Vibration Problems

[Scottie Boy]

As you can tell by my post count, I don't come here too often. However, I've been actively following the Tenere threads over at ADVrider where myself and others have discussed vibration issues with our particular bikes. I know that some of the members here have complained about vibration so I thought that I would post an update on my fight with this problem in hopes of helping others. Below is a copy of my latest post at ADVrider.

Update on my Vibration Issues:

Well, I wasted a day of vacation to go the dealership first thing this morning. The 1-800 Yamaha technical wizard instructed them to loosen all the engine mounts and to re-torque them. In the past on different bikes, somehow the engine had gotten tweaked in the mounts causing one mount to carry more load than the others and inducing vibrations. I eagerly took the bike for a test ride only to be let down. Nothing had changed.

So we called Yamaha again. They advised that my bike should be compared to another to see if there were any differences. It just so happened that the shop had a brand new, zero miles S10 sitting on the floor. The sales department was upset but I took the new bike out for a spin. The vibration seemed less than mine. Was it 100% better? No, its a big twin not a Goldwing but it did seem better. Once again, this was a zero miles bike versus mine with 3,000 miles plus Bark Buster handguards with extra bar end weights.

The shop is going to contact Yamaha again and see what the next step will be. When we originally spoke to them, Yamaha claimed that they have never heard of this issue concerning the Tenere before. However, by reading this thread I know that I'm not the only one experiencing this. Please call Yamaha customer service at 1-800-962-7926 if you are having the same problem. According to the dealership, Yamaha has the best customer service bar none. Hopefully, if we let them know that there is a problem with some bikes maybe we can get a resolution to this.

Be safe and take care.

 

[Koinz]

Someone mentioned this in other threads -
All bikes will have some sort of vibration, but the Tenere doesn't warrant a complaint from me. I have about 1600 miles on mine, 1 oil change and completely stock (no pcV or auto tune) . I think it runs great.

I hope someone fixes your issue.

 

[jajpko]

As you can tell by my post count, I don't come here too often. However, I've been actively following the Tenere threads over at ADVrider where myself and others have discussed vibration issues with our particular bikes. I know that some of the members here have complained about vibration so I thought that I would post an update on my fight with this problem in hopes of helping others. Below is a copy of my latest post at ADVrider.

Update on my Vibration Issues:

Well, I wasted a day of vacation to go the dealership first thing this morning. The 1-800 Yamaha technical wizard instructed them to loosen all the engine mounts and to re-torque them. In the past on different bikes, somehow the engine had gotten tweaked in the mounts causing one mount to carry more load than the others and inducing vibrations. I eagerly took the bike for a test ride only to be let down. Nothing had changed.

So we called Yamaha again. They advised that my bike should be compared to another to see if there were any differences. It just so happened that the shop had a brand new, zero miles S10 sitting on the floor. The sales department was upset but I took the new bike out for a spin. The vibration seemed less than mine. Was it 100% better? No, its a big twin not a Goldwing but it did seem better. Once again, this was a zero miles bike versus mine with 3,000 miles plus Bark Buster handguards with extra bar end weights.

The shop is going to contact Yamaha again and see what the next step will be. When we originally spoke to them, Yamaha claimed that they have never heard of this issue concerning the Tenere before. However, by reading this thread I know that I'm not the only one experiencing this. Please call Yamaha customer service at 1-800-962-7926 if you are having the same problem. According to the dealership, Yamaha has the best customer service bar none. Hopefully, if we let them know that there is a problem with some bikes maybe we can get a resolution to this.

Be safe and take care.

I also posted this to your post.

I took my bike to the dealer today and let them ride it. They said the bike did vibrate more then some others, but, they would buy it.

I just got back from a 2000 mile trip and had to see a doctor and get PT for my wrist. The vibes were so strong, to create the beginning of Carpal Tunnel.

The dealer did not seem to think Yamaha would do much and then brought up the district rep and said there might not be much help there.

