Need Help Lowkey hopping at low speed

[Requin]

Try taking it up to eg 50kmh on a straight, smooth piece of road, then throttle off, put it in neutral and let it slow down naturally.

Loosen your grip on the bars until you're only just holding them, but with almost no pressure.

When the sensation starts, are you feeling it through the bars or your backside?

Try it again with your thighs gripping the tank so your back is straight, core engaged and your feet are pressing down on the pegs.

Does that change the feeling?

Will test it on monday, away for the weekend.

 

[Requin]

Try taking it up to eg 50kmh on a straight, smooth piece of road, then throttle off, put it in neutral and let it slow down naturally.

Loosen your grip on the bars until you're only just holding them, but with almost no pressure.

When the sensation starts, are you feeling it through the bars or your backside?

Try it again with your thighs gripping the tank so your back is straight, core engaged and your feet are pressing down on the pegs.

Does that change the feeling?

Well, it's from the front.
I also asked a friend to stay in front of me, with his car, so that I can watch my headlight reflected in his car. I could see the light go up and down, lowkey.
I am starting to think it's because of the tyres. The GT's are for heavy bikes, like heavy and loaded touring bikes, not for 190kg mosquitoes.
Suspension is also rather stiff.
I'm not that heavy, around 80kg.
So stiff tyres, stiff suspension, 190kg bike, 80kg rider... I'm thinking it's just the
irregularities of the road that I'm feeling but I could be wrong.

 

[tuning-forks]

I've had balancing weights fall off before. Also, I think you had checked the rear wheel bearings, but probably not the front.

 

[grahammarsden]

I agree that GT tyres are probably the wrong choice for the FZ6. Road 6's are good tyres, so maybe just swap them over (you can probably get a good second hand price on the old ones if they've barely been used).

What tyre pressures are you using? I have Bridgestone T31s and use 36/42 psi.

I'm not so sure about the suspension as the OEM fork springs on this bike are fairly soft and IIRC you said they hadn't been changed. I only weigh 63kg undressed and never had such an issue.

 

[Requin]

I've had balancing weights fall off before. Also, I think you had checked the rear wheel bearings, but probably not the front.

I don't have lead strips for balancing, I use beads. Checked the front, back and everything in between. That's why I asked for help, I can't think of anything else to check and was thinking that someone might know where to look next, when there is nowhere to look.

 

[Requin]

I agree that GT tyres are probably the wrong choice for the FZ6. Road 6's are good tyres, so maybe just swap them over (you can probably get a good second hand price on the old ones if they've barely been used).

What tyre pressures are you using? I have Bridgestone T31s and use 36/42 psi.

I'm not so sure about the suspension as the OEM fork springs on this bike are fairly soft and IIRC you said they hadn't been changed. I only weigh 63kg undressed and never had such an issue.

Comfort wise the GT6 and FZ6 combo is a fail. Miserable fail.
But... the feedback those tyres give while cornering, the way every imput is a perfectly executed by the bike with those tyres, the way they grip, the way the bike handles once the bunny hop goes away at higher speed ... man... I'm not sure I want to ever change them.
If comfort dies, then I'll let it die. I have my armchair on wheels for when I want comfort.
The back is OEM(unsure if I said the front by mystake), the front I have no clue what was done inside. But it's not what I'd call soft. Not compared to my other bikes.
Pressure is same as yours. 36/42.
I should lower them to 32-33/40 and see how that feels.

 

[grahammarsden]

the front I have no clue what was done inside. But it's not what I'd call soft. Not compared to my other bikes.

Compared to a cruiser, the FZ6, being a Sport/ Tourer, is going to feel firmer at the front.

Compared to others, especially sport bikes, it's soft.

 

[Requin]

Compared to a cruiser, the FZ6, being a Sport/ Tourer, is going to feel firmer at the front.

Compared to others, especially sport bikes, it's soft.

Never owned anyting but power cruisers and chopped crusiers so I can't argue. I rode, on ocasion, sport/naked/etc but never owned so I never cared how stiff they felt.
I'll look for someone with a stock fz6 and ask them to allow me to compare theirs with mine.
Standing still, fronk brakes locked, I can't say the front will compress much, regardless of how hard I push on it.
Nor does it seem to do it under heavy braking, at any speed. But a side by side will solve the question.

 

[grahammarsden]

I replaced the OEM fork springs with Hyperpro progressives which give better control through the bends and less dive under firm braking.

If you really want to go the whole hog you can get cartridge emulators or do the R6 fork swap. There's posts elsewhere on here that will give more details.

 

[tuning-forks]

Standing still, fronk brakes locked, I can't say the front will compress much, regardless of how hard I push on it.
Nor does it seem to do it under heavy braking, at any speed.

This sounds very wrong. I'm almost 50lb. lighter than you and I can easily get the forks to compress at least an inch without even using the brake, just having the bike on the sidestand (can't try with brakes because calipers are off right now). Dive is quite noticeable under braking.
I would say there is something wrong with the forks, or they are non-stock inside and definitely not set up for your weight.

 

[Requin]

This sounds very wrong. I'm almost 50lb. lighter than you and I can easily get the forks to compress at least an inch without even using the brake, just having the bike on the sidestand (can't try with brakes because calipers are off right now). Dive is quite noticeable under braking.
I would say there is something wrong with the forks, or they are non-stock inside and definitely not set up for your weight.

Well, I'll look a proper setup soon.

 

[Requin]

Got pissed nuff to jack the bike, put it in 6th and let it spin the wheel.
Then I noticed that the chain jumps as it gets close to the front sprocket. It has a rhythm to it.
Fkin chain seemed perfect when inspected by hand, link by f link...

 

[grahammarsden]

The chain will always tend jump about a bit if you're running it without any weight on the rear wheel.

Try taking the front sprocket cover off (you can wiggle it out without needing to remove the diagonal clutch push rod), then feel between the teeth of the sprocket and see if you feel a "lip" or "hook" instead of a smooth curve.

If so, you need to replace both sprockets and the chain.

 

[Requin]

The chain will always tend jump about a bit if you're running it without any weight on the rear wheel.

Try taking the front sprocket cover off (you can wiggle it out without needing to remove the diagonal clutch push rod), then feel between the teeth of the sprocket and see if you feel a "lip" or "hook" instead of a smooth curve.

If so, you need to replace both sprockets and the chain.

The bike had it's weight on the rear. I don't have a center stand, I had to jack it by the swingarm, in a very... hobo/back of the barn way as I don't own a paddock stand since I never needed one for my other bikes.
Yeah, the chain would jump but not in the exact same spot. I spray marked it, never failed a beat. But checking it by hand there seems nothing wrong with it.
Checked both sprockets the first time I started looking for the problem, no shark teeth, no bends, no chips, no play.
But then again, I am not sure the chain can be the reason for my pogo stick problem.
Out of ideas...
I'll change the chain and front suspension as soon as I have the time. If the problem persists and I have nothing else to look at, I'll just sell it and be done.