ford5oh Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 This is kind of long but basically when I first got my bike I could make high speed pulls with no issues(at the track of couse). The last few thousand miles the front tire shakes side to side when I'm going higher speeds. The bike has 8k on it now. I have had several people look at it and noone can figure it out. I have put several sets of tires on it and had them rebalanced several times. I'm ruinning the proper tire pressure and I have played with that alot and still no difference. The chain alignment is good and I have also had the steering head bearing checked and tightened. I just recently lowered the front slightly to see if by putting more of the bikes weight up front it would help but still no difference. You can rip on the bike and it has no issues just at higher speeds. It isnt a issue when you accelerate fast but just once you get to speeds over 100mph. When you are going over 100mph it doesnt matter whether you slowly accelerate or not it just doesnt want to strighten up the bike still wants to wobble. The bike is bone stock and the tires are wearing properly and I just cant figure it out. I'm about 185lbs. and the suspension is still set at stock settings. If anyone knows a good shop that might be able to help me out without bending me over let me know. Thanks in advance for any help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigZach Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 This is kind of long but basically when I first got my bike I could make high speed pulls with no issues(at the track of couse). The last few thousand miles the front tire shakes side to side when I'm going higher speeds. The bike has 8k on it now. I have had several people look at it and noone can figure it out. I have put several sets of tires on it and had them rebalanced several times. I'm ruinning the proper tire pressure and I have played with that alot and still no difference. The chain alignment is good and I have also had the steering head bearing checked and tightened. I just recently lowered the front slightly to see if by putting more of the bikes weight up front it would help but still no difference. You can rip on the bike and it has no issues just at higher speeds. It isnt a issue when you accelerate fast but just once you get to speeds over 100mph. When you are going over 100mph it doesnt matter whether you slowly accelerate or not it just doesnt want to strighten up the bike still wants to wobble. The bike is bone stock and the tires are wearing properly and I just cant figure it out. I'm about 185lbs. and the suspension is still set at stock settings. If anyone knows a good shop that might be able to help me out without bending me over let me know. Thanks in advance for any help! I will talk to mike davis he knows alot about R1's and sport bikes tomorrow. and will shoot you a pm after i talk to him. he is on CR but rarely gets on. Im thinkin maybe wheel bearings ????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dover Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 I will talk to mike davis he knows alot about R1's and sport bikes tomorrow. and will shoot you a pm after i talk to him. he is on CR but rarely gets on. Im thinkin maybe wheel bearings ????? i was thinking wheel bearing too, you check the triple tree? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigZach Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 i was thinking wheel bearing too, you check the triple tree? im sure mike will know whats going on.....if there is a common problem with a r1 then he knows about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dover Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 lol if there is problem with any bike that dudes got it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88lx5oh Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 wheel bearings maybe.. sounds more like steering stem bearings.. pull the tripple tree apart, there should be an upper and lower bearing. id replace both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kawboy1647545515 Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 BTW, lowering the front makes high speed stability worse but turn in sharper. Did you changed tires and the problem appeared (I didn't see that in your write up) if so it could be profile of the new tires is higher putting more weight on the front. You also have a stock steering damper that may need rebuilt. 1st gen R1's without damper had all had this problem around 130 mph. Another problem lies in the operator. If you have gotten lazy and are putting to much weight on the bars, you are the one that may be causing it. Around 100 mph most people would be tucking and this may be when you hang on extra hard to the bars instead of hanging on with your lower body. It could be bearings too, but I have no experience with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gergwheel1647545492 Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 since it is only happening at high speeds could it be something with the airflow? maybe a windscreen/mirrors/turn signals issue. sounds like you have checked out everthing else. also if it was a bearing wouldn't it be doing it at lower speeds? like 60-80? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got-Boost? Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 How do the front rotors look...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tbutera2112 Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 make sure the steering head bolt is tight http://faq.f650.com/GSFAQs/Photos/SteeringPhotos/SteeringHeadClampBoltGS.jpg it should be tightened or checked atleast once a year if not more put bike on center stand, lean back on it so the front wheel is off the ground, line it up so the tire is facing forward, then let it go and let it fall against the stops...it should have a small bounce and one or two TINY bounces after....if it moves any more than that, then there is your problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
35RFTW Posted August 21, 2009 Report Share Posted August 21, 2009 I vote for steering head bearing or wheel bearing. Shoot me a PM if you are interested at getting it looked at by a shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ford5oh Posted August 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2009 The problem pretty much came out of nowhere. It happened when I had the original tires on the bike. I figured maybe the front was just wearing funny or something but since then I have had two different sets of tires on it. I have tried sitting different ways tucking and sitting up but it doesnt change it. I have checked the steering head bearing and everything seems to be ok.Also the rotor looks good. Yes if anyone has any numbers of anyone that can take a look at it I would appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 wheel bearings maybe.. sounds more like steering stem bearings.. pull the tripple tree apart, there should be an upper and lower bearing. id replace both. I was thinking this or the stem nut is just loose. Also check to see if the damper is actually working. Might need rebuilt (shouldn't, but might). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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