I really liked this bike and the technology, but can't take the vibes. So it will be sold and I'll look for something else.
In my opinion the bike is more dirt than it is slab touring, and that is what I mainly bought it for.

 

[Scottie Boy]

I also posted this to your post.

I took my bike to the dealer today and let them ride it. They said the bike did vibrate more then some others, but, they would buy it.

I just got back from a 2000 mile trip and had to see a doctor and get PT for my wrist. The vibes were so strong, to create the beginning of Carpal Tunnel.

The dealer did not seem to think Yamaha would do much and then brought up the district rep and said there might not be much help there.

I really liked this bike and the technology, but can't take the vibes. So it will be sold and I'll look for something else.
In my opinion the bike is more dirt than it is slab touring, and that is what I mainly bought it for.

I hope your wrist starts feeling better. I've noticed when I ride mine a lot, I get pain in various joints in my hands. I've contemplated selling mine but I wanted to hopefully find a solution to this problem. This was going to be my "splurge on yourself dream bike". ::010::

Please call Yamaha customer service at 1-800-962-7926. Maybe if we get enough people to complain they will realize that some bikes have issues.

 

[jajpko]

I hope your wrist starts feeling better. I've noticed when I ride mine a lot, I get pain in various joints in my hands. I've contemplated selling mine but I wanted to hopefully find a solution to this problem. This was going to be my "splurge on yourself dream bike". ::010::

Please call Yamaha customer service at 1-800-962-7926. Maybe if we get enough people to complain they will realize that some bikes have issues.

I will call customer service and let them know, but I don't want to end up having to sell because they don't think it is a problem and it is later in the year. Some people,, maybe most, don't have a problem, so maybe we are more sensitive to it.

Good luck on yours..

 

[Scottie Boy]

I will call customer service and let them know, but I don't want to end up having to sell because they don't think it is a problem and it is later in the year. Some people,, maybe most, don't have a problem, so maybe we are more sensitive to it.

Good luck on yours..

I also wondered if I was just more sensitive to this but this is the only bike that has bothered me this way. In the past I've owned inline fours, v-fours, v-twins, boxer twins and big bore singles with no issues as to vibration.

 

[roy]

Go find/borrow a DR650 or KLR650 and ride it 500+ miles on a trip on the freeway. You will learn to appreciate just how smooth the Yamaha really is. I feel my engine but I would not call the vibes I feel anything other than a engine working. Completely normal. ::26::

 

[jajpko]

Go find/borrow a DR650 or KLR650 and ride it 500+ miles on a trip on the freeway. You will learn to appreciate just how smooth the Yamaha really is. I feel my engine but I would not call the vibes I feel anything other than a engine working. Completely normal. ::26::

I am glad you are happy with your bike. If I were that happy, mine would not be for sale.
I have owned many bikes and this is the worst in the vibration dept. As I said before, maybe I am just more susceptible, but that does not lessen the fact that to me, it is not the right bike..

 

[Venture]

This would make a good poll.

http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=2443.0

 

[digitalmoto]

I just got back from a 2000 mile trip and had to see a doctor and get PT for my wrist. The vibes were so strong, to create the beginning of Carpal Tunnel.

I've had CT surgery on both wrists. I got it from having the wrong position for my wrists for too many hours. I write software for a living so it isn't exactly avoidable for me. I use ergo keyboards and try not to type on my laptop too much. Using my laptop will tend to cause flair ups because the edge of the unit hits me in just the wrong spot. I knwo what causes it. I try to avoid those behaviors and ice up my wrists as needed.

So I'm curious, how is the bike causing your Carpal Tunnel flair up? Are you gripping the bars too tight? Is there an egro issue that needs to be addressed? Is the angle wrong? Engine vibs shouldn't be causing wrist problems.

