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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 10
| I have rode a Harley Heritage Softail for 8 years. I bought my Vision last month. I rode out to Laughlin and had a real hard time with how the bike handled. I was all over the road, the wind was 10 to 15 mph. I assume its because I am not use to a bike with all the fairings or I might be fighting the bike, when I got home I took off the box and that seem to help alot, was wondering if anyone has had the same problem? |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Low tire pressure is #1 reason for squirrely handling. (It's also a pain to check on the rear tire.) There are a couple of stories here about dealers who let the bike out the door without checking the pressure. If your tire pressure is good (over 40 psi) then you are over-controlling. You'll get used to it and then love it.
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Tourer
Posts: 320
Savannah, GA -Year round riding!! Yay! | I had the same problems adjusting to my new Vivi. You learn that it's a firm yet light hand to control it. While my Vivi was in the shop for the last month, I had to ride my VTX 1800 with a fork mounted fairing. After being used to the Vision, it made me realize how heavy of a hand I use on my VTX. Just sit back, lighten up on your grip, you'll get used to it....
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Cruiser
Posts: 296
Central Florida | +1...
when you change your tires at 10-15 K miles, be sure to get an angled valve stem installed
Makes it super easy to check pressure. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | scal94020 - 2008-05-05 2:28 AM I have rode a Harley Heritage Softail for 8 years. I bought my Vision last month. I rode out to Laughlin and had a real hard time with how the bike handled. I was all over the road, the wind was 10 to 15 mph. I assume its because I am not use to a bike with all the fairings or I might be fighting the bike, when I got home I took off the box and that seem to help alot, was wondering if anyone has had the same problem? I too can attest it is a body to bike tuning that is needed. Having rode the GL1200 for 2 years, the Vision has a feather touch in comparison. Now that I'm tuned in, the ride is nothing but phenominal. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | I took my first long ride this weekend after getting my bike last week. Until now, the wife and I have been riding 2-up on a Suzuki C50T.
We traveled over the same roads and routes that we did on the Suzuki, and all I can say is the VV is an incredible machine.
Sometimes on the C50 I felt like I was fighting to stay in a line while cornering, and I really had to push to get it to lay over in a curve. I never felt really relaxed in the twisties.
Not so with the VV. The Vision just chews those corners. I've heard it described as riding on a rail, and that's exactly what I found. I've never felt so confident riding over the Cascade mountains as I did this weekend.
I agree it does take a light touch. I think the Vision is so responsive, (surprisingly responsive for such a big bike), that it seems like it should take more effort to ride than it actually does. Of course, I'm not a terribly aggressive rider either. Your riding style might have some effect as well.
Hope you can figure out what's going on, and find it as nice a ride as I do. |
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Tourer
Posts: 388
Salisbury, NC | When I first bought my bike, I loaded it down with luggage. It felt a litte off on handling. But after i adjusted the psi in the tires and the air shock. It handled like a dream. Something to think about is the air shock. ET |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 810
| Reed, We drove to Laughlin as well. The crosswinds were high between Ludlow and Laughlin. According to the TV news and internet, they were higher than 15MPH. I drove to Lake Havasu and back on Saturday and the crosswinds sucked as well. We left early Sunday morning and they were still blowing night and day. We were riding 2-up with full luggage and a bag on top of the tour pack. We were stuck behind a few HD Ultra Classics leaving Laughlin and they were doing 45 in a 55 with the cross winds. Once we got around them, we left them in the back, but still were not riding as fast as we would if there were no crosswinds.
