Wobble starts at 100 mph

[2qmedic]

Hey folks,

I have a I/S. Purchased at 32K, noted then that approx 100-110 mph the bike starts to wobble.

Bike now has 60K and still has the same wobble. Needless to say, I don't ride this fast but it did come up in conversation the other day and now has me curious as to where it may be coming from. I will be taking it down for the spline maint. this next week.

I need some idea on things to check that would cause this,

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Charles

[Moonshot_1]

I have had that experience as well. Right at 100mph things start shaking and wobbling. Not 98 or 99 but 100. Weird.

At the time I was running Avon tires.

Below is a quote from the Valkyrie FAQ section on tires

A few have reported slight high speed (over 110MPH) stability problems with the Avon tire exacerbated by a large windshield, but there have been no reports of problematic steering symptoms.

Whether this is actually the problem, I don't know.  I now run an Avon up front and Car tire for the rear. I haven't gone over 100 mph to find out yet. Probably won't either. Will be interesting to see the comments regarding this.

[Baldwin]

I have experienced the wobble at 100 mph also.  I try to keep it below that now, it scared me.

[sandy]

I'd start with the basics. Tire tread depth/cupping/pressure/balance. Steering head bearings. Either tighten them or replace with tapered roller bearings. Honda's head bearings are caged balls. Good enough for the average rider, but not for durability or high speed work.

[Warlock]

Hey folks,

I have a I/S. Purchased at 32K, noted then that approx 100-110 mph the bike started wobble.

Bike now has 60K and still has the same wobble. Needless to say, I don't ride this fast but it did come up in conversation the other day and now has me curious as to where it may be coming from. I will be taking it down for the spline maint. this next week.

I need some idea on things to check that would cause this,

Thanks in advance for any advice,

Charles

Had the same problem. Mine ended up being the tires. Mine got to wobbling real bad. But it still could be several things. Head bearing, tires, tire pressure, swing arm, shock bushing wore out. I would would start with the tires and head bearings and take a look at the rear shocks top bushings.
David

[Mo Lee]

One of mine starts wobbling at around 90, kinda feels the same as if you are following a semi too close. I always figured it was the Memphis Shades windsheild.

[roboto65]

I have the wobble too on my IS must be the barn door up front but it sure helps in the weather.

[N8171S]

That is Honds way of telling you to slow down.  My Goddwing did it and my valks do it.  My BMW does not.

[2qmedic]

Well lets see,

-I run 880's (just replaced the front), front 38 psi, rear 42 psi,
-I've had a Good Year TT on the rear for 12K. 36 psi, wobble at 90ish, at 45 psi wobble as usual with M/C tires.
-Wind shield is stock, I had a larger wind shield on a BMW R100RS it caused it to be unstable, went back to stock.
-I still have the original shocks.  How can you tell if they are worn out???

*Note to myself, order shock bushings, visual inspection reveals looking worn.
Who makes and sells the bushings?, Any one have his contact info???


Thank for the input.

[mikeb]

it would be nice if everyone posted what tires they are running in this string of replys
i have a 99 i.s. no wobble at any speeds that i have ran. i was a bit over 120 gps speed last week  speedo and gps speeds dont track the same as we all know the speedo said 130mph
1999 i.s. 60 k miles
e 3 front  standard size on front 1000 miles/ new tire
c.t. komo rf rear 195/55/16/ 4000 miles on tire
1998 tourer
my 98 tourer wobbles at 110 mph gps speeds 1 up  but dont wobble 2 up at any speed?
e 3 front standard size 3000 miles on tire
ct rear michelin hydroedge 205/65/16 rear 15000 miles on tire

[hvacjack]

I have experienced this on several bikes. At first I tried to ignor people telling me it gould be neck bearings. then I tore in to the Suzuki vl1500 and found some bearings that looked ok but when i broke them apart and rolled the components on a very flat surface I saw the problems. I never had that wabble again on that bike I went back with all-balls brand tappered bearings. I have just bought the 99 Interstate but I plan to do the neck this winter as I am getting close to 30k miles. I have also heard reports that some Honda bikes (My Favorite) have neck bearing trouble earlire than you would expect. Just remember that it does not take much wear here to cause this wabble. I resisted because every thing felt good just turning the bars and shaking the forks. But when I removed them There were flats on the races and rough spots on the rollers.

[2qmedic]

hvacjack,

Thanks for the insight. Just curious though, how big of a job would it be to change the steering head bearings in the IS?
Would you still have the # for the bearings?
The interesting thing here is that it is the same wobble just as it was 30k miles ago. Does make sense to me anyway, but I'll still check other things that are recommended by the VRCC.

Thanks again

[Farther]

it would be nice if everyone posted what tires they are running in this string of replys...

I have a '03 Standard, 20k miles, new Metz 880 in stock size front & rear and Hondaline windshield cut down 4" and my Valk is very steady from 0-120.  I don't know what the GPS corrected speed would be.

