Handle bar wobble

Hey guys,
Well one day here in Nebraska it is 65 degrees, the next it is snowing!! I got an itch to take out the bike after letting it sit all winter (no, I didnt do a good job of winterizing) Needless to say, I didnt get a ride in. A question did arise from last riding season. I took it out on a poker run last september and was riding with guys who have more money in their Harley's than I have in my house. Anyway, when you are riding in a pack, as you know, you get to do crazy stuff (I hope I am not alone here). Well, a couple of guys would ride with no hands for a while.....so I tried it. I would go for a short distance and the handle bars would start to wobble. Yeah, I know, not smart on two wheels, but I had to keep up. What would cause this?? An out of balance tire?? Front forks??? Thanks for the advice, I would like to live another season!! :lol:

 

Could be the tire, could be the wheel bearings or the steering neck bearings. I know my 650 will go for days in a straight line with no hands, not that I recommend it

 

Yeah, I dont think anyone would recommend it!!! I guess the easy thing would be to get the tire checked...I am looking at doing a MINOR overhaul this spring (gaskets, fork seals, ect.) Is the steering neck bearing a pain in the a** to replace?

 

hell, i got the same itch you got

saturday was beautiful wasn't it?

i've been getting my bike ready since i bought it a few weeks ago..

I've only riden without hands for a few seconds, but there was a 'slight' wobble. I'd be inclined to say anything on the front tree could be a a cause.

worn bearings/bushings to loose nuts, bad tire, improperly inflated tire, etc.

where about's are you from? i'm up in the grand island / chapman area

 

What speed is your wobble? I have a high speed "wiggle" that I'm chasing down. Feels like following a semi trailer, about 2 occilations per sec. I'm at 40,000 miles, your steering neck and swingarm bearings can't be worn out in 10 K (?) How old are your tires?

 

The tires are practially brand new! This got to be a pretty scary WOBBLE! Hell, they still have the 'nipples' on the front one. That is why I am thinking maybe and out of balance tire......hey, at least I am learning something from my stupidity!!! 8)

 

Double check your balance at home-- remove rim and axle, use a spirit level, set-up 2 flat pieces of metal, balance to within 1/4 OZ. Weights do fall off. What speed does your wobble start?

 

it will really do it at any speed, but I really got scared after 60mph, of course, that is all the faster I went....HA!

 

I've written about this many times in the past. It's a real long story but I'll Keep it real breif.

First off this can be very dangerous. Before I found my problem My bars went bump stop to bump stop, or a tank slapper as some call it, three times. Most people don't live to tell that story.

Anyway, Do you have a handlebar mounted windshield? These can cause wobble due to cross winds especially.

Next, Check your front AND rear tire for balance and tire condition. Even if the tires are fairly new the belts can break or seperate.

lastly, If your steering head bearings have never been changed, do it. Change them to tapered bearings not the flat type that are in there now.

Finally.........What are you thinking....."Keeping up?" Please. Just because the moron on the HD does it is that a good excuse to end your riding career? Or worse yet the riding career of the person beside or behind you. If you want to live till next year leave at least one hand on the bars

This can be real scary. You need to find out what the cause is because it will only get worse and wobble even with your hands on the bars.

Take care
The Buff

 

Oh, the steering head bearings are not that bad to replace. I think the manual said said 6 - 7 hours but I had it done in about 3 hours. And I'm no genius

 

http://ootfab.webhop.net/xj/tech/vibmode.cfm

just found that link off a link McManMacmac or whatever let me know about..

doesn't really solve anything just some nice info regarding wobbling.

 

I know, its not smart at all........

 

my xj650rj has a slight wobble in the front right at 35 mph but is not there at any other speed i am putting two tires on it so i am replaceing the wheel bearings and the neck bearings and haveing the wheels balanced, i hope this will get rid of my wobble

 

In my experience, handle bar wobble or otherwise called "head shake" is more often than not due to out of balance fork tubes. If one is low on fluid/air and is softer than the other, it will cause it to react poorly to impact, and cause the front to shake...

