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bettythebeast
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« on: September 21, 2009, 01:13:28 PM » |
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Within the last month I've had this wierd problem where the bike seems to want to really DIVE into corners. I've almost gone down twice because of it where the front wheel started to slide out from under me. I've got a 2001 standard with 23k miles and only 3k on Avon tires which are properly inflated at 38/42. Once this happened, I was only going 20mph....
I've never had any problems like this before and the bike runs great....any suggestions on what to look at would be really appreciated.
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Ferris Leets
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« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2009, 01:24:30 PM » |
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To me it sounds like a symptom of worn out neck bearings. Do you get a notching feeling if you turn the bars slowly from lock to lock? If you jack the front off the ground do you get any movement in the neck by pulling/pushing on the tire? If they are bad enough to feel in turns you need to get them out ASAP.
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Mikey
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« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2009, 01:47:54 PM » |
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I had an Avon on the front of mine, and it did the same thing, although it did have a lot more miles on it. I changed to a Metz and it quit doing it.
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Remember folks, street lights timed for 35 mph are also timed for 70 mph
VRCC# 30782
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DFragn
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« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2009, 01:53:11 PM » |
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Weird! Especially with such low mileage. On a higher mileage bike I would think bearings, bearings & bearings. I understand the sensation you may be feeling, but I doubt the front wheel is sliding out on good clean pavement. If your steering stem bearings were loose, worn or indexed your front wheel & bars would tend to "flop" a little, but that would be controlable by the rider. Wheel bearings - maybe. Front unlikely. Left rear bearing may be allowing axle movement. But you'd be hearing that. Odd tire wear either front or rear can cause your sensation also. But that's a symptom of other problems. My best guess is the swingarm bearings are your culprit. It doesn't take much swingarm movement to effect handling. And trying to exert enough force by hand to check it while on a lift is almost impossible. Couldn't get mine to move by hand, but replacing the swing bearings cured my problem. Need more info tho'. Are you getting any bar movement [side-to-side] at particular speeds? Especially at 60 mph +. Here's a video of what my bad swingarm bearings would do to me in curves when the swingarm would move. More often then not I could counter control the bad swingarm effect making it invisible when following me except when I over corrected as here at 48 seconds in. To me it felt like the steering was dropping into a turn or curve. Generally more noticeable for me in left handers. Pay special attention at 48 sec. and at 5:58.
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« Last Edit: September 21, 2009, 02:03:29 PM by DFragn »
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Hellcat
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« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2009, 04:05:03 PM » |
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Interesting. I just picked up a Valk with only 5K miles. Riding it home I had no problems with bar shake or handling, though it does feel kinda mushy to me. But on one tight clover leaf entry ramp, I twice had to quickly correct from a sharp sensation of the bike dropping. I was like "what the hell was that?". Haven't had it in a similar situation again yet, though. Original Dunflops are still on it, though. I though that might be it. But now I have to wonder if the swingarm bearings were improperly tightened out of the crate.
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fudgie
Member
Posts: 10613
Better to be judged by 12, then carried by 6.
Huntington Indiana
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« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2009, 04:12:46 PM » |
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Interesting. I just picked up a Valk with only 5K miles. Riding it home I had no problems with bar shake or handling, though it does feel kinda mushy to me. But on one tight clover leaf entry ramp, I twice had to quickly correct from a sharp sensation of the bike dropping. I was like "what the hell was that?". Haven't had it in a similar situation again yet, though. Original Dunflops are still on it, though. I though that might be it. But now I have to wonder if the swingarm bearings were improperly tightened out of the crate.
Check the tire psi. I had a vtx friend come over with the same feel. His front tire only had 15-20 psi in it. It did not appear to be low. Just happened to check it 1st. All was better after some air. |
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 Now you're in the world of the wolves... And we welcome all you sheep... VRCC-#7196 VRCCDS-#0175 DTR PGR |
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Daniel Meyer
Member
Posts: 5493
Author. Adventurer. Electrician.
The State of confusion.
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« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2009, 04:28:56 PM » |
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Check your pressure gauge and make sure you're really running the air you think you're running. If that's okay, this is one of the symptoms of head bearings.
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CUAgain, Daniel Meyer  |
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Hellcat
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« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2009, 04:35:29 PM » |
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Interesting. I just picked up a Valk with only 5K miles. Riding it home I had no problems with bar shake or handling, though it does feel kinda mushy to me. But on one tight clover leaf entry ramp, I twice had to quickly correct from a sharp sensation of the bike dropping. I was like "what the hell was that?". Haven't had it in a similar situation again yet, though. Original Dunflops are still on it, though. I though that might be it. But now I have to wonder if the swingarm bearings were improperly tightened out of the crate.
