Freeway riding

Joined
Apr 10, 2022
Messages
3
Location
Ohio
Hi all
I’m looking to buy a 700 and wanted your feedback about 70 to 75 MPH freeway vibration thru the handle bars. I do quite a bit long distance freeway riding.
ALSO, your thoughts on a lowering kit, I’m 5’5” and need to drop it a bit
Thanks
 
Bill, In the 145K miles I've ridden my two '10 NTs, I've never been bothered by vibration through the handlebars. I have used 2" risers that have rubber gripping the bars and I've had throttle locks that were heavier than the stock bar ends.

Both my bike have been lowered. I'm 5'7" with short, stubby legs, about 27" inseam. I got the lowering links from Hyperpro (https://www.webshop-hyperpro.com/en...t-adjustment/lowering-kit-rear/LK-HO07-002-35). When I put them on my 1st NT, the dealer who mounted them refused to cut the sidestand and that caused me major troubles. A friend cut it for me, but we didn't get it short enough and I still had issues with parking safely. He cut it again and it's been OK. My big issues with getting on and off are the result of having had six knee replacements and not having the flexibility or strength I need, but I haven't had too much trouble.

The forks were slid up in the triple clamp by the same inch or so that the links lowered the rear. As far as I can tell, it handles the same as ever. I had footpeg lowering links on the first bike, and without them on the 2nd, I actually have gained lean angle.

Do a search for "lowering" on the Forum and you can turn up quite a bit of discussion and some useful tips.
 
BuellBill - the kit is just one part - a nicely-machined, alum block that is the lower shock eye. On bikes with progressive linkage suspension, merely changing what they call the "dogbones" will change the seat height and it can all be done from the outside but not so on the NT.

The NTs shock has to be removed from the bike and disassembled (spring removed) to get at the shock eye which means you'll need some sort of spring compressor. By coincidence I did that very task a few weeks ago when my Works Performance shock badly needed a rebuilt so I called Works in CA and was told by the shop guy that they were 3-months behind on their jobs! I brought the original Showa shock (30k miles) down from the attic, removed the standard shock eye and installed the HyperPro part, along with a softer Ohlins spring. If you lower the bike, you'll also have to shorten the sidestand and that is not an option!

BL's shock with Ohlin's spring.JPG


Here is the Honda's original shock with the HyperPro eye installed + Ohlins spring (approx $100). In the foreground is the original shock eye. They only differ by around 3/8" of an inch but because of the leverage ratio, it results in a 1-3/8" (35 mm) drop in seat height. I'm 5'6" and the original 31.7" seat height was impossible for me!

round kickstand pad.JPG


Here is the shortened sidestand and you can compare it to your standard sidestand. While at it I made a 3/8" steel disc for the foot because I didn't see any point in reinstalled the Honda ballet slipper! Now, I can park on a dirt shoulder without worrying about it sinking in.

In 2012 when I lowered my bike via this method, I made a spring compressor for that task and you can borrow it for no cost and just pay for my shipping cost which is less than $10 and return it to me once done. That spring compressor has been all over the country so it's helped to lower around a dozen bikes? If you need more info, just send me a PM.
 
Hi all
I’m looking to buy a 700 and wanted your feedback about 70 to 75 MPH freeway vibration thru the handle bars. I do quite a bit long distance freeway riding.
ALSO, your thoughts on a lowering kit, I’m 5’5” and need to drop it a bit
Thanks
Phil, THANK YOU, very helpful info. I've lowered a bunch of bikes that didn't have a link, I usually sent the Shock to Cogent and they put a shorter spring on it, on my last Buell, I pulled a 1" spacer out of the forks and PRESTO ! I've gotten quite good at shortening side and center stands. Looking forward to my new ride !!
 
Like Phil, although only 81K miles, I have never had any vibration problems at those speeds. Although I find the NT cruises very well at 80. I hate freeways and interstates just because of traffic but have had to travel them many times in those 81K miles. Probably the craziest was my two day trip back to WV from the Florida Keys. The traffic speeds on I-95 and I-26 were more like 85 to 95 and the NT handled that well. Absolutely Love my NT.
 
I would say the vibration range of the NT, while not an FJR, Vstrom or VFR, is very acceptable...not really much there but what is there is not anoying, like some bikes with vibration ranges in the RPM band. With my touring rather large load, I would say the NT is an excellent 75 mph Interstate mile eater. Once I tried 80 and set the throttle lock, happy as a clam....then I tried to pass someone and found the throttle was all the way open! There was a slight headwind....Like WVRider, more and more I stay off of interstates....at the right times, the interstates in MT are very lightly populated and I find one day on them and the rest on 2 laners is just fine.....
NTs are excellent choices right now if you find a good one. Very reliable and how many new bikes do you see at your dealer? I think we are in for a bumpy ride for the next few years.
 
Like Phil, although only 81K miles, I have never had any vibration problems at those speeds. Although I find the NT cruises very well at 80. I hate freeways and interstates just because of traffic but have had to travel them many times in those 81K miles. Probably the craziest was my two day trip back to WV from the Florida Keys. The traffic speeds on I-95 and I-26 were more like 85 to 95 and the NT handled that well. Absolutely Love my NT.
HAHAHA 85 to 95 in the slow lane !! except where I26 and 95 meet, WAY too many Police in that area. I LOVE I77 thru WV, cool road.
THANKS EVRYONE for the great info
 
2 NT's and 273,000 miles between them, i ride alot between 70-75, no excessive vibration. even went on a 6,100 mile trip in 2015 in 2 weeks, did NOT feel fatiged
 
Yes, vibration through the grips did bother me when I first got the NT so I tried several fixes. The only one that worked for me were the Rox Risers/w rubber dampers and they're still on my bike.
 
I've never understood the "shorter spring" idea for reducing seat height on a bike. The shorter spring can reduce the shock stroke but only if they install something on the shock shaft to decrease the stroke and ideally it would be done internally but it could also be something external?

As regards lowering the NT, using the HyperPro shock eye on the standard Showa shock is by far the easiest way.
 
Hi all
I’m looking to buy a 700 and wanted your feedback about 70 to 75 MPH freeway vibration thru the handle bars. I do quite a bit long distance freeway riding.
ALSO, your thoughts on a lowering kit, I’m 5’5” and need to drop it a bit
Thanks

I did 3 things to reduce vibration in the NT:

1. Installed Grab-On grip covers
2. Used Rotella T6 5w-40 oil
3. Let it break in, it smoothed out nicely after 20k miles.
 
Back
Top Bottom