[chrise2469]

I've got a 98 Std with a memphis shade windshield with an avon cobra rear and venom front.  I get a wobble at 185 Km/hr.   When I had venoms front and rear the wobble started ant 180. With the dunlops that were on the bike when I got the bike I could run up to 215KM/h with no issues.  I figure it is just the tires and windshield combo.  Next year I will tilt the windsheild back some and see if the wobble shifts.

[John U.]

Gary Eckerman sells polyurethane shock bushings, better and last longer than OEM  http://rattlebars.com/cart/bushings.html

[Printer Mike]

My wobble problems seem to be tire air pressure related. Dunlop tires.

I took a 100 mph+ run today and no wobble.

[mirion]

2000 IS with 28,000 miles and 97 Standard with 57,000 miles. Avons on both and no wobble up to 115 mph on either one (which is where I usually back off).

[hardhead]

My Valk does not shake at any speed up to 120 but I have had two other bikes to shake at over 100 mph.  In both cases I found a slightly loose fairing bracket.  After tightening them the shake was gone.  Appearently at that speed the wind pressure was causing the fairing to move side to side enough to cause the problem.

[JimC]

2qmedic,
You can get the bushings here, they are cheap enough and easy enough to change that it is worth trying them first. Darryl can hook you up.

http://www.xf6-custom.com/partpages/bushings.html
Jim

[2qmedic]

Thanks for the info on the bushings
Charles

[franco6]

I did experience a woble, over 100 mph ,2- up ,heavily loaded ,coming back from frisco Co. this summer, it reminded me to slow down.
in front,the metzler 880 r had 1/4   remaining, at 38 psi. the rear, dunlop E3 ,80 % new,suposedly 41 psi ,but more like 35 psi.
the front tire has been replaced by same, the rear is still the E3  at 41 psi and no wobles ??? 2-up!

[Chrisj CMA]

'97 Standard...Tires are E3 front and back....never wobbled at any speeds up to 125 mph (indicated)rock solid and thats with a standard windshield and 1 up.  I have hit 100mph (indicated) 2up no wobble there either. 

[Cruzen]

Try Dyna beads in your tires.  That is a cheap way to check tire balance and the tires will stay in balance better.

[2qmedic]

Just change the front tire myself, have the beads, but the wobble is the same as always .
I'll get the bushings and change em for certain, but I wonder if the shock(s) could just be worn out causing the issue also.
How could you really tell if they are worn out? They do not leak either.

[roboto65]

My shock bushings were bad and it is a common thing might check those.    Easy fix too..

If you see a gap at the top of your shock eye then they are bad .

[Chrisj CMA]

Went out for a test ride today.  After R/R the rear drive train.  All smooth as glass and I wondered after reading this post......it had been awhile since I had the old girl up to 100.  Well, Im here to tell you no wobble not even twitch, she got there so fast I didnt even know we was going that fast.  OK, to be fair, it is a '97 red and white.......known to be very fast.........never heard of a red and white wobbling at high speeds 

[Anthony]

metzeler front
darkside rear (uniroyal 205/60)
previously the bike had a clearview windshield : no wobbles up to 200kmh / 125mph , 1up

now with honda windshield, wobble starts between 160 - 180 kmh /100-112 mph, 1up :
but: as long as i am accelarating, even beyond that point, no wobble,
if i keep at those speeds : starts to wobble.
2up : no problem.

i already noticed that honda windshield looks a little bit higher on the left side then right, but didn' make the link with the wobble.


you got me thinking about checking that windshield. will test ride without it and come back.

Anthony

[2qmedic]

OK Folks,

I have taken some of the advice that you all have sugested and this is what has happened.

Replaced the shock bushings. Guess what, that improved the stability greatly!!!

My wife gave me some fork wings for Christmas. Guess what, that improved the stability even more!!!

I had it up to 115 indicated and it is more stable that it has ever been.

However, I suspect that the steering head bearings are in need of replaceing or a tune up with a torque wrench. I'll get to it soon hopefully.

Thanks for the advice folks,

Happy New Year!!! 
and be safe 

Charles

[sandy]

Anothe response said to tilt the shield for more stability. Here's how I did mine. The distance between holes is 1".

[valkmc]

Bridgestone up front, 205/60 GY TT on the rear no wobble at 100mph. Don't go there very often but the few times I have with this tire set up she (98 standard no windshield)  has been rock solid.

I did have a mint 93 GSXR 750 and it was stable to any speed until I put Avons on her, she would wobble from 100 to 110 then come out of it. Scared the hell out of me so I went back to Dunlops and never had a problem again. This was 5-6 years ago.

I think you can get a bad tire with any company. Avon would not hep me out though so I had to eat the cost.

[andym]

I have a 2000 I/ S and do experience some wobble at 100+
Was running Metzler 880s, which I recently changed but have not run up high speed with new tire as of yet

[Redline +]

Wobble...what wobble? I've only tested to 137 indicated, but the old gal was rock solid. I'm surprised to hear of all the problems you guys are experiencing. Original Dunlaps and now Avon Cobras, no problems.

Redline 

[Printer Mike]

A new "super speeders" law here in Georgia is going to add more risk to testing my bike at high speeds. Now I don't run those speeds normally, but testing every now and then lets me know if all is well.

"Officer, I was just testing..."