What causes handlebar shaking?

[Rob S.]

Are swing arm bushings the usual culprit?

What is the proper order to check/replace parts?

Are wheel bearings involved here?

[posplayr]

Are swing arm bushings the usual culprit?

What is the proper order to check/replace parts?

Are wheel bearings involved here?

At low speed?

[Guest]

Yes at what speed(s) A number of or a combination of things can cause the front end shake. Worn front tire, worn fork bushings, wheel bearings, steering head bearings worn and or out of adjustment, swing arm bearings, bad shocks and or worn shock mounts, misalignment of the rear wheel. Process of elimination to find what is causing it. Start at the front and work your way back. Sometimes it can be just suckie roads.

[Rob S.]

Sometimes she shakes slow, sometimes fast. Tires have plenty of tread and look to be wearing evenly.

I haven't been able to nail it down. Sometimes I can do my block's quarter mile with no hands, even over the speed bump with no problem. Other times, same block, as soon as I let go she starts shaking. My block would be in first, second or third gear.

Same is true on the highway at 70 or so. Sometimes shake, sometimes no shake.

[daturat100r]

any of the above but also head shake is an inherent design fault with motorcycles ,check this out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3OQTU-kE2s&index=16&list=LLZIdfADItWj8DhFaCwwMOxg

[posplayr]

Sometimes she shakes slow, sometimes fast. Tires have plenty of tread and look to be wearing evenly.

I haven't been able to nail it down. Sometimes I can do my block's quarter mile with no hands, even over the speed bump with no problem. Other times, same block, as soon as I let go she starts shaking. My block would be in first, second or third gear.

Same is true on the highway at 70 or so. Sometimes shake, sometimes no shake.

You should start with everything but there is a priority. If the tires are old even if there is tread replace them. Make sure the steering head bearings are properly greased, not notching and properly adjusted. Change the oli in the forks and make sure it is properly filled. Replace the springs if too low.

That will probably solve most problems in the front end with wobble but but the rear end can cause weave.

[Guest]

Tire balance can cause it also. My 1000g has some headshake when I first take off and tires are cold as soon as I get some heat into them the headshake goes away

[cougar]

any of the above but also head shake is an inherent design fault with motorcycles ,check this out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3OQ...Wj8DhFaCwwMOxg

what I learnt from this link is I need to wear a diving belt and lay down when riding ha ha

was a good clip and interesting

[Steve]

What I learned from that clip is that it was a VERY OLD clip.

I am sure that some of the principles remain the same, but technology has probably changed just a bit since that film was made.

.

[GSXR7ED]

Interesting...


Ed

[GSX1000E]

So, when it comes to OLD motorbikes, there is an upside to being over-weight/obese?
I would rather be healthy, live to ride longer and rectify the suspension problems myself.

[JTGS850GL]

What I learned from that clip is that it was a VERY OLD clip.

I am sure that some of the principles remain the same, but technology has probably changed just a bit since that film was made.

.

Don't forget that we are riding VERY OLD bikes that were designed not much after that film was made. My 79 GS1000L use to wobble at anything over 90 mph or so. Even when it was new. Always considered it a "design feature" to help keep me from going that fast.

[tkent02]

That's an L thing.

[JTGS850GL]

That's an L thing.

How did I know that you were going to say that?

[850 Combat]

I've had a number of bikes that would get a head shake when decelerating with no hands at about 35 mph. Fairly quick oscillation of high amplitude. Putting one finger on the hand grip would stop it. It was completely harmless. I think maybe my 1000G does it too.