- Posts: 999
- Thank you received: 12
wobble starting at 85 mph
- apbling
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
I have noticed when I hit 85 on my bike it starts to wobble. I realize the girl is 30 yrs old and I don't go 85 hardly ever, but I am concerned this might be the start of a problem. Aside from steering stem bearings, could old/bad shocks or shock springs (in the front) cause this? What about an uneven amount of fork oil in the forks? I had trouble using the measuring procedure outlined in my manual so I used my wifes measuring cup to get very close to the amount of oil the manual called for. (yes, she was pissed).
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Andy
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 650ed
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 15344
- Thank you received: 2829
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Capt America
- Offline
- User
- Born Bad
- Posts: 186
- Thank you received: 1
Get the proper air in those shocks, they weren't designed to run without it, and they dive harder and ride lower in the stroke when they don't have the proper air.
Check or recheck the alignment of your rear wheel while your at it. You really, really, don't want to land in a high speed wobble. They aren't fun by any meaning of the word.
Capt A merica
1983 K1 750 twin
Ontario, Canada.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- apbling
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 999
- Thank you received: 12
A buddy and myself mounted the tires, no balancing....I'll get that done. I figured if I didn't feel a vibration that they would be ok.
See, I had air in them, but I've heard from people on a different forum and a local guy not to put air in them... I have a pump used for a full suspension bicycle that I will put the right amount of air in with.
The rear tire should be ok, but I'll have to recheck it anyway since I have to get my tires balanced.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 650ed
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 15344
- Thank you received: 2829
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- hocbj23
- Visitor
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 1981kz550ltd
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 51
- Thank you received: 0
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Kidkawie
- Offline
- User
- I bleed premix
- Posts: 1919
- Thank you received: 245
Check the runout to make sure it's not the tire or rim. Put the bike up on the center stand and place some sort of block (I used a one foot section of a 4x4 post) centered directly behind the tire about 1/8" clearance and spin the wheel. I think mine was off like 1/8" in one spot but it felt like it was off an inch going faster than 50. just pull the valve stem and keep trying to reseat the tire. No need to remove the wheel or anything.
1975 Z1 900
1994 KX250 Supermoto
2004 KX125
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Joe Fabulous
- Offline
- User
2004 Harley Davidson Softail
1981 Z1000 Chop
1982 KZ1100 A2
XS 650 Plunger Chop (in bits)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 650ed
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 15344
- Thank you received: 2829
Don't know whether you want to try it but it sounds like wheel balance to me. Get back up to speed and then keep accelerating, if its wheel balance you should be able to ride out of the wobble in about 10 to 15 mph, personally I'd whip the wheel out and get it balanced again at the shop, quickest way to eliminate that aspect of the problem.
Joe, are you trying to kill this guy too? Keep accelerating through the wobble??? "SHOULD be able to ride out of the wobble?" And what if he doesn't and instead goes into an irrecoverable tankk slapper and breaks his neck?? Even if that doesn't kill him, what good will it do?? Please be more responsible with your crappy advice!!! Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Joe Fabulous
- Offline
- User
2004 Harley Davidson Softail
1981 Z1000 Chop
1982 KZ1100 A2
XS 650 Plunger Chop (in bits)
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- trianglelaguna
- Offline
- User
- New and improved - extra strength
- Posts: 8726
- Thank you received: 235
When i got my kz900 3 yrs back i knew some tricks to set up old kz's...even so it took 3 months and money to fix the wobbles and shakes..i would get better shocks and then notice something else up front..i'd fix that and then notice the tires were steering into corners slow...change tires and notice the chain was slapping now and the rear lever was sloppy...all of this whilke doing faster and faster runs....in the end the bike would do 125 with no wobble...but now it get jumpy and light in the front..only now that it is tracking and handling it is not ever that i take it up past 110...problems worked through...keep pushing...keep upgrading....good luck...
1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.