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Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 5:07 am
by pcxthai150
hi,
new member,
new owner of 2020 pcx150

So does anyone know how to deal with or fix the wheelie behavior created by the storage box? As you can see by the video, it's quite dangerous. The death wobble happens instantly. Without the box on, it doesn't happen at all at any speed. So it's 100% caused by the wind @ 40+ kph against the box; like a parachute.
I'm at a loss, and don't understand why I can't safely have a storage box attached without this happening.



Thoughts??

Thanks

Re: storage box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 8:24 am
by Mel46
Interesting. Most of us have a taller windshield as well, and the box usually has items in it that weigh it down. I don't have the newest version of PCX, but I can say without reservation that my box has only a minimum amount of wind interference. I have ridden my bike at 75 mph and only had problems with crosswinds caused by large trucks passing me.

Perhaps it is a combination of the locale and the roads??

Have any of the rest of our members had this kind of problem? I would appreciate any input so that I can see if I can duplicate it.

As I have said previously, I have ridden my 2013 PCX 150 for quite some time and on many types of roads, and I haven't had any stability problems.

Re: storage box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 8:32 am
by fish
Some find help with much heavier bar-end weights.

Fish

Re: storage box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 3:24 pm
by Yorkie150
first check the tyre pressures front and rear secondly check the there is no play on the head stick ( no loose bearings ) and thirdly - hold the handle bars...does it wobble when you have both hands on the bars ? If not..Then dont try and ride like a stunt man

Re: storage box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 4:05 pm
by you you
Joking aside checking the tyre pressures is the best advice. Please do that.

Re: storage box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2020 4:22 pm
by Gil
What's in your storage box? I have a big box on my scooter and I don't get that issue. Although, I don't add heavy stuff on it.

Re: storage box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 10:04 am
by alx123
Maybe try taking off all of the Beer Lao inside that box?

Kidding aside, it's quite difficult to figure out what's going without seeing your box as well. Show us the box maybe?

It's not supposed to happen with a correctly installed rear box.

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:01 pm
by you you
Check your tyre pressure.

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:01 am
by pcxthai150
update.....

so to my complete surprise, the bike is perfectly balanced from the factory. meaning any additions, even simply a tail rack, Will cause enough weight imbalance to lift up the front and cause the tank slap at any speed. some one told me honda made it this way on purpose to force you to keep your hands on the bars at all times. funny tho to me, that if that were the case, then it would do it day 1 and surely not just after adding weight to the tail. I've done everything possible to include adding a taller windscreen, checking my tire pressure is correct,... there's not much else i can do, other than piss and moan, so...

thoughts?

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 11:15 am
by you you
pcxthai150 wrote:update.....

so to my complete surprise, the bike is perfectly balanced from the factory. meaning any additions, even simply a tail rack, Will cause enough weight imbalance to lift up the front and cause the tank slap at any speed. some one told me honda made it this way on purpose to force you to keep your hands on the bars at all times. funny tho to me, that if that were the case, then it would do it day 1 and surely not just after adding weight to the tail. I've done everything possible to include adding a taller windscreen, checking my tire pressure is correct,... there's not much else i can do, other than piss and moan, so...

thoughts?

That “someone” has taken the liberty of bullshiting you.

Any play in the steering head bearings?

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 11:28 am
by pcxthai150
not that i can tell. i mean, the thing is BRAND NEW! it's been doing it since i installed that damn box! but even with the box off, it still does it. I've asked,around, and,others say their bikes do it too. that's what prompted the "Honda intentional design" theory.
i dunno tho. i can't imagine a brand new bike needs the head tightened.? but I'll certainly look into it since its the only thing I've left to address...

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:46 pm
by you you
pcxthai150 wrote:not that i can tell. i mean, the thing is BRAND NEW! it's been doing it since i installed that damn box! but even with the box off, it still does it. I've asked,around, and,others say their bikes do it too. that's what prompted the "Honda intentional design" theory.
i dunno tho. i can't imagine a brand new bike needs the head tightened.? but I'll certainly look into it since its the only thing I've left to address...

If it’s brand new take it back to the dealer. It shouldn’t do it.

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:32 pm
by pcxthai150
can you do me a favor? can you try and see if yours does it? just get up to enough speed (about 25+ mph) and simply let go of the handle bars. let me know what happens for you.
thanks

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 11:41 pm
by MikeP
pcxthai150 wrote:update.....

so to my complete surprise, the bike is perfectly balanced from the factory. meaning any additions, even simply a tail rack, Will cause enough weight imbalance to lift up the front and cause the tank slap at any speed. some one told me honda made it this way on purpose to force you to keep your hands on the bars at all times. funny tho to me, that if that were the case, then it would do it day 1 and surely not just after adding weight to the tail. I've done everything possible to include adding a taller windscreen, checking my tire pressure is correct,... there's not much else i can do, other than piss and moan, so...

thoughts?
Wow with all the crap I have on my bike, I should be popping wheelies!

On a serious note try a tunnel bag with a 5Ltr gas can full. See how it handles with more weight forward. Perhaps a tunnel bag is a better packing option or when loading pack the tunnel bag with heavy items, the top box with the lighter ones. I travel with a 5Ltr fuel can in my tunnel bag on many of my trips and don’t even notice it is there it rides so nice.

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2020 11:56 pm
by pcxthai150
yeah. i gotta do something...
i dont wanna ditch the box. but i need to be able to take my,hands off briefly to put on eye pro or check my phone gps or whatever. I can't keep doing to at least one hand on aat crap. shits for the birds lol

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2020 11:04 pm
by you you
pcxthai150 wrote:can you do me a favor? can you try and see if yours does it? just get up to enough speed (about 25+ mph) and simply let go of the handle bars. let me know what happens for you.
thanks

Absolutely nothing. Bike just gently slows down.

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 10:57 am
by pcxthai150
really.... wow. that's crazy. i wonder why i am so lucky lol. are your wheels balanced? mine aren't. I'm gonna see if that helps me...

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 4:22 pm
by you you
Wheels aren’t balanced. Not a lot of point if the tyre is fitted correctly.

Are you going to take it back to the dealers?

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 7:56 pm
by pcxthai150
yeah it's brand new. so no sense in taking it anywhere else but the dealer for now.
I'm gonna make them balance the wheels. i hope that makes some sort of difference

Re: Storage Box acts like a parachute......

Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2020 6:28 pm
by MikeP
you you wrote:
pcxthai150 wrote:can you do me a favor? can you try and see if yours does it? just get up to enough speed (about 25+ mph) and simply let go of the handle bars. let me know what happens for you.
thanks

Absolutely nothing. Bike just gently slows down.
I just had to try this....you you is right..... proof is I am typing this. :lol: