Going about 100mph indicated... problem...

[annguyen1981]

I was traveling on the MA turnpike to school yesterday, and I reached 100 indicated.  the bike's front end started to wobble a bit.  does this indicate something wrong with the bike, or is it because of the light weight of the bike?

[pantablo]

something is wrong. could be head bearings (how old is your bike again?), could be slightly out of balance wheel, could be low tire pressure...might want to check those in reverse order.

[annguyen1981]

'04 bike.  I think it's probably the tire pressure...

I haven't checked it in about a month and a half...  Way too much cold weather.

[EDub]

o man your gunna get flamed for this.. even though nearly every gs'er out there has taken her to triples at least once before...

anywho... on to your problem.  The gs is quite a stable bike at speed.  Your problem could be that your front wheel may not be balanced properly.  You can take it to a bike shop and have them rebalance if for minimum $.  Im sure there are ways of checking this your self but im not sure of the exact procedure.  I'll let other chime in on that one

... oops pablo beat me to it

[annguyen1981]

I've taken her past 100 indicated already, with a wobble result, but it never bothered me...  It doesn't bother me now either...  I just wanted to post somewhere other tham TF.

[Alphamazing]

To balance a wheel you need a wheel balancer. They cost about $100 or so. If you do decide to get one you can start changing your own tires. It pays for itself in ~2 changes (40 bucks a wheel around here in some places).

Anyways. You stick the tire on the balancer and set the balancer on 2 stands (like car jacks, for example) and then find where the wheel rotates to the bottom at. Put a small weight opposite that point and move the wheel so that the heaviest part moves towards the bottom. Repeat until balanced.

If you do get a balancer, be sure to get one with PLASTIC, yes plastic -  not aluminum, cones. The cones keep the wheel in the right position on the balancer axle. The aluminum ones are fragile and if dropped will deform easily (my father knows THAT one from experience) and will take a lot of work to get them working again. The plastic ones are far more durable.

[pantablo]

A-you ever get to 100 before without the shaking you described? it also might be rider input. If your arms are tensed up the windblast hitting your shoulders might be transmitted to the bars. also something to think about.

[annguyen1981]

I've gotta check on that...  I think the wobbling starts a bit before, and only on really WINDY days...

[MarkusN]

My experience: resonance of the front end seems to be right around 100 mph. So if you do have the slightest problem it will manifest itself there.

[RVertigo]

What's up with doing trips without a safety check?   

Squid.   

[JamesG]

What preload setting do you have the rear shock on? Cranking it up can make the front end more planted during cornering and high speeds.

You can balance a wheel on its axle on the bike. Put the bike on the center stand and weight the rear/jack the front so that the front wheel is off the ground.  Grease the axle and leave the brake caliper off and speedo drive off. Make sure the forks have the axle level and give it a good "Price's Right" spin.  Wheel should go round and round for a long time. When it finally stops make a mark on the bottom. Spin the wheel again, the other direction. When it stops, your first mark should be at the bottom again. If not, mark the new spot and do another spin back the other way again. If it again stops at a random spot down, your wheel is balanced. If it keeps stopping with one side down, that is the heavy spot.

Works the same way with the rear wheel, only leave the chain off and remove the caliper from its bracket.

[annguyen1981]

I've got the preload on factory setting - 4.  But I need to stiffen that up a bit.  I'm 208lbs, so I think that's a bit too heavy for that setting.  I can't seem to make it budge tho

[oramac]

Check to make sure your fork brace (the metal bracket your fender mounts to) is tight.  My bike had head shake starting at about 55mph, then I found that this was loose.  I tightened it...no more shakes.

Just a thought.

[porsche4786]

i hear if you hold the handle bars too tight it will cause wobble.....

[JamesG]

I've got the preload on factory setting - 4.  But I need to stiffen that up a bit.  I'm 208lbs, so I think that's a bit too heavy for that setting.  I can't seem to make it budge tho

Definately crank it up. The stock spring is a wet noodle. My wee wife (130lbs.) needed it set on 4. I (185lbs), with it maxed out still could get it to marshmellow around.

Turning the collar gets harder the stiffer you turn it because of the resistance of the spring. You can use the spark plug wrench as an extra extension to get more leverage on it.

So put some air in the tires and crank up the preload and see if that fixes it.

[Grainbelt]

Let the tire pressure flaming start with me

Even around town, check the pressure every couple of days minimum. If you know you're going for a 'spirited' ride, be sure to check it first.

[scratch]

I find using a long, flat screwdriver useful to lever the collar around, so it's tighter.  Put the bike on the centerstand to get the weight of the bike off the shock.  From the left side, insert the screwdriver such that the flat blade is forward of the body inside the collar.  Rotate/pull the handle of the screwdriver forward.

To loosen, I use the spanner wrench from the stock toolkit, but I forgot how I use it.  Oh well, maybe later.

I used to check my tire pressures weekly, until I find a pattern of how quick they lose air.  The front Avon (110/70) started out at 33psi and quickly lost 1.5 in a week, I left it at 31.5 for a while and it didn't lose any air for a long time (I'd say 3 months), it seemed to like that pressure (so did I).  Only last month did it go down to 30 and then 29.5, and last week was 29 (<-that's probably why my front end is sliding around).  I 'ave bumped it back up to 31.5.

[flyingbeagle71]

I've got the preload on factory setting - 4.  But I need to stiffen that up a bit.  I'm 208lbs, so I think that's a bit too heavy for that setting.  I can't seem to make it budge tho

Just did this last night, and it is a pain in the butt.  The only way I could get the spanner to work was to remove the rear wheel and the rear mud guard (not the whole rear fender, just the little mud flap), then come in low from the left side.  You can't get the spanner all the way on the collar, but enough to crank it around.  It turns kinda easy until you get to setting 6 and 7.  They required lots of effort.  Setting 7 is tons different than setting 4.  The bike hardly sags when I set on it now.  Hope this helps.

[RVertigo]

I spent about two hours trying to get mine adjusted (that includes the swearing and pouting time)...  But, I was able to get it adjusted with the bike together...

That wacky tool in the tool kit actually did the job...  Eventually.

[annguyen1981]

I spent about two hours trying to get mine adjusted (that includes the swearing and pouting time)...  But, I was able to get it adjusted with the bike together...

That wacky tool in the tool kit actually did the job...  Eventually.

The first time I tried I spend about 45 minutes (all swearing) but didn't accomplish ANYTHING!

Please help...  I DON'T have a centerstand...  so lifting the weight off the rear shock is virtually impossible for me.