handling concern?

Ok... I have a concern with how my bike feels lately.... and I need some more experienced rider's input.... Within the past few months, when riding I feel something, started only in the 55 mph + range. I wouldn't quite call it a wobble, nor a vibration - just kind of a feeling. I just chalked it up to poor road condition because there's only 1 road that I regularly get up to highway speeds on.

However, over the past few rides, it has become more pronounced to the point that i wasnt comfortable at highway speeds. I did recently (embarrassing moment) take a low speed spill in my driveway. I hit the huge pothole at the bottom of my driveway that twisted my handlebars and steered me into the hill on the side of my driveway + i dumped it over. Broke a turn signal, bent an engine guard, scratched my tank, and injured my pride

I don't know where to look? bent rim? out of balance? wheel bearings going out? Tires are properly inflated and forks are true. front calipers have JUST been rebuilt as well.

 

Start with something simple like tire pressures...

Worn out rear shocks (if original they were done at between 6K ~ 8K miles)

Loose steering stem bearings

Forks need service

and by all means check your rims. Support the bike so the wheel(s) can be spun, and rig up some sort of a "runout gauge" with a Sharpie, some duct tape and a popsicle stick.

 

Ok. pretty much the only major components on my bike that havent been touched are rear shocks + bearings (other than greasing them up).

When you say "forks need service" can you elaborate on anything particular to look at? I rebuilt my forks over the winter....

 

If you rebuilt the forks then of course they have oil and the seals are working so cross that off. Some nice new fork springs from Progressive or Works Performance or Ikon would improve things; but you're not running with an oil-less, undamped front end.

If you've not been neglecting your tire pressures, and there's no discernable wheel-bearing related play then I would say it's probably time for new shocks. The original shocks on these bikes were pretty much garbage to begin with, and gave up at around 6K ~ 8K miles max.

 

Per Dave's PM.... I'll try to explain what I'm feeling a bit better....

I'm feeling more of a rhythmic pulsation than a vibration in the front end, but it's not really being communicated to the handlebars that much. It changes in speed and intensity matching actual travel speed. I'm going off of memory right now. I'll go out and take a quick spin when it's not POURING out....

I know there's definitely something going on + not my imagination.... several screws worked themselves loose...

 

X2 on loose steering head bearings

If you havent already done the tapered bearing upgrade, do it - and if you already have, tighten it up a bit.

 

Dried-out (and possibly badly-worn) Headset Bearings will greatly affect handling.

Even a marginal "Hitch" in the Headset will hinder the Bike from Tracking as it should.

Place the Bike on its Center Stand.
Have an assistant hold the tail- end down.
Closely observe the Handlebars swing from end-to-end when set in motion.
Any pause, bump or hesitation means the Bearings are in need of an R & R.

 

What's the difference between regular and tapered headset bearings? Is there any additional modifications that need to be done to make the switch?

 

The "regular" bearings are a collection of loose balls more or less trapped between two independent races, in the neck and on the stem.

The tapered bearing upgrade means replacing the races and loose balls with something more closely resembling an automotive wheel bearing, a roller-bearing assembly.

 

Check the balance of your front tire, you may have knocked a wheel weight off when you took a spill.

 

Woah! screws working loose indicates a definite non-harmonic vibration! Check as BF described the rolling 'trueness' of your front tire, and also inspect it for a lost weight as suggested.

After picking up the 550 I discovered a similar condition and after checking 'true' and the SH bearings (both were fine), I replaced the front tire (so new balance), repacked the bearings and the bike became stable at all speeds. Didn't see it in your thread but what condition is your front tire in? Also as suggested, often if it's 'getting worse' you should look at a wear item like bearings-they will quickly progress to worse once they've lost lubrication or become flat sided at all.

 

OK... now I'm even MORE stumped....

front wheel is true, round, seemingly balanced, and the pressure is good. no side to side play in the wheel bearings. Headset is tight and no hitch in the bearings. Front brake pads do seem to have a slight bit of resistance when spinning the front wheel but seems normal.

took it for a good (and nerve-racking) ride... the vibration seems to be up and down, and in the front.... like a galloping motion.... like riding a horse on speed.... like i want to say it feels like riding a bike with the wheel out of round.... but spinning it and comparing it to the fender it looks pretty stinking round to me....

What am i missing guys?!?!?!?!?!?!?

 

To check wheel balance you will need to lift off the brake calipers and tie them out of the way and disconnect the speedo drive so theres nothing to interfere with the wheel spinning free.. if you didn't already do it that way.

Maybe the front end got whacked out of alignment when you dropped it. Or when the forks were rebuilt .. uneven amount of oil went back in. Or loose/worn swing arm bearings

 

do the tires show a lot of cupping?

 

Grab The front brake (apply pressure) and try and push the bike. Does the forks telescope up and down? If not,,, your forks may be out of wak. Mine does the galloping thing also but only when the forks are low on air.

 

It's possible you may have twisted your forks (not physically, just in the triple) when you took your dive.

Loosen the lower triple pinch bolts, get on the bike, hold the front brake, and bounce the forks up and down a few times, then tighten the pinch bolts back up and go for a ride. See if it helps any.

You're just trying to make the triple tree's and the wheel straight on the same plane.

 

just wanted to provide an update and possible resolution for this..... the removable frame section on the bike was kinda loose. tightened it up and added some blue locktite.... problem disappeared 95%..... enough to tell that the feeling was actually radiating from the back, and that the bike isn't tracking properly Swingarm bearings are gone.... rear shocks aren't much better either.