Hope it helps,
MD

 

I had a wobble in the front a well.

Brand new, balanced tires didn't solve anything.

After reviewing similar threads, I bought some of the tapered steering stem/shaft bearings.

It was fun taking the whole front assembly apart (hence the 6-8 hours mentioned earlier in the thread) but it gave me a chance to examine everything as it came off.

When I was finally able to get at the bearings, I whacked them out with ease. The hardest part was popping off the chase/trace for the botton bearing. It was hard getting a purchase.

I had the bearings in the freezer to shrink them a minute amount.

Took them out, popped in the race's with ease and then put everyting back together.

Took it for a ride, and WOW what a difference.

The thing that prompted me to replace the bearings was the "detent" I felt in the steering. Which was only noticeable with the front wheel off. That detent is NOT supposed to be there. Unless it were in direct line of thrust through the bike, it will cause a shimmy/shake as it goes into and out of the detent during straight riding.

 

Hi Edina Dad, can you explain detent to this thicko.

 

A detent is a wear spot on the Bearing Race due to the Bearings becoming dry and the Balls not moving around sufficiently to avoid the wearing down of a spot on the race that becomes worn in.

The detent does not let the bearings roll along the race.
It effectively stops them from letting the motion be as smooth as necessary for accurate tracking.

If you have a wear spot that has caused a detent in the race; the bearings and races need replacing.

 

Help: (1981 XJ550) I notice a serious wobble when I am over 80 mph; the front wheels seems to start wobbling around that speed.
What am I missing?
Thx

 

Do you have the factory fairing installed? If so, remove it and see if that helps. Otherwsie start checking the headsotck bearings, swingarm bearings, wheel bearings, tire balance, and the tightness of the motor mount bolts.

 

Steering stem bearings.

But if you keep trying to 'keep up with the rest just cuz they take their hands off the bars".....then there's a pretty good indication that there is a problem with the nut that connects the seat to the handlebars

 

Fairing has been removed.
I'll go through the list of bearings.

Thx so much

 

Rebuild the triple tree and the forks before you ride again.
I had the wobbles at 85 coming out of the diamond lane on the freeway. I thought I had clipped a catseye but it was enough to get my attention.
I was moving to a new apartment at the end of the month so I planned on doing the work at the new place but a week later I had a full-on tank slapper in the middle of a curve at about 50. I arrived at my new place on crutches with the beast on the back of my friends truck.
I already had tapered bearings in the neck(pos) and when I pulled them out they were brineled all the way round, like perpendicular lines running across the face.
The bike rides pretty good now but I have decided against trying to break a ton on it.
Do it now or you'll find yourself writing a dumb ass story like mine one day.

 

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Do it now or you'll find yourself writing a dumb ass story like mine one day.
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this thread is over 7 years old
sto

 

But Rob brought it up a week back with a new question, and we have been answering HIS questions.....

 

Just an update on my 750 SECA wobble -
It had fresh Avon tires, fork-mounted sport fairing, and all the various bearings and suspension components checked out as "tight" , however, worn-out and original shocks.

The "problem" was never solved, but the bike was re-configured with the "Sport Touring" package, and the wobble disappeared.

 

The extra weight of the tour package probably pushed the shocks into a "sweet-spot" where they work pretty well, even being worn out.

 

Did the touring package come with a steering damper?

My Turbo Seca got a wobble at around 42-44 mph months after putting it on the road for the first time. It was really slight, I actually only noticed it when I took my hands off the bars to tighten up the velcro around the cuff of my jacket, and the bars started to wobble immediately. I barely touched them and the stopped. Couldn't feel it at all when riding

I had re-greased the original steering head bearings when I first tore down the bike (looked ok), but that was enough to make me get a new set of tapered ones. No problems now and absolutely no wobble at any speed.

 

I didn't get a steering damper - - I picked up a pile of parts not so lovingly removed and kicked into a corner.