I spoke with other bikers and they were noticing it as well, not just the Vision. Sincerely, Tim |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | I came off an eglide I rode for 5 years and had the same problem. The Vision didnt seem to track straight. I even had the dealer check the rear wheel alignment. Turns out the Vision requires less muscle to manuver. A light easy touch is all that is needed. Once you relax and let the Vision do all the work, it handles like a dream. It took me some time but now u turns and slow speed handling is a peice of cake. And high speed....100 feels like 70 on the eglide. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| I've noticed it gets buffetted around a lot as well. Get behind a semi and you'll feel the wind shifting and bouncing the Vision around badly. I've owned two Wings, and Two Road Glides before the Vision, it moves around WAY more than either. Its just a bit unnerving but you get use to it. The Vision carves really well but straight line stability is going to come with some effort in the wind |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | The long sweeping curved ramps that connect one freeway to the other, with the Vision I am able to maintain 80mph. I wouldnt even think of attempting that with my e glide. The only straight line problems I have are with the grooves they put in the concrete out here to channel water when it rains. Barely noticeable now that I have more time in the saddle. Took me some time to develope more trust in the Visions handling capability. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Evergreen, CO | My Heritage Softail DANCED in the rain grooves, but the same ones are barely perceptable on my Vision. The largest difference I notice with the Vision is riding in a 45 degree cross wind. Makes the bike feel like I'm riding on marbles. A 90 degree crosswind is very manageable. A headwind or tail wind - absolutely no problem. The foothills west of Denver have LOTS of wind, and in the short time I've had the Vision, I've ridden in most windy situations already. NO REGRETS. Shield up, stay centered, enjoy the ride! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | Same here space cwboy. Lots of wind here in the Cascades and I can barely feel it on the Vision. Nothing like my last bike.
Put a few hundred miles on the freeway last weekend and was around a lot of 18-wheeler traffic. I could feel a little air, but again, nothing like I've had to deal with in the past. Of course it could be because I don't stay in the wake of a truck, (or beside it), for very long. I just hit the throttle and blast by them. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 44
Salt lake city Ut. |  Tire pressure at 40-42 and rear shock at 32lbs light touch at the bars works for me.
I had a jackpot and 3 hammers before I got my Vision and it was very hard to make myself not over drive the bike in the corners.Its like many have said the bike is very intuitive.
Have fun! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | space_cwboy - 2008-05-06 10:40 PM
The largest difference I notice with the Vision is riding in a 45 degree cross wind. Makes the bike feel like I'm riding on marbles.
You may have tried this, it seams to make a difference with my Vision, Tour. The small adjustable wind deflectors under the mirrors, I have found that when I fold this deflectors straight back, the motorcycle is more stable in windy condition and around large vehicles. When you do this, the driver area will get more wind, try it and see what you think. |
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New user
Posts: 3
| I road from Elko to Laughlin on my premium tour with a side trip thru Death Valley. I also had more trouble getting used to the cross winds after leaving the 92c behind , but have noticed that impression is going away as I become more comfortable on my Vision . I too found pulling in the deflectors and lowering the windshield helped while getting more used to the new Victory . What a shock when riding the 99 Victory to work . |
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Cruiser
Posts: 293
Arkansas | I too notice that "riding on marbles" feeling in gusty winds.
I think it is mostly related to the low CG of the Vision. The fulcrum
is at the tip-overs and the rest of the bike is a sail in comparison.
Doesn't seem to affect the line too much; just feels a little different
compared to the GL1800 or the FL's. JMHO |
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Jacksonville Florida | I run 38 in front 40 in the rear. When I first got the bike the shock was 25 lb. I jacked that up in 5 lb. increments and test rode each increase. Went as high as 60 psi. Then backed it down to 50. By the way I bleed the shock and the tires and refilled with nitrogen. I bleed and refilled each unit 4 times. Great ride. Not a Hammer ride but thats apple and oranges. Seems to me lowering the windscreen helps when the wind is at 45 degrees. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Decided to play with the shock to see what worked given all the wind we have been having, 15psi in the rear works perfect with stock tire pressures. It was set at 30 psi on the shock which was way high for my passenger weight and gear. Tried 7 psi which felt good but bottomed twice on large hits, 15 cured that and got rid of the twitchy feel. |
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Handling