 

[snakebitten]

I've had CT surgery on both wrists. I got it from having the wrong position for my wrists for too many hours. I write software for a living so it isn't exactly avoidable for me. I use ergo keyboards and try not to type on my laptop too much. Using my laptop will tend to cause flair ups because the edge of the unit hits me in just the wrong spot. I knwo what causes it. I try to avoid those behaviors and ice up my wrists as needed.

So I'm curious, how is the bike causing your Carpal Tunnel flair up? Are you gripping the bars too tight? Is there an egro issue that needs to be addressed? Is the angle wrong? Engine vibs shouldn't be causing wrist problems.

You might be on to something!

I put about 5000 miles on my S10 with stock bars at stock height. I was so convinced that my neck and back wanted the bars to be up and back. So I bought the 2" Roxy risers. But because I haven't installed the longer brake and clutch hoses, I wasn't able to put the bars where I mentally pictured I would. Instead, they are up 2 inches but tilted a bit forward and up to gain hose length while I get the new hoses ordered.

I did 600 miles this weekend and amazingly I was far less fatigued in shoulders, neck, and back.

So, I'm wondering..............

I too sit HOURS at a keyboard. Ergonomics are very misunderstood. Could it be possible "vibration" is getting blamed for ergonomic mysery? Mount your bike and ball up your fist (like you had a grip in your hand) and lay them on top of the grips. How much do you have to cock your wrist right or left to force your fist to be perpendicular to the grip? You might need a completely different bend?

It would cost less to find out than the "sell hit" you guys are surely gonna take.

 

[jajpko]

You would need to talk to my PT. She has treated many riders because of vibration. You are also correct about the angle of the bars. I think that is part of the problem.

I have CTS from using a computer, and just need to watch what and how I do things. At this time I am not in need of an operation, and don't want one. LOL

I am surprised by the number of people that think this is not a problem, although I shouldn't be.
If one person is having a problem with , let's say, bad clutch, there will be a hundred who will post that they don't have a problem. Instead of posting a solution. Oh well,,,,

 

[Combo]

I noticed on long trips in S mode my right wrist would bother me.

I installed a palm throttle rest, a pinch cruise and run in T mode now on long trips. I just did a 800 mile trip with the wife this weekend and no more problems with my right wrist. ::012::

I think the S mode on long trips makes you move your right wrist back and forth much much more than T mode and causes fatigue and the pain. At least it does for me. I will now only use S for play only.

S mode feels like using a confuser mouse with a fast pointer speed.????

 

[JonnyCinco]

Jim,

I think you have a solution. Most Carpel Tunnel is ergonomic related, focusing on pressure or strain through the carpel tunnel at extreme angles.

The carpel tunnel narrows at the extremes of flexion and extension. Place a force through your finger flexors and you start to damage or compress your median nerve. You may also want to make sure you have truly carpel tunnel, as it is ffrequently misdiagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome. I can write ya a book, but I am sure your PT can talk a little more about this with you.

Selling your bike shoud not be the answer. Vibrations aide in carpel tunnel, but it usually isn't the main cause.

~Jonathan (PT, DPT) ;D

 

[GrahamD]

I am surprised by the number of people that think this is not a problem, although I shouldn't be.
If one person is having a problem with , let's say, bad clutch, there will be a hundred who will post that they don't have a problem. Instead of posting a solution. Oh well,,,,

I always post this at the risk of upsetting people and teaching them how to suck eggs..

Apart from the other possibles like out of tune, bad sync, bad angles / height not right etc mentioned before and of course hopefully not, a misalligned balancer or something.

The bars are for steering. You should not have a tight grip OR weight on your wrists much of the time, especially when on fairly smooth surfaces.

This is something that I have found helped me a lot over the years and something I have to keep reminding myself of on nearly every ride.

Grip with your knees, steer with your arms. Once you have practiced that it is amazing just how easy everything becomes.

