put back the windshield and then test it again to see if windshield helps or makes it worse.

Beer to you from my side   !

[prof_stack]

Glad to hear your vibration issues went away.

So, does the G5 tire pressure need to be about the same as the C5?

[GlennF]

Glad to hear your vibration issues went away.

So, does the G5 tire pressure need to be about the same as the C5?

It would be interesting to know the optimum pressures for the B5 as well.

I suppose if you really want to tweak the Bullet handling you could always build a UCE  featherbed Norfield

[singhg5]

Glad to hear your vibration issues went away.

So, does the G5 tire pressure need to be about the same as the C5?

Prof - It is not that the vibrations have completely disappeared. It still has vibrations, perhaps more than your new bike or a Harley. But they are less than before this 'bike-shake-up self-resetting' routine.

Now the question - is this level of vibrations an ISSUE ? That depends on whether you like RE or Goldwing that can cruise without spilling cup of coffee !

[prof_stack]

Prof - It is not that the vibrations have completely disappeared. It still has vibrations, perhaps more than your new bike or a Harley. But they are less than before this 'bike-shake-up self-resetting' routine.

Now the question - is this level of vibrations an ISSUE ? That depends on whether you like RE or Goldwing that can cruise without spilling cup of coffee !

Vibrations from my thumpers have never bothered me.  The C5 does start talking to my hands at speeds above 70mph.  My old Sportster was a vibrating beast.  The new Guzzi is just plain sweet all around.   

[barenekd]

I run 24F and 28R in my G5. It may contribute to the bit of high speed weave (over 70) I get out of it, but it's nothing alarming. I have run 18-20 with no problems. I've got some K70s now that I need to mount and see what they do to the handling.
Bare

[singhg5]

UPDATE -  WINDSHIELD on G5

Attached the windshield on the handlebar and took G5 for a ride to see if it helped or made things worse.

The handlebar vibrations were slightly magnified. The windshield shakes like a tuning fork at certain RPMs that cause vibrations. However, at certain RPMs (that do not induce shakes), the wind from the front seems to help stabilise the handlbar.

The good thing was that it blocked wind really well. I was able to ride upto 75 mph sitting upright, without leaning forward ! Kept it between 65 - 75 mph for a few miles on the highway.

Windshield will stay on it, considering the temperature has started to fall. Some nights are cooler and it will be sweater time in a few days.

[Ducati Scotty]

Singh, I have another recommendation: Napoleon bar end mirrors.  No, not one that looks just like it, the real deal Napoleon brand.  I took mine off the other day and put on one of the stock mirrors.  The side with the stock mirror vibrated more than usual, the side with no mirror vibrated WAY more.  Uncomfortably so.  The Napoleon's are well built and kinda heavy.  Adding that weight to the outside of the bar really helps.

If you are one of those guys who just can't deal with bar end mirrors for width reasons I understand.  Start looking for some really heavy bar end weights.  I saw some the other day that were about a pound each for around $50 US.  Those would do more than anything to get rid of your bad vibes.

Oh, and I'd say get rid of the foam grips.  I find that with soft foam you tend to overgrip and your hands get very tired.  I like the Pro-Grip gel type grips myself.  A little vibe reducation and more comfortable than the thin stock grips.

Scott

[singhg5]

Singh, I have another recommendation:.....

Start looking for some really heavy bar end weights. 

Oh, and I'd say get rid of the foam grips.  I find that with soft foam you tend to overgrip and your hands get very tired.  I like the Pro-Grip gel type grips myself.  A little vibe reducation and more comfortable than the thin stock grips.

Scott:  You are right about the foam grips - they are not so comfortable. My small hands / fingers barely go around it and feels as if I am about to lose the grip. So I hold them tight as you have written and it is tiring. 

I will look into heavy bar end weights and gel type grips and see which ones fit in G5.  Thanks for ideas. 

[barenekd]

The barend (Napolian) mirrors can be adjusted so they don't stick out much past the end of the bars. I have mine mounted outside the existing weights and they word very well. They reduce the stock bar shakes down to essentially nothing They don't stick out far and The image is very clear until about 70, then they will blur a little, but are still usable. They work great.
Bare

[Ducati Scotty]

Good point Naked, I keep forgetting that.  I may adjust mine in a bit.

Singh,
Bar end weights:
http://www.hvmp.com/universal.htm
Now you have an idea of what I mean.  Might take a little trimming since they don't mount inside our bars.

Do a search on 'Pro-Grip Gel', dozens of styles will come up.  If you have small hands avoid the barrel shaped styles that are bigger in the middle.  All will fit right on as is but fit even better with some very minor mods.  I cut down the outer ridge on my plastic throttle tub a little to make it easier to get them on and seated.  I also usually toss the throttle side grip in the freezer for a few hours and then carve a bit of the inner grip opening away at an angle with a very sharp razor.  This lets the tiny ramp on the inner part of the plastic throttle tube seat into there nicely.  That will make total sense once you remove the stock grips.  There are some ridges on the throttle tube but just leave them, I never feel or see them even with the thinnest grips.

Scott

[bman734]

Those of you going 70+ mph on these bikes I think are missing the point of owning a thumper in the first place. Yes, there are times when it will be necessary to go these faster speeds, short jaunts on the highway IE, but this bike was meant for back road riding going between 35 and 55 mph. Also regarding the dealers selling these bikes. My dealer test rode my bike before delivery to make sure there were no issues as is recommended by RE. He also made it clear that if I had ANY problems to make sure to let him know about it. If you have issues with stability take it bake to your dealer and have them fix it. You've got a two year warranty so unless you don't trust the capabilities of your dealer, which by the way should be something to research before you bought the bike, they should be the ones fixing it.

[prof_stack]

Those of you going 70+ mph on these bikes I think are missing the point of owning a thumper in the first place. Yes, there are times when it will be necessary to go these faster speeds, short jaunts on the highway IE, but this bike was meant for back road riding going between 35 and 55 mph. ...

+1

But the UCE was designed for higher speeds (70pmh) for longer trips, moreso than the AVL and iron-barrel.  Despite that, my C5 is "best" under 65mph.

[drbvac]

+1  I can remember rolling along with a couple of buddies on my 08 Fatboy with the big bore kit on it cruising at 95-100 mph. Not hard to do on a HD with 75 HP but - big but - not a relaxing ride in the country. Once in a while quite and adrenaline rush and fun but around a sweeper and into a bunch of traffic or a hay wagon side ways on the road - scare the shit our of you.

I love the RE - at about 50mph - perfect - revving at half throttle - not beating up the motor - can still hear!! Can go 65-70 to pass but - slow down and smell the air - not so concetrating on NOT getting killed you cant enjoy what you are doing.

Want to go really fast - get on the Haybusa on the track - full leathers and fill your boots. Donor banks love bikers doing it on public roads

[bman734]

I'm happiest going 45 mph on our local lake shore road. It's smoothly humming in 5th gear with no wind lean needed in my body. Plus it's been getting near 80 mpg at this cruising speed. I'm also finding that as the bike continues to break in it's beginning to smooth out at the higher speeds on the highway. I've had it up to 70 mph but don't feel comfortable with the wind force that batters you at those speeds. With a windshield maybe but otherwise not so much fun. If you are in a hurry when riding this bike then maybe you should have gotten a pocket rocket. I had a thumper  as one of my first bikes so when I first saw the RE I got a major nostalgia rush and knew that as soon as I could afford one I was getting it. I've never been happier.