Posted by ABLE_1 on May 13, 2007, 9:25 am
Hello all,
Looking for a solution for Shaking or Wobbling steering fork. I have had a
number of bikes over the years and this may be semi-normal or not. While
riding I have noticed on some bikes that if you take your hands off the
grips the bike will track nice and straight no problem. (not the smart thing
to do, I know) On others even though NO vibration is felt prior to release
after a few seconds a wobble is started in the fork. Re-grabbing the grips
all is returned to normal.
Some bikes this wobble can get quite violent if left go too long. On one
(GS550) that I had from almost new only started this after about 12,000
miles.
So my question(s) is/are as follows:
Is this due to wear on the fork bearings??
Is this due to a out of balance tire??
Is this due to a bent rim??
Is this due to bad some issue with the forks??
Is this due to all of the above or something else??
And is it an early sign that something is need of repair??
Also what would be the most likely first thing to start the problem.
I am not looking to do stupid tricks on the bike, but if this is a early
warning to something more serious it would be good to know. Not just for me
but to all riders.
Thanks to all that respond.
Les
Posted by the fly on May 13, 2007, 10:29 am
On Sun, 13 May 2007 09:25:23 -0400, "ABLE_1"
>Hello all,
>Looking for a solution for Shaking or Wobbling steering fork. I have had a
>number of bikes over the years and this may be semi-normal or not. While
>riding I have noticed on some bikes that if you take your hands off the
>grips the bike will track nice and straight no problem. (not the smart thing
>to do, I know) On others even though NO vibration is felt prior to release
>after a few seconds a wobble is started in the fork. Re-grabbing the grips
>all is returned to normal.
>Some bikes this wobble can get quite violent if left go too long. On one
>(GS550) that I had from almost new only started this after about 12,000
>miles.
>So my question(s) is/are as follows:
>Is this due to wear on the fork bearings??
It may be. Have they been adjusted or serviced? Are they
binding? Are they loose or damaged?
>Is this due to a out of balance tire??
Probably not.
>Is this due to a bent rim??
It can be. Have the rim checked for runout and/or damage.
>Is this due to bad some issue with the forks??
Probably not.
>Is this due to all of the above or something else??
It may be caused by a particular tire, or the wear pattern of
that tire due to aggrssive use of the front brake.
>And is it an early sign that something is need of repair??
It definitely needs to be repaired/adjusted/corrected.
>Also what would be the most likely first thing to start the problem.
Steering head bearing condition/adjustment, tire wear, tire
inflation.
>I am not looking to do stupid tricks on the bike, but if this is a early
>warning to something more serious it would be good to know. Not just for me
>but to all riders.
>Thanks to all that respond.
>Les
Posted by OH- on May 13, 2007, 2:28 pm
> On Sun, 13 May 2007 09:25:23 -0400, "ABLE_1"
<snip>
>>
>>And is it an early sign that something is need of repair??
> It definitely needs to be repaired/adjusted/corrected.
<snip>
Some bikes will be a bit wobbly when ridden hands off even
when new or in as new condition. OTOH, you need to worry if
the bike changes and gets worse.
The two causes that I have experience of have been worn
steering head bearings and unsuitable tyres.
The tyres were a bit odd. They were OEM and the bike would
wobble as soon as you let go of the handlebars. When they
wore out and I got another tyre type things improved.
As far as I've been able to understand this, every tyre has a
fundamental stiffness and damping (correct inflation pressure
assumed) that will influence if or when low speed wobble
occurs and this is more important than tread wear.
--
Ole Holmblad - Göteborgs Prima MCK / MK Pionjär
TDM850 / TT600R FL#44 OTC#489 UKRMSBC#08
SGFPTH#00 Remove hat to answer by mail
Posted by Albrecht via MotorcycleKB.com on May 13, 2007, 2:52 pm
OH- wrote:
>As far as I've been able to understand this, every tyre has a
>fundamental stiffness and damping (correct inflation pressure
>assumed) that will influence if or when low speed wobble
>occurs and this is more important than tread wear.
The center of gravity height, wheelbase, rake and trail and tire profile have
a lot to do with the speed at which a motorcycle will begin to weave. The
alert rider perceives a motorcycle that gently rocks from side to side while
riding at lower speeds as inherently alarming. It will begin to shimmy at
rather
low speed.
--
Message posted via MotorcycleKB.com
http://www.motorcyclekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/tech/200705/1
Posted by OH- on May 13, 2007, 7:28 pm
<snip>
> The
> alert rider perceives a motorcycle that gently rocks from side to side
> while
> riding at lower speeds as inherently alarming.
WTF? I've done and seen a lot of low speed riding but this was a new one.
What sort of bikes behave like that?
--
Ole Holmblad - Göteborgs Prima MCK / MK Pionjär
TDM850 / TT600R FL#44 OTC#489 UKRMSBC#08
SGFPTH#00 Remove hat to answer by mail
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>Looking for a solution for Shaking or Wobbling steering fork. I have had a
>number of bikes over the years and this may be semi-normal or not. While
>riding I have noticed on some bikes that if you take your hands off the
>grips the bike will track nice and straight no problem. (not the smart thing
>to do, I know) On others even though NO vibration is felt prior to release
>after a few seconds a wobble is started in the fork. Re-grabbing the grips
>all is returned to normal.
>Some bikes this wobble can get quite violent if left go too long. On one
>(GS550) that I had from almost new only started this after about 12,000
>miles.
>So my question(s) is/are as follows:
>Is this due to wear on the fork bearings??