front end a bit shaky

[timebombprod]

once im goin about 30 my front end gets shaky when i take both hands off, it doesnt go anywhere or turn violent but im sure it shouldnt be happening either, the forks are at the same psi, my front wheel has less than 1000 miles, could it be the stem bolt isnt tight enough or is there no real way to stiffen the forks dampening? my front end isnt able to move up and down when i lift the wheel up off the ground (the whole front suspension system that gets tightened down by the stem bolt)

 

[Brendan W]

If the front is good then it could be coming from the back.
Check the swing arm bearings and the rear wheel bearings.

 

[KiwiAlfa156]

This is worth a read
https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-wobble-and-weave-making-sense-death-wobble-talk/

 

[Rob S.]

If the front is good then it could be coming from the back.
Check the swing arm bearings and the rear wheel bearings.

On my CB350, a shaking front end was cured by replacing the swing arm bushings.

 

[Grimly]

"They all do that, Sir."
<walks back into office>

 

[timebombprod]

wanted to go back to this, one of the main roads i ride on is curvy the whole way through, while switching lanes if i run over one of the white lines or something my front end will jerk itself to the side when going over, is that normal to expect or would that mean my front end is way too easily turnable?

i know, turnable is not a word.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

wanted to go back to this, one of the main roads i ride on is curvy the whole way through, while switching lanes if i run over one of the white lines or something my front end will jerk itself to the side when going over, is that normal to expect or would that mean my front end is way too easily turnable?

i know, turnable is not a word.

Ian, it’s good practice and safest to stay off of painted lines, and specially in curves, especially when wet. You should not be running over white lines, or yellow lines for that matter.

 

[adamdaz]

I had a very similar issue with my 81 gs650gl. I regreased and then re tightened the bearings on the triple clamp (head tube?) and the problem went away. I also got advice from a suspension specialist (bellacorse the US dealer for Hagon shocks) to make sure the rear wheel is straight and both wheels are aligned.
Could be lots of things, I've heard.

 

[limeex2]

If the bars shake when you are decelerating with your hands off the bars it is the steering head bearings. as an ex service Mgr, Ive seen it many,many times.

If your bike still has a center stand, its super easy to check and or adjust. Put on center stand, get front wheel off the ground and slowly turn bars from side to side. You will probably feel a "notch" when the bars are dead center which indicates the races are dimpled and need replacement. If no notch is felt they are in need of adjustment.

 

[timebombprod]

yeah im gonna have to do some testing so see if i can pinpoint the issue, i know i should have my hands on the bars at all times but its nice to be able to take them off in a straight line when you want to stretch them a bit. i have found that the problem only happens at and above 40, it is a little bit violent in the shaking but it has not caused me to lose control, once the speedo goes under 40mph im doing fine.

ive been doing too much riding and not enough diagnosing its probably because im finally able to ride with no REAL issues but still, if i want to keep this bike going well and have it handle as nice as it should i do need to attend to these things.

ill be out of town until maybe sunday but once im back ill probably be messing with the bike, i might even take it for the trip i leave tomorrow, going from the gulf coast to the east coast of florida, we will see what happens.

 

[timebombprod]

i didnt take it to titusville but i was wishing i did the whole way there lol, so i turned the front forks side to side and theres no click or sweet spot area that i can feel, they feel the same throughout the whole radius. is there any other testing i can do with just the bike on its stand and not removing any major components? i figured im gonna retighten the bolt that holds the bearings in the steering tube as it moves very easily, and then check fork psi and make sure they are dropping down evenly.

let me know if i can do any testing fairly easily!

 

[Rob S.]

On my 1973 Z1, I installed a 7-position steering dampener. Full off on the streets, full on on the highway. But the early Zs were notorious for that high speed wobble. And mine was a certified widow maker (cousin's best friend).

 

[timebombprod]

On my 1973 Z1, I installed a 7-position steering dampener. Full off on the streets, full on on the highway. But the early Zs were notorious for that high speed wobble. And mine was a certified widow maker (cousin's best friend).

sorry to hear that, i was thinking about putting on a steering dampener but i know it wouldnt solve the root of the problem as no bike should be shaking once above 30mph. if im doing enough highspeed riding maybe i will but honestly ive rode pretty dang comfortable at 65 without noticing anything, but the second i take my hands off at a moderate speed (not gonna be doing that at 65 anyway) the bike starts to dance.

 

[Rob S.]

sorry to hear that, i was thinking about putting on a steering dampener but i know it wouldnt solve the root of the problem as no bike should be shaking once above 30mph. if im doing enough highspeed riding maybe i will but honestly ive rode pretty dang comfortable at 65 without noticing anything, but the second i take my hands off at a moderate speed (not gonna be doing that at 65 anyway) the bike starts to dance.

Hard won knowledge: on my Kaw 900, when the high speed wobble raised it's ugly head, hitting the brakes (which is a natural reaction to loosing control at a buck ten) only made things worse. A lot worse. I found that riding the rear brake and applying throttle against it was the ticket to survival.

Might be something to 'file away,' with the hope that you never have to retrieve that particular file.

 

[timebombprod]

Hard won knowledge: on my Kaw 900, when the high speed wobble raised it's ugly head, hitting the brakes (which is a natural reaction to loosing control at a buck ten) only made things worse. A lot worse. I found that riding the rear brake and applying throttle against it was the ticket to survival.

Might be something to 'file away,' with the hope that you never have to retrieve that particular file.

i sure hope so lol, need to get my rear brake going maybe....

 

[Big T]

Hard won knowledge: on my Kaw 900, when the high speed wobble raised it's ugly head, hitting the brakes (which is a natural reaction to loosing control at a buck ten) only made things worse. A lot worse. I found that riding the rear brake and applying throttle against it was the ticket to survival.

Might be something to 'file away,' with the hope that you never have to retrieve that particular file.

Z1s handling suffered from the asymmetrical frame and crappy steering head bearings.
My pal Red made a conversion kit to tapered roller bearings, which helped greatly.
But, you could always tell that the Z1 felt different going left, compared to right

 

[Rob S.]

Z1s handling suffered from the asymmetrical frame and crappy steering head bearings.
My pal Red made a conversion kit to tapered roller bearings, which helped greatly.
But, you could always tell that the Z1 felt different going left, compared to right

I thought it was just the spindly frame and swing arm, to which many added gussets (particularly by the steering head). Engine was Job 1, the frame almost an afterthought. How that would change in the mid-'80's.