Front end feels loose

[rugguy]

What would make my front end feel squirrelly? It's like everything is moving whether going in a straight line or in a curve. Tire pressure correct. Forks newly serviced. Fork brace bolts secure. Axle pinch bolts and main axle nut secure. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Jess from VA]

Head bearing?

You say pressure is good, how about the tire?  In all my riding, most front end quirks were the tire, and for various reasons.  Wobbles, noises, shaky handlebars, bouncing, and so on.

Some have reported front end symptoms from shot shock bushings.  Doesn't make sense to me, just reporting what I've read.

[sandy]

You say TP is good. What tire are you running and exactly what pressure are you running. What's the date code on the tire? An old tire with delaminating belts will feel pretty squirrelly.

[cookiedough]

I am in agreement 75% chance (or more) is the tire most likely 4-6 years old ending its useful life?  I let my front avon cobra go too long and last 2-3 riding seasons developed a HORRIBLE death wobble between 40 and 30 mph slowing down enough so if you let off the handlebars entirely at that speed within 2 seconds the front end would shake violently enough to tip over the cycle very easily if not putting hands back on handlebars quickly. 

Your issue though seems more serious as if even with hands on handlebars you are getting feeling of looseness more so in the front end.  Odd?   front steering stem bearings?

[Chrisj CMA]

Failing wheel bearings could produce those symptoms

[Leathel]

Yup as above ...

plus you mentioned the forks were recently done, I wonder if they assembled the wheel in the correct fastening  procedure? it needs to be done correctly

The fork damper rod has length adjustment too, was that set right?

[Hook#3287]

Head bearing?

You say pressure is good, how about the tire?  In all my riding, most front end quirks were the tire, and for various reasons.  Wobbles, noises, shaky handlebars, bouncing, and so on.

Some have reported front end symptoms from shot shock bushings.  Doesn't make sense to me, just reporting what I've read.

Bad rear shock bushings can definitely cause the feeling your front end is messed up.  I would check every nut and bolt in both the front & rear wheel and suspension.  Then move on to bearings.

I had a bad front end shake I thought was the rear shock bushings, turned out the OP only hand tightened the rear axle nut.

[Tfrank59]

What would make my front end feel squirrelly? It's like everything is moving whether going in a straight line or in a curve. Tire pressure correct. Forks newly serviced. Fork brace bolts secure. Axle pinch bolts and main axle nut secure. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Yeah with the forks newly serviced (if it isn't the tire) it's probably related to the front end work that was done -- possibly done incorrectly?  Did a shop do it? If so I would bring it back and tell them something is not right.  If you did it what procedure did you follow?  let us know what you learn.

[BigM]

I had a AVON tire that had only 3K on it and it started getting dips in the tread. Made the frt end feel that way. And started to sound like a da*n snow tread. Roaring. Avon said it was due to tire pressure. I told them I was running as bike manual said. They said need to run what Avon recommends. He didnit know right off what that was for my tire size. Would have to contact another dept. for that.  B.S.
 Avon tires definitely gone down hill. Any excuse not to stand behind their tires. Have saw where many are having problems with them. They had a big problem with some not long ago. Must of had a hit on their m/c tire business.   

[Paladin528]

rear shocks or shock bushings or your rear tire pressure too low.
My bike became squirrely and I found my rear tire pressure quite low.  Has a leak so will be replaced this week.
Made the bike very unstable.
 

[Ramie]

Is this a problem at low speed or high speed?

[sandy]

I had a AVON tire that had only 3K on it and it started getting dips in the tread. Made the frt end feel that way. And started to sound like a da*n snow tread. Roaring. Avon said it was due to tire pressure. I told them I was running as bike manual said. They said need to run what Avon recommends. He didnit know right off what that was for my tire size. Would have to contact another dept. for that.  B.S.
 Avon tires definitely gone down hill. Any excuse not to stand behind their tires. Have saw where many are having problems with them. They had a big problem with some not long ago. Must of had a hit on their m/c tire business.   

After many sets of Avons, I wouldn't use any other tire on a Valk. Run them 42 F and 46 R and it'll handle better and the tires will last longer. Forget what Honda says. Those PSI's are for a cushy ride. Car pressures have the same objectives. Look at the max cold pressure and run car tires (on your car) about 10% lower. Better handling and tire life. OH; Never had any weather checking.

[DarkSideR]

I had a Shinko tire de-laminating. The tire had bubbles forming all around the tire, and this made the front end feel light, and loose.

Please inspect your front tire whereas this can be dangerous.

[Chrisj CMA]

How's it going with this rugguy? I

[Hooter]

He posted a week ago, must be it's fixed??

[Motorider]

A friend and fellow Valkyrie rider had the same issue. Turned out his front rim was bent ever so slightly. It was an after market chrome rim, not an original Valk rim.

[rugguy]

Nope, not fixed yet. My daughter's wedding was this past Saturday. Anyone who has married off a daughter knows why I haven't had the time to work on my bike...much less ride it. I am leaning towards the steering stem nut not being torqued correctly. Avons and rims are in great shape and roll true. Previously replaced shock bushings so they are still in good shape. Forks done by Wing/Valk pro and I did the installation and it handled great for the first few days. I am going to re-torque stem nut this weekend. I am fairly certain that is the culprit. I will report back.

Thanks for all the responses.