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What causes handlebar shaking?

Rob S.

Rob S.

Forum Guru
Past Site Supporter
Are swing arm bushings the usual culprit?

What is the proper order to check/replace parts?

Are wheel bearings involved here?
 
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.
 
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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.
 
Rob S. said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
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. :-\\\

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

.
Click to expand...

Don't forget that we are riding VERY OLD bikes that were designed not much after that film was made.:cool: 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.:twistedevil:
 
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.
 
New front wheel bearings cured mine. Mine only shook if I took my hands off of the handlebars, and stopped when I put one hand back on.
 
The high speed one is not completely harmless. The old XS 650 did it once, starting at about however fast an XS 650 will go, front wheel tracking back and forth about two or three feet very quickly, several times per second. It was very violent. Took all my strength to keep my hands on the bars. If it wasn't a wide straight road (I 5 by Camp Pendleton) could not have steered to stay on the road at all. Couldn't stop it until got down to about 35mph. Could have been caused by worn bearings, mismatched tires or anything else, this was a long time ago, maybe '76 or so.

Have never seen any GS do it, but it might if you went fast enough, or if some bearings were bad enough. Has anyone had a GS do this?
 
dorkburger said:
Mine only shook if I took my hands off of the handlebars, and stopped when I put one hand back on.
Click to expand...

That describes mine. When it happened on my CB350 (with 6" longer Forks By Frank), I was surprised when someone told me it was the swing arm bushings.

"No," I said, "it's the front that's shaking."

"Swing arm bushings," he repeated.

"But it's the front," I insisted.

"Swing arm bushings," he calmly repeated.

I bought the two metal-tube things and installed them myself. Problem gone. That guy knew his sheet (or at least my CB350).
 
No Shaking

No Shaking

Rob S. said:
That describes mine. When it happened on my CB350 (with 6" longer Forks By Frank), I was surprised when someone told me it was the swing arm bushings.

"No," I said, "it's the front that's shaking."

"Swing arm bushings," he repeated.

"But it's the front," I insisted.

"Swing arm bushings," he calmly repeated.

I bought the two metal-tube things and installed them myself. Problem gone. That guy knew his sheet (or at least my CB350).
Click to expand...

During my 530 trial conversion (couldn't get the sprocket hub nut off), MrBill removed the swingarm on my "T" and checked the needle bearings. They were in great shape! He greased the heck out of both sides and we put it back on once we put Bill's 630 chain he donated to me.

I haven't had any shaking in my bike so I am fortunate in that regard. My new fork brace improved stability at higher speeds but I should also check the front bearings like DB suggested.


Ed
 
If the fork brace is the old hoop style, there is a possibility of misaligning the forks, as there's a little slop in the mounting holes, but then the front axle has to go through, so it might be moot.
 
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