Does anyone else  here have any issues/problems with head shake?  My  GS-F has (pretty noticable) head shake at about 45-50mph.  I don't notice it when i have my hands on the bars, but if i take my hands off it is VERY noticable.  (yea i know, don't take my hands off   ).
Anyway, i was wondering could this be a tire issue or something inherant to the GS?  
It doesn't do it at any other speeds.
tia.

well I have an 05 F and mine has no such problem.  You might check that all the bolts on the front end are tight and your wheel alignment.  I could be wrong but if it were the tire alone you would feel a vibration in the front.  Someone correct me if i am wrong.

depending on the age and mileage of your bike the most likely culprit is the bolt that passes through the head and triple tree is not as tight as it should be, I have ran into this problem on older goldwings and it is a realatively easy fix to have it tightened at a cycle shop. If this does not fix it then I would look at the tires. on bike tires you definately get what you pay for on an old bike of mine the cornering shimmy was horrible even after having the head bolt tightened to where it should be. put on a nice set of dunlops and off we went with no more shimmy so have the bolt checked first then look at the doughnuts.

Thanks for the suggestions.
The bike is an 04, tires are pirelli sport demons, with maybe 3000 miles on them.  Tread is still good.  Total miles on the bike is about 8500.
Do i need to take it to the shop to fix or is it something i can do myself?

Check yer tire pressure.

I check my tire pressure religiously before i ride, every time.  It is set per the manual, 33f 36r.  but thanks for the reminder.
I am not very "large" so....it's not a weight issue.

check these things in this order:
1. tire pressure
2. tire profile
3. wheel balance
4. head bearing

if any of these aren't right, fix them and ride see if that was the culprit, if not, go to the next step.

Checking for head bearing play is easy.  Put it on the center stand, put a weight on the tail (Kerry uses 50 lbs of bird seed -- most of the time with success   ), grab the front wheel and try to move it back and forth.  

If you can feel looseness, that may well be your problem.  (I don't know of any measurement between good or bad, but mine doesn't move.)

Stingray is right in the order to check.

Hey chiquita, where in GA do you live?

What about suspension sag? If you could measure the distance between the top of the dust seal to the bottom of the lower triple clamp with the bike verticle, and then, measure with the front wheel off the ground; the difference will be your Bike sag.

I just recently went back to the stock springs [for my weight, 125lbs], and when I measured Bike sag it was 1 3/8th inches, and with me on it Rider sag was 2 1/4 inches! Technically the springs are too soft, but boy did the bike handle! What I'm saying here that if you have too much sag it steepens the steering geometry and reduces your rake and trail (trail is what gives stability).

Proper fork sag should be - Bike sag: 1 inch; Rider sag 1.5 inches. Rider sag is more important.

Note: These measurements are for the front forks.

Another note: If you ride in the rain, add another 1/4 inch of sag.

Tarzan boy,   i'm in Conyers.  where are you?

Quote from: RoadstergalCheck yer tire pressure.

Roger that, Shakes come from lack of pressure.

I've let mine go on my '02 a few times and it gets loose at highway speed and at 87 to 90 or so.

Pump it, pump it up.

I agree with everything that has been said.

Tire pressure first, balancing, bearing.

If all those things are good, then check fork oil level. blah blah...

Do you still have the stock bar ends?  Did you change anything and then notice the problem?

I'm up 400 in roswell.   I recently met a fellow gstwin'er who lives about 10-15 min down the road from me in west roswell.  

I might have to make a map or something of GS500 owners in GA and post it on the site!

Suggest you get the front wheel balanced.  I have mine done by a company that has a digital balancer.

Mine does it without question when the tire pressure is low. Scares the hell out of me. My bike "sets up" a lot (months at a time) and I lose air.
Proper pressure solves my prob. I agree though with all said here.
But check air first. Hope this helps, Wilson

Quote from: RedShiftput a weight on the tail (Kerry uses 50 lbs of bird seed -- most of the time with success   )

I may not read every post on the board anymore ( ) but you didn't slip THAT one past me.   :lol: