another virago question

 

Bear in mind just got a Virago 535 1992 and am used to riding non
cruiser bikes.
Have just had a ride out first on my own and then with a pillion.

The front feels very light to me at slow speed but when picking up
speed feels positive and smooth when no pillion and the with a pillion
the same, the passenger remarked that she felt a bit unstable at low
speed then comfortable at a higher speed.

Maybe its cause I havent got used to the bike yet but remarks please,
are cruisers normally like this, is it just psychological due to the
sitting position or is there some adjustments I should check?

Checked the tyre pressures and they were correct according to the
handbook, that was my first thought.

 



that isn't a cruiser. it's just a vtwin road bike.

 

fair nuff
Never ridden a shaft driven bike either.
Also checked to see the suspension settings are equal which they are
they are both set at half way, so not that anyway.
The nearest comparison I can give is:
When you take your first pillion passenger for a ride, you feel that
the bike is a little unstable and compensate by moving the steering to
the left and right slightly - just until you get used to the bike
caring a pillion - thats exactly like it feels only without a pillion!
- speed up and the problem goes away.

 



you might want to check the steering damper and tighten it a
little. check for grinding when you waggle the bars. i
believe they use tapered bearings which do wear out.
the front end should not be squirrely. that bike is supposed
to be a stable rider in all axis'.

 

Thanks 'e'
I thought you had cracked it - looked in the haynes manual to see where
the damper adjustment was and found this info on checking the steering
bearings:

(1) To check the bearings, support the motorcycle securely and
block the machine so the front wheel is in the air.
(2) Point the wheel straight ahead and slowly move the handlebars
from side-to-side. Dents or roughness in the bearing races will be felt
and the bars will not move smoothly.
(3) Next, grasp the wheel and try to move it forward and backward.
Any looseness in the steering head bearings will be felt as
front-to-rear
movement of the fork legs. If play is felt in the bearings, adjust the
steering head.

Did all that and there was no roughness, grinding, excess movement or
play felt.
Wheel felt solid when I tried to move it backwards and forwards.

I'm beginning to think its "new bike syndrome" and just need to ride it
for a few days steady just to get used to it.
Thank you for answering my questions as its a big help in ironing out
problems.