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Hard Wobble
- kawasakibikefan
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'75 Z1B
'95 KLR250
My Future Buying List:
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-Suzuki DR-Z400SM
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- arai59
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- Patton
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Head wobble can come from many things tire and suspension related.More than likely your head bearings are worn or need to be tightened. Good time to check the the front end. Might check swing arm bushings/bearings also.
In addition to the above advice, would also assure wheel alignment, correct air pressure in tires, tire condition and balance, condition of shocks and at same preload settings, effect of any accessory items such as windshield, saddle bags, etc.
Good Luck!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- trianglelaguna
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steering bearings need tightening...would not hurt to take your fork trees off and lube and instpect...its covered in the manual....do you run a set and checked often tire pressure?.....have you ever checked fork oil or changed it...probably just loose steering bearings though.....
1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
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- gane
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[img][/img] 1977 KZ1000A1
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- KawiConvert
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1978 KZ650 D1 ~ Carb jetting: 107.5 & 20 & 4th groove with pods and 4-1 Exhaust
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- OLTIMER
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I didn't know Jack about motorcycles at the time, and when I took it for a ride, I noticed exactly what you are seeing right now. I figured I could accelerate through the instability, and all would be good.
Not so. The instability didn't go away by the time I was going ~60MPH, so I let off the throttle.
The handlebars got jerked out of my hands, and there I was - 60 MPH, no hands, the front end flapping back-and-forth slapping the stops on both sides.
I left bite-marks on my seat.
Rode it out, grabbed the handlebars once the oscillations slowed down enough, and took the bike straight to the shop where I was getting a lot of my work done. Told them to take off both wheels, make sure spokes trim / true / tight, and re-install.
Solid as a rock through 100 MPH after that.
Also, the '78 KZ650 D that I have right now exhibits a bit of a wobble - nowhere near as bad as that last one I had - and this bike has mag wheels, so the spokes are not an issue. New rubber front/rear, so I know that's not it. I decided to check out the swingarm bearings, and there I found an issue. I hope that solves it.
tl;dr :
1) make sure spokes are trim/true/tight
2) Swingarm bearing wear can cause wobble too
3) bad tires can cause it
4) front/rear wheel bearings MIGHT be the issue.
Good luck!
-Al
1978 KZ650-D1 SR
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
The shortest distance between two points is under construction.
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- KZQ
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You said "My front end likes to wobble bad on engine braking. It goes away either with pulling in the clutch or giving it gas."
Your swing arm bushings are shot!!!
Let's have a bit of a pool on this. KBF, Let us know what fixed it.
KZCSI
www.KZ1300.com
Riders:
1968 BSA 441 Shooting Star, 1970 BSA 650 Lightning, 1974 W3, 1976 KZ900, 1979 KZ750 Twin, 1979 KZ750 Twin Trike, 1981 KZ1300, 1982 KZ1100 Spectre, 2000 Valkyrie, 2009 Yamaha Roadliner S. 1983 GL 1100
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1985 ZN1300
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- kawasakibikefan
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'75 Z1B
'95 KLR250
My Future Buying List:
-Kawasaki KLX450R
-Yamaha R1
-Suzuki DR-Z400SM
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- kawasakibikefan
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'75 Z1B
'95 KLR250
My Future Buying List:
-Kawasaki KLX450R
-Yamaha R1
-Suzuki DR-Z400SM
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.