Iso adjustments

I'm curious as to how you guys with vernier isolastics adjust them. Do you tweak them a little at a time until the vibration is what you like, or do you adjust for a specific clearance?

Also, I understand the concept of iso clearance affecting handling but does anybody have experience about how much clearance is noticeabe in that regard? My MKII vibrates more than I want and I'm tempted to just back them off but I don't know what to expect for the consequences.

TIA

On my 73 850 with adjustable isos, I back them off until there is as little vibration as possible, backing off more will not result in any less.
Then short ride, stop, and tighten them up, ride, tighten up, until you can feel slight thrumming in the footpegs and bars, but the mirrors
as still quite clear, this all at around 3700 rpm.
Mine is an 850, and vibrates more than my 750s, cannot get it glass smooth, I suspect the reason is the heavier pistons,
and also maybe my iso rubber snubbers are harder material with less absorbant give.
When they are due for replacement, I will make sure to purchase whatever is the softest rubbers then available.
My 850 does not get its smoothest until around 3700rpm, and especially better around 4000.
I don't use the feeler gage and measure for a certain clearance, just all feel.
Hope this helps.

72 combat just redid the shims.
I have.010 on both sides
and that is front and back.
shakes below 3 grand not terribly though
above 3 grand it is sound and I can lay into it if i need to
MarshalNorton

maylar said:

I'm curious as to how you guys with vernier isolastics adjust them. Do you tweak them a little at a time until the vibration is what you like, or do you adjust for a specific clearance?

Also, I understand the concept of iso clearance affecting handling but does anybody have experience about how much clearance is noticeabe in that regard? My MKII vibrates more than I want and I'm tempted to just back them off but I don't know what to expect for the consequences.

TIA

Click to expand...

I set mine to 0.008" and check after the mounting bolts are torqued up. This works for me but each rider has his own preference the manual gives 0.010" the police I am told used 0.006" and I read somewhere forget now someone using 0.002" . Its a direct tradeoff between handling and comfort so depends what you ride the bike for (More Vibration + Better Handling or Less Vibration + Adequate handling). I never just use the Vernier adjustment. I set to 0.008" because it suits me as my commando is my commuter bike.If I want to have a fun weekend I can adjust to suit.... Not to forget tht a bad handling bike for one rider may not be noticed by a less sensitive rider.I remember being unimpressed by a Laverda Jota which other riders may swear by. I also have fitted a steering damper, IKON Shocks (Dial-a-ride Koni) and progressive fork springs. Have had a Wideline 500 Domi that had fantastic handling which is what I compare
my Commando to the commando comes off second-best a 250 Starfire that never had a good rep but was fine for the use it was put to. Best bet for you is to go to 0.010" the maximum and ride it for a few days. Hope this helps...??
There are plenty of other factors that can significantly for the handling (Referring to handling here I incude the effects of road ripples bumps potholes etc) IMHO Tyres, Shocks etc and last but not least the whole head steady debate...plenty of this on this forum. What head steady have you got?

Cheers Paul

Stock '74 850 head steady. I'll probably do a rose joint home made one this winter but I'd like to get the vibration under control first. I just installed the verniers this season and I can't seem to get the same vibration characteristics that I had with the shimmed iso's before. I think I'll make an actual measurement and see where they sit. Thanks for the info.

maylar said:

I can't seem to get the same vibration characteristics that I had with the shimmed iso's before. I think I'll make an actual measurement and see where they sit. Thanks for the info.

Click to expand...

I don' think you will, new design compared to old ones and different rubber used make them diffent - i tied different adjustments and at first thought the new design sucked, but now like them much more -my bike is sweet above 2900 rpms with about .006

mikegray660 said:

maylar said:

I can't seem to get the same vibration characteristics that I had with the shimmed iso's before. I think I'll make an actual measurement and see where they sit. Thanks for the info.

Click to expand...

I don' think you will, new design compared to old ones and different rubber used make them diffent - i tied different adjustments and at first thought the new design sucked, but now like them much more -my bike is sweet above 2900 rpms with about .006

Click to expand...

I noticed that the MK 111 manual states 0.006" whereas the pre MK 111 all give 0.010" clearance.