handling

[oscarcat-2]

hello my bike felss like it has a flat tyre at slow speeds you have to constantly correct the steering at 30 ish mph at higher speeds its not that bad the back end feels like its trying to catch up i am in the middle of replacing swingarm bearings any more ideas the steering head bearings feel ok help

[benny hedges]

yup fit taper rear bearings and have a good look at your tyres... are they starting to square off?
sounds like it.
especially if you are running a touring tyre with a centre tread... they feel awfull when they start to square off.

also with it on the stands, see if you can rock the wheels diagonal, indicating wheel bearing wear.
these are all consumable items and should be done every 10yr / 30k at least.

it's not just bad wheel alignment is it?

has it been crashed at all???

[tony.mon]

If you're in the middle of changing the swing arm bearings I'd start by finishing that process first.
No point in doing anything until you've finished that.

[benny hedges]

yup fit taper rear bearings

huh??? should read taper head bearings lol, dunno what happened there lol!

[oscarcat-2]

hello just thought i would let you know how i got on .the steering head bearings were fastened down too tight so if you have taper roller bearings just adjust the play with the adjusters and then just nip up the steering head nut thats all you have to do dont use the manual spec cheers

[AMCQ46]

got to this post a bit late, but I was about to answer that your symptoms are exactly what you get if you over tighten taper brgs.........................do I get a prize?

you cant follow the Haynes torque setting, that is only for stock cup / cone bearings, Tapers should only be tight enough not to clunk, and more and they give you this low speed weave.

I did a "How too" in the workshop section to cover the setting process I use

Oh and hello and welcome to the Forum.............

[oscarcat-2]

sorry mate no prizes but if your going to the farmyard party then i might get the beers in .it was a real strange handling problem i thought the frame was bent handles great now

[benny hedges]

it was a real strange handling problem i thought the frame was bent handles great now

just out of interest what do you have the damping set at on the front?
if its set less than 3/4 turn it feels very odd indeed - sort of like a self induced mini tank slapper coming out of every bend.
mine feels best at 1 1/4 out.

also if you have had a fork seal leak and lost oil on one side it's not a nice sensation when you lean it in and it feels like it doesnt want to come back up!