My bike is an '09. 2500 miles. Today on my way home from work my bike felt sorta "wobbly". It seems way harder to control at low speeds. It's very hard to explain but something up front just does NOT seem right. Tire pressures are good and everything passes a visual inspection. Any ideas? It does not feel safe to ride.
perhaps some bolt(s) came loose?
If it doesn't feel safe and you can't tell what's wrong, take it to a bike mechanic. I bet it has something to do with the forks.
When you brake, do the handle bars sort of shift forward?
It just seems like the steering is really heavy and I'm unable to properly countersteer.
Checked tire pressure with a gauge or eyeball?
gauge. Dead on 33 psi
If you put it on the centerstand and grab the forks can you move them around front to back or side to side? do the handlebars turn easily when the weight is off the front wheel?
There should be no play and the handlebars should turn freely.
Did you check the back tire too?
If you can't find the problem and fix it I agree that you should have it looked at. Most things on the bike are not likely to be hazardous but if the front wheel falls off you are gunna get some road rash and scrape up those shiny new fairings.
lol, Cpt. Obvious up there.
Bearings should be fine. Stem bolt is tight enough too, of course. No notchiness. Just tight, hunh?
Weird that it's so sudden, like that. Any new scratches? Possibility it's been backed into. Happens sometimes. A stiff bump to the wheel, tweaked forks, yada yada.
In neutral or clutch in, do you coast OK or slow down more than you should?
Put bike up. Do wheels turn freely? Especially front wheel? Could be bearing or lose brake pad. Steering would seem odd if the front brake was always gripping - even if a little.
An 09 should still be under warranty. Take it to a Suzuki Dealer.
Michael
Quote from: mister on July 14, 2010, 01:54:24 AM
An 09 should still be under warranty. Take it to a Suzuki Dealer.
Michael
This ^^^
a good dealer might even come to your house to pick it up so you don't have to ride it there
Quote from: Homer on July 13, 2010, 10:37:13 PMAny new scratches? Possibility it's been backed into. Happens sometimes. A stiff bump to the wheel, tweaked forks, yada yada.
This happened to me at work... Somebody backed into the bike, picked it up, and drove off. If the bar end weight hadnt been bent, I wouldn't have known until I rode off. They messed up my steering pretty good and knocked it over. Was like a car with the alignment way off when I test rode it.
Aside from the cosmetics, it was just a bent axle and handlebars. Picking her up tonight from the shop that she was towed to.
Good luck, and dont ride if it's wobbling like that. Everybody's been telling me I could have gotten speed wobble and been thrown off the bike!!
I had a "wobble" in my steering last weekend it was at about 60Kmh i am a new rider and i don't know if it was me or the bike. but when i got home i found a leek in the front fork seal i was thinking maybe if the oil level was low on one side you would get a soft feeling turning in one direction???? I am going to get the forks off and take them in for a recondition on my holidays. But yeah maybe a leaky fork I am a total Newb so this is probably just rubbish.
Marc
Quote from: kman on July 14, 2010, 04:49:50 AM
a good dealer might even come to your house to pick it up so you don't have to ride it there
actually i found out my friendly dealer is going to charge me for that :flipoff:
I think the front brake grabbing is a definite possibility. Im gonna go do some more investigating right now...