If your ego's are not set up to make that easy, then get them set up that way. Everyone has different torso / leg ratio's. Bike manufactures have to try and take an average height and ratio and work from there, By definition that means there is probably a 95% percent chance that ANY bike is not ideal.

You can run a bike through some pretty tight tight stuff, using just three fingers on the bar ends, assuming the throttle is light enough.

If it's old news to people, so be it, but it's amazing how many people have told me that they just discovered this.
People that I assumed because of riding talent would have known it years ago.

From experience, I have also found that things like Bark Busters etc change resonances on bars and can cause fatigue. Changing bar weight ends CHANGES things, sometimes that works sometimes it's the wrong direction as well.

The Busters on the Strom have degraded the vibe issue to a point at specific speeds and improved them at others, Overall though not as good as stock.

In other parts of the world, YAMAHA has come to the party, I hope YAMAHA USA is as good.

As far as my experience goes the S10 was smoother than the DL1000. I am not saying that those with issues don't have an issue, but it has to be sorted one possibility at a time.

Cheers
Graham

 

[KSH]

I have C-T type symptom's caused from back problems.
This was my cure. Rox anti-vibration risers.
Even with them I have found that if I try to set further back on the seat it changes the ergos enough that I will feel it in my hands.

 

[jajpko]

Jim,

I think you have a solution. Most Carpel Tunnel is ergonomic related, focusing on pressure or strain through the carpel tunnel at extreme angles.

The carpel tunnel narrows at the extremes of flexion and extension. Place a force through your finger flexors and you start to damage or compress your median nerve. You may also want to make sure you have truly carpel tunnel, as it is ffrequently misdiagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome. I can write ya a book, but I am sure your PT can talk a little more about this with you.



Selling your bike shoud not be the answer. Vibrations aide in carpel tunnel, but it usually isn't the main cause.

~Jonathan (PT, DPT) ;D

Thanks Jonathan, I will talk with her in the morning and see if anything more comes of it.
I know the bars do not fit and think I need the ends closer together. I have put risers and grip puppies on to help.
I also have done a TBS.
At this point I am at a loss about the vibes and think it is a problem with my bike. I hope Yamaha feels the same way.

I have never had a bike, that could not be set up in a few rides.

 

[Scottie Boy]

As far as my experience goes the S10 was smoother than the DL1000. I am not saying that those with issues don't have an issue, but it has to be sorted one possibility at a time.

Cheers
Graham

I couldn't disagree with you more. Perhaps I had the world's smoothest Vee and now have the world's buzziest S10, I don't know. My DL1000 never bothered me with vibrations. You could feel the V-twin chugging but never buzzing.

As to what you said about the handlebars; your grip, ergonomics, etc.. I believe that you made a lot of valid points but I feel the buzz through my bars and through my footpegs.

 

[markjenn]

Just a quick note to also say that for long-distance riding, a throttle lock can make a huge difference in perceived vibes. I have the Go Cruise and it works remarkably well. In many ways, its easier to use than any of the conventional throttle locks (e.g., Throttlemeister, Kaoko, Vista Cruise) so I find myself using it almost casually, even in situations where I wouldn't normally use another throttle lock.

If you notice your vibe problem is primarily in your right side, I'd ante up the $20 and the 5-sec installation time to get a Go Cruise and see if using it regularly helps. Remarkably clever gizmo.

- Mark

 

[Combo]

Just a quick note to also say that for long-distance riding, a throttle lock can make a huge difference in perceived vibes. I have the Go Cruise and it works remarkably well. In many ways, its easier to use than any of the conventional throttle locks (e.g., Throttlemeister, Kaoko, Vista Cruise) so I find myself using it almost casually, even in situations where I wouldn't normally use another throttle lock.

If you notice your vibe problem is primarily in your right side, I'd ante up the $20 and the 5-sec installation time to get a Go Cruise and see if using it regularly helps. Remarkably clever gizmo.

- Mark

I have a Go Cruise Mark, it works great and does help on long trips.