Bad roads with voyager kit????

[bigjoey38]

Hi All

Well today I went out for another test drive on the interstate.
I could not get above 65 MPH because the rear of the kit would bounce a lot.

The speed limit is 75 MPH.... Now state law says all vehicles must use the right lane unless you are going to pass. Could it be possible that the right lane is just that bad due to the wear and tear and vehicles especially the trucks?

The left lane is bad too but not like the right lane....

What do you think????

Note: I have my rear springs at #2 which is normal, Should I bring them up to 3 or 4 ?????

 

[Loner]

I can't speak specifically to your Voyager on the VTX, but in tuning the Voyager kit on my HD Touring bike (FLHX) I found that the factory recommendations were just too soft and spongy for a decent ride on roads that were not perfectly smooth. The whole bike (trike? quad?) bounced left and right with each road bump or sway (made it somewhat unnerviing and I've am quite used to riding trikes (40+years)). I tightened the preload (spring tension) on mine and after some experimentation with significantly stiffer adjustment got a decent ride out of it. It shouldn't "bounce" by any means.

Unless someone else with some direct experience with the later Voyager kits (later than mine, anyway) and/or the VTX kit comments, then I don't think you could do anything but improve your ride by going up on the spring tension (mine doesn't use the #2, #3 designations).

One question (now that I've already thrown out my receommendation), when you say 'bounce' do you mean left to right bouncing or both wheels bouncing at the same time?

And as is my policy, my advice always comes with a money-back guarantee.

 

[bigjoey38]

Hi Loaner

For the bounce I would say more of both at the same time. Again it does not happen when the roads are even, just when you see uneven round and/or spot fixes...

My pre-load per the owners manuel is 1/4. IT road to lose for me..I took it up to 1/2 and it rode alot better.. More stiffer then before.

I think I will bring my spring tension up to #3...

See if that helps

Thanks

 

[oldman]

Moving the donut shocks as far back in the slot as they will go will help, it may mean swapping sides with them to get them to the back of the slot. it will give you more leverage on the springs and help with the bounce.

 

[bigjoey38]

Thanks Old man

Well I started to read the voyager Manuel again and it said the spring should be set at #4.. I had it on #3 ... After I set it to #4 went for another run... This time I went Eastbound instead of westbound... The ride seem to be ok... Got the bike up to 75 MPH..
very min.bounce however I was going East instead of west ... We will see over the weekend.

 

[bdn56]

The rough roads will magnify the tire bounce some.
I didn't have any numbering on my shocks, I moved them to the farthest rear position, changed the pre-load and reduced rear tire pressure to 18 lbs.
I was pleased with my setup. Each bike is a little different.
Once you get everything set for your particular bike, I think you will enjoy it.

You have a sharp looking trike.

 

[bigjoey38]

Thanks BDN56

I am deciding if I should take the kit off since I will be going out of town and just don't want to put up with the roads... I only need it when the wife wants to ride but she is on vacation with her sister and wont be back until Tuesday. She had a knee replacement and that is why I got it.. Roads in my area are sandy and some gravel... Cant afford to take a fall with her... I cant afford a trike at this time ( maybe in 3 years )...if the economy improves.

 

[oldman]

Once you get the setup right you will leave it on.I have been on a voyager for for ten years and five different bikes. The first was a 800,then 1400,sukie then a 1100 ACE 1200GW now a GW1500 for the last three year. all the set up were different and took time to get setup to ride the way I would like it.Looking for a good deal in a GW1800.You can tell l buy used bike fix them up ride it sell it an do it again

 

[bigjoey38]

Thanks Oldman!!!

I keep hearing the older models with the shocks are better then the rubber mounts.

 

[Simdog]

Thanks Oldman!!!

I keep hearing the older models with the shocks are better then the rubber mounts.

I reduced my voyager tires to about 20 pounds, I believe ... and that helped a bunch. Mine is perfect ... but I've got the old set up, so I don't really know what to tell you, but I distinctly remember that reducing the air pressure in the voyager tires took away alot of the bounce for me.

 

[bigjoey38]

Thanks Simdog/..... I have them at 18 PSI from 20...