Check the tire psi. I had a vtx friend come over with the same feel. His front tire only had 15-20 psi in it. It did not appear to be low. Just happened to check it 1st. All was better after some air. I did fill the tires when I first picked it up. This incident happened two days later on the last leg home. Guess there could have been some drop, especially in 10 year old tires. |
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DFragn
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« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2009, 05:51:24 PM » |
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I did fill the tires when I first picked it up. This incident happened two days later on the last leg home. Guess there could have been some drop, especially in 10 year old tires.
Regardless of tread depth those tires need to be replaced wery wery soon for safety. You can't imagine how much better she'll ride with fresh skins. |
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Black Pearl's Captain
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« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2009, 06:38:20 PM » |
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Low front tire air pressure.
It sounds like your air gage is shot and the tire is low. 42 psi in that Avon front and 45 rear.
Raymond
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RP#62
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« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2009, 06:46:09 PM » |
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Has the front end been apart? If so, and it was torqued out of sequence, the forks can be misaligned and cause what you describe.
-RP
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bettythebeast
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« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2009, 08:12:19 PM » |
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I really appreciate all the info...I used two different gauges...I'll try to pump it up to 42 and check it out. I don't appear to have problems with the head bearing (it's very smooth anyway) . I'll check out the swingarm and hope for the best...it is definatley creepy when it happens....and usually in a left hand turn. I'm wondering if it might have something to do with the front shocks...I noticed the other day that EVERY time I come to a stop, the bike kinda hangs in the air (like the front shocks stick) and then will drop...probably need to check that out too...
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Madmike
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« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2009, 09:24:14 PM » |
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I really appreciate all the info...I used two different gauges...I'll try to pump it up to 42 and check it out. I don't appear to have problems with the head bearing (it's very smooth anyway) . I'll check out the swingarm and hope for the best...it is definatley creepy when it happens....and usually in a left hand turn. I'm wondering if it might have something to do with the front shocks...I noticed the other day that EVERY time I come to a stop, the bike kinda hangs in the air (like the front shocks stick) and then will drop...probably need to check that out too...
Makes me wonder about checking out the action of the front shocks a little closer. Seeing as you just purchased this bike recently you may want to check the fork oil level and condition - there may have been a fork seal leak that wasn't repaired and the leak isn't apparent now because there is no oil left in a fork. Someone may be able to comment if they have had a any problems with the front end - things like effects of a defective dampner or if they have experienced a broken spring etc. |
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R J
Member
Posts: 13380
DS-0009 ...... # 173
Des Moines, IA
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« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2009, 12:36:22 AM » |
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If the forks hang in the air during a stop, it sounds like the forks tubes are in a bind,
That is caused by incorrect torquing of the front wheel.
Loosen it all up and do it over per the manual..........
I don't have my manual handy so as to reproduce it here.......
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44 Harley ServiCar   |
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Mikey
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« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2009, 05:25:23 AM » |
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There's a Honda Manual (for download) in the Classifieds for anyone that's interested. Not affiliated, and it's free.
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Remember folks, street lights timed for 35 mph are also timed for 70 mph
VRCC# 30782
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Spirited-6
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« Reply #15 on: September 22, 2009, 05:27:21 AM » |
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If the forks hang in the air during a stop, it sounds like the forks tubes are in a bind,
That is caused by incorrect torquing of the front wheel.
Loosen it all up and do it over per the manual..........
I don't have my manual handy so as to reproduce it here.......
Plus me on this one.  |
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Spirited-6
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Madmike
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« Reply #16 on: September 22, 2009, 07:39:13 AM » |
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Mikey
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« Reply #17 on: September 22, 2009, 07:49:14 AM » |
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Another thing you might want to look at is if the last person to own the bike decided to uh... say their goodbyes to the bike with a massive burnout, it will flatspot the center of the tire real bad, and when you edge over that transition going around the corner, it makes the bike "fall" into the outer part of the tire. I had this happen right when i got my bike... and then the dealership wouldn't put a new tire on it...  |
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Remember folks, street lights timed for 35 mph are also timed for 70 mph
VRCC# 30782
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petevenne
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« Reply #18 on: September 22, 2009, 10:00:32 AM » |
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To much pressure.. If these are Cobra's ..This is right from Avon site>> http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorbike/f6c-1500-valkyrietourinterstateF6C 1500 Valkyrie,Tour,Interstate (1997 - 2003)Front tyre Cobra Pressure front: 2.5bar(36psi) Front size: 150/80 R17 72H Rear tyre Cobra Pressure rear: 2.5bar(36psi) Rear size: 180/70 R16 77H |
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FryeVRCCDS0067
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« Reply #19 on: September 22, 2009, 06:46:57 PM » |
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Thanks for posting that info. Avon has dropped the recommended pressure at each end 4PSI since I bought tires. At that time they recommended 40PSI at each end for the Cobras. I’ll probably stick with 40 since they have many good miles at that pressure now with even wear and no problems but I may start with 36PSI on the next one and compare mileage and handling. Thanks again. |
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"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And... moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.'' -- Barry Goldwater, Acceptance Speech at the Republican Convention; 1964  |
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