Suggestion for odd steering issue - now solved

[karatechop5000]

I had a bike with bad stem bearings (and races) which bound a little bit on center causing me to lean too much before the wheel turned. Then when it broke loose, I was leaning too far so...
It was kindof obvious what was wrong though. 

[Philomath]

What about trying a really stiff aluminum fork brace?  I have one and it made the "fake cross-wind" problem disappear...

[ben2go]

After two years of not riding my bike,I noticed my bike wants to fall into turns at slow speeds.I never noticed it before.I believe it to be because of the higher rear end.I have a Katana front end that Dgyver and I rebuilt and set up on my bike.So I know mine is not in the front end.We also redone my rear swing arm and wheel.So I would try some lowering links to get the rake back down and close to stock.

[adidasguy]

Steering column bearings: they were so gunky, rusty and generally not really a bearing anymore.

Picked up new ones at Aurora Suzuki in the morning. With some hill-billy  make shift tools and a spare tripple, we fixed Trey and now he steers just fine. Still slightly more aggressive than Junior or Suzi due to the higher rear and the stiff shock. So with the problem 95% taken care of, next will be putting on a rear shock more suited to my weight (50 pounds less than the PO who put on the stuff shock).

The real test was riding and realizing I no longer had to think about steering. So glad I have adjustable levers, too. With 3 bikes and riding each one today, I can adjust brakes and clutch with the flick of a lever so I can ride each bike to their best.

[ryott52]

Steering column bearings: they were so gunky, rusty and generally not really a bearing anymore.

Picked up new ones at Aurora Suzuki in the morning. With some hill-billy  make shift tools and a spare tripple, we fixed Trey and now he steers just fine. Still slightly more aggressive than Junior or Suzi due to the higher rear and the stiff shock. So with the problem 95% taken care of, next will be putting on a rear shock more suited to my weight (50 pounds less than the PO who put on the stuff shock).

The real test was riding and realizing I no longer had to think about steering. So glad I have adjustable levers, too. With 3 bikes and riding each one today, I can adjust brakes and clutch with the flick of a lever so I can ride each bike to their best.

About how much do you weigh? When you get a new rear shock I may be interested in the one currently on there, I'm about 210 pounds and I'd like something a little stiffer.

[adidasguy]

About how much do you weigh? When you get a new rear shock I may be interested in the one currently on there, I'm about 210 pounds and I'd like something a little stiffer.

I'm 170 with gear on. I need it softer and lower. At 5'8", I notice the difference in height and how much higher Trey is since we put springs in the front, which raised it up about 2" (front springs weren't really springs, just coils of something at looked like a spring). So i need the rear back down like Junior and Suzi for comfort.

Do have to say that testing Trey today I really appreciated the adjustable levers (not to get off topic). I put on new gloves. Not broken yet so a little stiff and couldn't open my small hands as much as with the other gloves. So I flipped the levers in one notch and wasn't straining to open up my hand to grab the levers. 

When I post in "What have you done..." that the shock was changed, contact me again.

[ben2go]

Steering column bearings: they were so gunky, rusty and generally not really a bearing anymore.

Picked up new ones at Aurora Suzuki in the morning. With some hill-billy  make shift tools and a spare tripple, we fixed Trey and now he steers just fine. Still slightly more aggressive than Junior or Suzi due to the higher rear and the stiff shock. So with the problem 95% taken care of, next will be putting on a rear shock more suited to my weight (50 pounds less than the PO who put on the stuff shock).

The real test was riding and realizing I no longer had to think about steering. So glad I have adjustable levers, too. With 3 bikes and riding each one today, I can adjust brakes and clutch with the flick of a lever so I can ride each bike to their best.

About how much do you weigh? When you get a new rear shock I may be interested in the one currently on there, I'm about 210 pounds and I'd like something a little stiffer.

When I got my first GS,it was bone stock the way it came from the factory.I weighed 220lbs.The front was soft,so I rebuilt my GS forks and installed Progressive springs with 50w fork oil.Then the stock rear shock was to soft,so I installed a Katana 600 rear shock.All that was ok,but at 220lbs,probably 250 with gear,the entire bike was still to soft.So I broke down my Katana 600 shock,cleaned,lubed,painted it,and reinstalled it set to the stiffest setting.At the same time,I upgraded to a Katana 750 front end.My bike is really nice to ride now and no more bottoming out when I run over a road reflector.

