New NC700XD - very bouncy on the highway?

[StrudelMan]

I just picked up my NC700XD a few days ago, and in most respects I'm quite pleased with it. Today's the first time I took it on the highway, though, and now one thing has me a bit concerned. Significant stretches of the 405 near me (Los Angeles) have a certain subtle short-range undulation; it's nothing that you really notice in a car, and on my 200cc Aprilia scooter it felt like little more than slight vibration, but when I got up to speed (65-70 or so) on the NC700 it was bouncing on them hard enough to rather batter my backside, causing back pain in pretty short order.

I'm aware that people complain about the suspension on the bike being rather inadequate for offroading or dealing with serious potholes, but I would not have expected it to be so bad as to be unable to deal with the freeway! Does anybody else drive around LA? Is there some other explanation for my problem here?

 

[VicTim]

Have you tried to adjust the rear suspension to a softer setting?

 

[BerndM]

What he said, also my DCT's ride softened up quite a bit as I put on the miles.

 

[StrudelMan]

Reduce the preload, you mean? That actually crossed my mind, that it was dialed in too far and I was sitting at or near the top, but I do seem to be getting decent...whatever you call it, compression, sag, when I sit down on the bike. I'm also more on the slender side than heavy, so I certainly don't think I should be bottoming out, either. This is a very slight unevenness in the road surface, after all...

also my DCT's ride softened up quite a bit as I put on the miles.

Huh. I wouldn't have expected that. How many miles are we talking?

 

[670cc]

Yep. That's the nature of the beast. For $150 you can fix the front end pretty well, but a new rear shock is going to cost quite a bit more.

If the rear suspension spring is adjusted too far to one extreme, adjusting it may help a little. But, you're not changing the spring rate or damping, so don't expect much improvement.

 

[StrudelMan]

I shouldn't imagine it's adjusted to any extreme at the moment, since it's fresh from the dealer.

Maybe I'll just give it time, then, see if it improves. Not super enthusiastic about shelling out another $600+ right after buying the thing, certainly.

 

[vitesse]

"Unfit for off roading"? Youtube is full of guys with significant off roading rides of factory stock bikes. I have 55 years in the saddle and find the NC near on perfect in every way as every vehicle is a compromise. Get to know your bike better, just ride it.

 

[Short Time]

Just turned over 600 miles on mine . Firm, yes, but not uncomfortably so. Here we have frost heaves or heat swells in the highways which can deliver a pretty good jolt. But the bike feels pretty much like what I expected. Have you ruled out a misbalanced tire? Just a thought.

 

[StrudelMan]

Just turned over 600 miles on mine . Firm, yes, but not uncomfortably so. Here we have frost heaves or heat swells in the highways which can deliver a pretty good jolt. But the bike feels pretty much like what I expected. Have you ruled out a misbalanced tire? Just a thought.

Yeah, pretty confident it's not a tire - other sections of the highway have been paved more smoothly, and it runs perfectly on those.

 

[Hank]

It might also be the wheelbase matches a distance between the high and low spots.

 

[bamamate]

I’m thinking along the same lines as Hank. Combination of the wheelbase, rider weight, suspension, speed, and distance/size of the road’s undulations are matching up to create a rough ride. There is a short section of I-55 in West Memphis that has humps in it. Depending on the vehicle, etc it can be a fun ride by the end where you are glad to have a seatbelt on. I know there are some other LA riders so I hope they will pitch in on riding the 405.

 

[StrudelMan]

Oof. Well, that would be unfortunate, I suppose, since there's not much I can do about the wheelbase. It does make sense as an explanation, though, more's the pity.

 

[mreric]

before you spend money on suspension.... tire pressure makes a difference. recommended is 42.. i dial mine down to 39.5. made a pretty good difference. but i am also regular weight- 135 lbs. so coming down is PSI was appropriate

also the suspension does soften up a bit after bunch of miles. exercise for a stronger core.. it will help with back pain...

 

[bvogel7475]

Hey Strudel, I live in Orange County and also ride a lot in San Diego County. I religiously keep the air in my tires at 36 front and 42 Rear and weigh 230 pounds (6'4"). The first 2,000 miles I hated riding on most freeways like the 91, 55, 5, 405 (OC & LA) etc. I am at 3,600 miles now and have noticed an improvement without making any suspension changes. My average freeway speed is about 72 MPH and I do notice an increase in stability when I ride slower. With only 600 miles and the crappy dunlops that come with the bike you may notice a difference with more miles and better tires. I switched my front tire out for a Continental Trail Attack 2 and handling has been much improved. Will switching out the back soon (just hitting the treadwear indicators right now.).

 

[StrudelMan]

Hm. Thanks for the input, vogel. I did try, today, reducing the rear air pressure to 39 or so, unfortunately without any noticeable improvement, so I'll be reinflating that. Guess I'll keep an eye on things for now and hope that it improves as I break in the bike.

 

[IdleUp]

I just picked up my NC700XD a few days ago, and in most respects I'm quite pleased with it. Today's the first time I took it on the highway, though, and now one thing has me a bit concerned. Significant stretches of the 405 near me (Los Angeles) have a certain subtle short-range undulation; it's nothing that you really notice in a car, and on my 200cc Aprilia scooter it felt like little more than slight vibration, but when I got up to speed (65-70 or so) on the NC700 it was bouncing on them hard enough to rather batter my backside, causing back pain in pretty short order.

I'm aware that people complain about the suspension on the bike being rather inadequate for offroading or dealing with serious potholes, but I would not have expected it to be so bad as to be unable to deal with the freeway! Does anybody else drive around LA? Is there some other explanation for my problem here?

Totally normal on concrete roads like interstates we all have the same suspension try riding on asphalt at that speed it will be fine. Enjoy the bike!

 

[mreric]

different tires brands also makes a difference. some tires absorb bumps better then others

 

[frog13]

Dunlop tires , hmmm , my 14 came with Pirelli scorpions . As others advised , put a couple thousand miles on , then decide. Have fun .

 

[ddenn]

The seat also makes a lot of difference, default one is quite uncomfortable and hard. Upgrading mine to Shad Comfort Seat made ride much smother.

 

[mike5100]

Strudelman - I have a 2016 bike and find exactly the same problem as you have reported. I had two NC X's previously - with the older suspension about which I had no cpmplaints.
Not only does the new Showa DBV fork technology produce a jiggly ride on normal roads it produces much more of a jolting ride on poor roads - IMHO it's a big step backwards. I also find it almost dangerous when there are a series of sharp bumps in a bend, and if you take it too fast the suspension seems to lock up.
I am 180lb and never ride with a pillion so assumed I might get an improvement by rotating the rear shock preload to it's 'softest' setting (I know that's not what it does but to avoid ambiguity I will use that term). It made no difference but what astounded me was that when I wound it to it's 'hardest' setting (ie the rear shock was at full extension), the handling of the bike improved subjectively by about 25%.
The whole thing has annoyed me though, and whereas the previous model had what I considered brilliant suspension, this one seems all wrong and this week I am upgrading it with racetech emulators and Wilbers 641 and these are being done by a specialist suspension firm.
(BTW - I have wondered whether some 2016 bikes have been delivered with faulty forks or rear shocks. Mine sometimes seems to smooth itself out but then reverts to the bad harsh ride)
Mike