front ends

[pocobubba]

Can someone explain "sticttum" [spelling ?] I just picked up a new to me 2001 Interstate , rode from OKC to O C Md , on Interstate 40 at 90mph everything was smooth as could be , I rode rt 58 through the Va. mountains [ like Tail of the Dragon only a lot longer ] and on left turns I had a front end wobble , the bike was stable but it was weird feeling . New rear tire , front about 1/3 left . Hard bumps really jarred me through the handle bars . I have.2001 standard and do not experience this . Any advice is appreciated

[sandy]

High mileage bike?? Maybe steering stem bearings. Left turn vibes might be a left rear wheel bearing. Tire pressures?? What kind of tires/ are they cupped. Some things to look at.

[pocobubba]

26000 MILES

[old2soon]

Shock bushings?? Worth a shot. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

I cannot define  "sticttum".  ??

Front tires are the usual culprit on handling. (though shock bushings should be looked at)

On jarring, do you know if the PO installed Progressive fork springs, or had a fork rebuild? (springs are great, but many, including dealers, overfill with oil)

[Gideon]

If the bumps in the road really jadded you, it may be the fork springs.
The Interstate has more weight up front than your Standard.
Just my thoughts.
Bob D.

[hal47]

My guess front tire,and if the tire is aired 40 or above they do ride stiff.

[amazngrace]

Pocobubba, did you mean stiction?

"It is used to describe the static force applied by the seals on the outer surface of a hydraulic extension tube, such as in motorcycle suspension or a plunger inside a syringe tube."

...ED

[salty1]

My money is on a worn front tire and shock bushings. FWIW 

[Black Dog]

+++  Shock Bushings 

When looking at the top mounting bolts of the rear shocks, the bolt head should be dead center.  If they look off center, chances are, they are the culprit.  As many on the board have found over the years, the 'rubber' bushings can get chewed up to a point of being oblong at least, to being totally chewed through, in the worst case.  When mined needed to be replaced, I could feel a 'wallowing' feeling when leaning in to sweepers...

There are a number of places to get replacements...  OEM, some have used a certain VTX bushing, and Daryl at XF6 (club sponsor) sells lifetime replacements.

Good luck, and let us know what you find.

Black Dog

[John U.]

Pocobubba, I think stiction is what you are referring to. I haven't had the issue myself but I've heard/read that the forks can get missaligned, in other words, not parallel with each other. You can check this with a pane of glass laid flat on both forks. If the glass is not in full contact with both forks you have a problem.
Do a search for stiction and fork alignment. I know there have been discusions of how to remedy this.
I'm not sure this would have anything to do with a wobble but it could cause a hard riding front suspension.
Let us know if you find solution(s).

[JaysGone]

Stiction has also been applied to a wet clutch that sticks literaly when in nutral and starting up a cold bike.
My Yamaha some mornings takes off like a bullet just from the drag of the starter motor.
Even though I know Im in nutral. Its fine as soo as I get going.
The plates just stick together from the oil.<stiction>.

[R J]

My 1st guess on the problem would be:

1.  Front tire
2.  Shock bushings
3.  Air in front tire is low.   I run 45 in mine, and 36 in my rear car tire.
4.  Steering head bearings.

Happy hunting and happy trails after ya repair it.

Post back and let us know what ya found to be the culprit.

[Earl in Pensacola]

I personally am not a believer in running really hard tires (high PSI).,  However, when I had the same "wobble" you described and also on the dragon, I thought I had a real problem.  I raised the front tire to 45 PSI just to see what difference I noticed, if any.  There was a marked decrease in the wobble when leaned over in a turn, but also a marked increase in harshness in the ride. I subsequently checked the front bearings, steering head bearings, rear tire PSI and rear shock bushings.  All were good.  I replaced the front tire and the wobble went away. It was un-noticed cupping! I now run 40 PSI (cold) in front and 38 PSI in the rear. I rarely have S.O. with me, but when I do, I increase the rear tire PSI to 42.  I just changed my front Avon Cobra at 28K miles (with no cupping) and the rear is at 19K and still good for another 2 or 3 K. 

[JaysGone]

I just went for my 1st night ride since getting the Valk and by Im blind!!!!

Any way I raised my pressure to 40 psi too.
I should mention my fronts a Kenda Challenger rear as my bikes double dark.
Much better then at 36psi, it still stinks but rides nice at 55mph and above.
45 mph and lower still bounces too much for my liking.
When it cools down I will try some 5wt at lower volume.

PSS: the stock headlight bulb is a joke.
Ill be getting a PIAA real soon......
Even with the brighter gauge bulbs I was advised to get.
I still cant see the standard markings at all.

I think Im safer and will stick with daytime riding for me.

[Jess from VA]

Jay, same deal for me at night.  First, I have to wear single vision specs, not progressives.  Then I need more light than two 55/60s on dim (interstate).  Then, in my town, I have to watch out for drunks (I rarely ride at night, but when I do, I see obvious drunks almost every time I go).

My 2d bike has a pair of these mounted on the fork wings, and they are brighter than my H4s on bright.  It is the bike I take for night rides.  Aimed low I never get flashed.

http://www.piaa.com/powersports-lamps/ps-bracket-1100xtriad.html

http://www.amazon.com/PIAA-1100X-Multi-Fit-Lamp-74220/dp/B000WJJBQI 

[JaysGone]

Im diabetic and have cataracs.
I know better then to ride at night.
I do so usually only when I know exactly where Im going.
Or have no other choice.
Unfortunatly not seeing the road itself properly has and can be dangerous for me.
Im not overerly concerned with cages as much as me not seeing what I need to see.
Curbs and cutoffs can and do pop up on me sometimes pretty fast at night.

A few weeks back I was at a car show.
Going home on a road Ive been on 1000s of times.
I see the 2 left turns ahead and get into the left lane.
About 300 yards from the lights was a lwft turn lane into the back of a shopping center.
Well I thought I was in the lanes for the left at the light and doing 45ish.
I wasnt...........
I was in the left turn before the left turn lanes with an island 100 feet in front of me before I knew it.
So I just turned right at the last moment and missed the island.
Thankfully at that time of night no one was in the lane I turned into.
It was me or the island curbs or a car to my right.......
I was very lucky on both items.
I swore then and there that was my last night time ride.
Until tonights.

[Earl in Pensacola]

One more comment about that "front-end" wobble and tire wear:  Be absolutely sure that you follow the exact installation instructions when you're ready to torque the axle & pinch bolts etc. 

[pocobubba]

Up date : new shock bushings , no change , still a wobble in left turns , new front tire next on the agenda .

[CajunRider]

Just for sh!ts and giggles, check for steering head slack. 

I may be calling it the wrong thing... I mean the bearings on the "steering" part of the tripple tree.  Make sure there isn't any slack. 

Of course... this would probably cause problems in more than just left turns.