Slight vibrations after my 1200 mile ride...

So folks, I have had my 07 VFR800 for about 6 months now and love it. It's the perfect bike. I hadn't really done any LONG distance riding on it save a few 100-200 mile round trips. Everything has been great on it since I picked it up from the last owner who was METICULOUS about his maintenance on the bike.

During my trip from NOLA to Atlanta and back via the middle of Alabama, I noticed a couple of little things that I just wasn't sure about. When I was on the highway for day 2 of the ride, I noticed (not sure if I just never noticed before) there was a VERY slight vibration that comes in waves. For one second every other second the vibration can be felt in the handlebars and the pegs. When I say it comes in waves, it really does. It goes from nothing to its peak and back down in about a second, then off for a second and then it does it again. I really only feel it above 80 mph and it isn't lurching the bike at all (meaning there is no change in power output in correlation to the vibration sequence). It might have been happening all this time and I just never noticed it because I don't really do much sustained 80mph highway riding. It did get a bit worse as the speed increased, too. It wasn't very slight the few times I was up around 95mph (mostly to pass by stupid 18 wheelers acting like idiots on the road). It wasn't shaking me to bits, but I noticed it. I was trying to notice it, though so that might have had a slight impact on me feeling it or not...

I can't possibly think of what it might be because I am no mechanic, but I can say this. Because of my lengthening of the trip by about 400 miles, it is now 300 miles overdue for an oil change, its due up for a sprocket and chain replacement and it needs new tires (not BADLY, but they have flattened across the middle a bit). I don't think it was a tire issue because of it being in waves, but usually when something like this happens in a car (the speed of the car changing how it feels), it seems to be either the alignment or the tires. But again, I am no mechanic.

Could this be just an oil issue? A sprocket replacement issue? I don't really want to pay Honda $75 just to help me figure it out so I figured I would inquire with the VFRWs to see if anyone has experienced this before.

Lastly, I noticed that after my ride (where I weighed the bike down with bags and gear and myself for 1200 twisty miles) that my suspension had sagged by maybe a 1/2 inch. I was going to crank it up to a higher setting before I left, but didn't have the right tool or the time so I thought I would wait until I got back. I am wondering now if I might have done some damage to it and if so, it is a relatively inexpensive process to have someone rebuild the shock or should I just look for a replacement? I have heard the 929 shock makes a great replacement to the stock VFR800 shock, but should I go down that path and if so, are there any serious mods I would have to do to fit the 929's shock in there?

 

A worn out chain and sprockets could be your problem. A series of loose and tight chain spots can result in periodic vibrations.

 

It's possible that it is the tires for the very reason that the vibration does come in waves. The tires are not going to be the same circumference. As they revolve a "sequence" depending on where and when each tire is in a certain position of their rotation may result. At higher speeds the effects of the tires transmitting a vibration from this "sequence" to the rider is a definite posibility. You don't have to be a mechanic to diagnose a problem yourself. As a rider you must be aware of the seemingly unusal things which may affect your safety. You are to be congratulated for taking the time to observe something which may not be "quite" right. A good place to start your diagnosis of "something" you may not have noticed is to ask yourself "what has changed".......you changed many things on this occaision,...speed, load, distance, etc. It would have been wise to adjust the bike for the added weight before the trip. You do have a lot of variables or things which have changed. Do you still experience the same vibration with the bike unloaded....? Start small and check the simple things on your search...always start with the basics like tire pressures...loose bolts....you will find the answer.....good luck and let us know what you find as you go along. Hope this helps.

 

That actually does help a lot. I may not be a mechanic, but I am intuitive and mechanically inclined. Being a person who likes to try and figure things out by myself, I am always looking out for "Has anything changed?" Especially on a long trip. What you say makes a lot of sense. I didn't even think about the tires being different sizes and causing a problem like that. The flat spot on the rear tire is considerably more noticable than the one on the front and I was told the rear needed replacing before the front would.

I like that idea. I need to replace the tires pretty soon anyways, so I may try and see if that helps. I also need to do chain and sprocket, so I will try one at a time to try and figure out where the change is coming from. If neither of those help with an oil change, then I will probably be coming back to ask more questions. Thanks for all the advice, guys!

 

P.S. A lot of people change out the chain and sprocket for a different set (14, 15, 16 tooth front sprocket?) and a different chain (520?). Any suggestions or recommendations on the best set up for off-highway, 55mph riding with the occasional superslab segment in the 80+mph range? I am not a racer and don't intend on dragging my knee any time soon, but I do like to get off the line at lights quick and have power to pass cars (quickly) on the upper end...