Hands-free Death Wobble

[Gixxus Christ!]

Noticed a funny thing on the bandit today. Above 45 or so if I take my hands off the bars they start to shake violently after a few seconds. In all the bikes I've owned I've never had this happen. Explanation anyone? It has new-ish shinko raven tires, pivot bearings don't feel shot, forks don't seem bent.

[2talltim]

Well it being shinko don't help but maybe it was never balanced

[Mykill]

Ya check front tire. It's probably out of balance.

[speedytriple]

Tire would be my guess as well. Check if its out of balance or maybe a flat spot?

[oldschoolsdime92]

Had the exact same thing a week ago. Swapped tires good to go .

[magley64]

My first thought was tires, might also be some uneven pavement...

[sirepair]

Check/balance/replace front tire if needed.  Check/replace front and/or rear wheel bearings.  Check the steering stem bearings; pitted races seem to add to this issue.  Replace with tapered roller bearings if original are ball type.

 

Also, try jacking up the rear preload a notch or two.  I know, sounds crazy, but increasing rear preload changes the loading on the front.

 

The ST1100 (what I ride) is notorious for a decel wobble about 40-35mph and changing the rear preload had more positive results than expected!  Simple to do and worth a try (unless yours is set full already!)

[Gump]

My honda did this since new. Got new tires and it stopped.

[max power]

Cupped tires.

[jbot]

forks are bent to kingdom come, everybody paniiiiiiiic

[Medina]

add tire pressure to the list

[conn-e-rot]

Keep your hands on the bars

[Gixxus Christ!]

Wow. Ok, going to organize those options from cheapest to most expensive and work my way down the list.

[bandit12]

I shouldn't but I will,

 

It's a Bandit, ride wheelies, problem solved.

[Medina]

preload might help

I know shifting your weight forward at speed with a wobble will sometimes kill it

 

m'eh, just searched youtube, there was a vid about the dynamics of the wobble, and weight preload/distribution.

Cant find it, I'll look in the kawi forum where I found it first a couple of years ago, will post if any luck

Edited June 12, 2013 by Medina

[jbot]

i hate it when a bike does that because i just imagine that it's moving around like that while i'm at lean. not exactly confidence inspiring when all that's keeping you from kissing pavement is the precarious contact patch from the front and rear tire, with the front being the important one.

[Steve Butters]

My max did this really bad, even if you took one hand off... Steering head nut needed tightened up and problem solved

[whaler]

Tires (yes both have an effect on steering)

Steering head bearings

Swingarm pivot bearings (had this problem with a ZRX)

Front wheel bearings (this will show itself with brake drag when leaning bike at low speed)

[KTMRIDER]

My FJR1300 did the same thing. New fro t tire cured it 100%

[Pokey]

I too bet on the front tire.

[Ricochet]

faulty bike.. sell it buy something better