[mister]

After two years of not riding my bike,I noticed my bike wants to fall into turns at slow speeds.I never noticed it before.I believe it to be because of the higher rear end.

Nah, this is how the bike is. After riding my GS all week to work and back I am used to how the bike handles and do not feel it wants to fall in to turns. BUT, after riding my Honda 919 for a 300 mile day trip, as soon as I get back on the GS I feel it wants to fall into corners. And I've always thought this... the GS almost corners itself.

Michael

[ben2go]

When it wants to fall into a curve at slow speed,I find myself pushing the bars back, and sometimes adding a little counter steer.Anyway,it's not an issue to me,just thought I'd add it to the thread.

[adidasguy]

When it wants to fall into a curve at slow speed,I find myself pushing the bars back, and sometimes adding a little counter steer.Anyway,it's not an issue to me,just thought I'd add it to the thread.

Good suggestion for newbies.

Since I have 3 bikes (1992, 1994 and 2009 GS500's), and jump from one to the other all the time (sometimes riding all 3 within an hour) I really noticed the issue. Another guy also felt the same feeling, but described it different. Think of it as riding on grooved pavement - except only the front wheels are on grooved pavement and the rear is on smooth pavement. I can relate as today on Trey I did hit a patch of grooved pavement that was scraped for repaving. yes - I wandered back & forth but I didn't have to do anything to continue going straight (and I could feel the read wander as well as the front). With the bad bearings - you couldn't hold a straight line even on smooth pavement.

Seems with sticky, rusted steering bearings, when you instinctively do minor steering adjustments, ones you don't even think about, when a bike has a problem you suddenly realize there is a problem. You notice your minor steering adjustments and realize they aren't working or they over or under compensate. Even a slow, walking u-turn and he wanted to literally try to fall over.

Now, I don't even have to think about it. Rode him along a twisty residential street along the water - even with 10 mph UP HILL hair pins, he rode so well it was like a completely different bike.


Older bike with steering that feels weird? Change the steering bearings!

Boy was I stupid: I didn't take even one photograph of the work or the crapp bearings. My camera was in my jacket and I had my phone, too. Another blond moment  

[karatechop5000]

Glad you got it. Most anything else would cause a steady lean, pull, or wobble.

[Twisted]

After two years of not riding my bike,I noticed my bike wants to fall into turns at slow speeds.I never noticed it before.I believe it to be because of the higher rear end.

Nah, this is how the bike is. After riding my GS all week to work and back I am used to how the bike handles and do not feel it wants to fall in to turns. BUT, after riding my Honda 919 for a 300 mile day trip, as soon as I get back on the GS I feel it wants to fall into corners. And I've always thought this... the GS almost corners itself.

Michael

+1 to that. It still amazes me when I go for a run on my GS at how well it loves corners. 

[adidasguy]

After two years of not riding my bike,I noticed my bike wants to fall into turns at slow speeds.I never noticed it before.I believe it to be because of the higher rear end.I have a Katana front end that Dgyver and I rebuilt and set up on my bike.So I know mine is not in the front end.We also redone my rear swing arm and wheel.So I would try some lowering links to get the rake back down and close to stock.

Sounds similar to Trey. Changing steering bearings solved it. Now he wants to go straight. Hoist your bike up and see how freely the steering is. Any sluggishness and you need new bearings (maybe cleaning them out would help). (Can use center stand and have someone lean on the back to get the front wheel off the ground to check the steering)

[ben2go]

After two years of not riding my bike,I noticed my bike wants to fall into turns at slow speeds.I never noticed it before.I believe it to be because of the higher rear end.I have a Katana front end that Dgyver and I rebuilt and set up on my bike.So I know mine is not in the front end.We also redone my rear swing arm and wheel.So I would try some lowering links to get the rake back down and close to stock.

Sounds similar to Trey. Changing steering bearings solved it. Now he wants to go straight. Hoist your bike up and see how freely the steering is. Any sluggishness and you need new bearings (maybe cleaning them out would help). (Can use center stand and have someone lean on the back to get the front wheel off the ground to check the steering)

I installed new bearings when I installed the Katana 750 front end.They only have 122 miles on them.My bike is kept in my building so there shouldn't be any issues with them.