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GS freaking me out - Problem solved

Started by mp183, December 20, 2005, 06:01:44 PM

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mp183

Seems to drift left, right, left, right.
Goes in choppy into turns.
Don't see anything wrong.  Looked at with a trouble light and don't
see anything that is obvious.  Tires not disorted.  Chain alignment marks
are even.  Handlebars turn ok when I lift the front end.  Chain tension ok.
Can't wiggle the rear wheel so the axel is not loose.  Rims are not bent.
It's the type of feeling that you get when you ride on an asphalt road
that has ruts in it from heavy truck traffic and you can't keep a straight line without putting some effort into it.
2002 GS500
2004 V-Strom 650 
is it time to check the valves?
2004 KLR250.

500rider

Are the head tube bearings loose?  If you clamp on the front brake and then rock the bike back and forth is there a knocking sound?

I see you checked the rear wheel for loosness, check the front wheel too?

Does the affect change with speed?

Did you check your tire pressure?
Rob

00 GS500
89 Katana 750

sinfulgs

Quote from: 500riderAre the head tube bearings loose?  If you clamp on the front brake and then rock the bike back and forth is there a knocking sound?

I see you checked the rear wheel for loosness, check the front wheel too?

Does the effect change with speed?

Did you check your tire pressure?

yeha i was thinking bad or worn or loose head bearing too i know they make things interesting.

falcon0321

Check to make sure all of your spacers are in the rear tire.  Check to see if your forks are not twisted in the tripple.  Check Air pressure and suspension.  it sounds like it may be extremely under/over sprung.
Kalifornia Pool & Spa
CRA #515
89 & 93 GS500

makenzie71

Quote from: 500riderDid you check your tire pressure?

mp183

Tire pressure was checked a few days ago.  Seems fine by feel.
Will check with guage.  Don't think its the head bearing.
Rear tire has not been touched or chain adjusted for over 1,000 miles so nothing has changed there.  I looked at all the bolts that hold the frame together and nothing looks loose but will check with a wrench.
2002 GS500
2004 V-Strom 650 
is it time to check the valves?
2004 KLR250.

davipu

reat tire pressure around 26 instead of 35

GeeP

Don't check your tire pressure by feel, it is not an accurate method.  Use a calibrated gauge.  Check your tire pressure at least weekly, preferrably before each ride.  Yeah, it's that important.   ;)
Every zero you add to the tolerance adds a zero to the price.

If the product "fails" will the product liability insurance pay for the "failure" until it turns 18?

Red '96
Black MK2 SV

ashman

have you had the bike a while or just got it? mine felt kinda like that when I redid my  fork seals.  one of my forks was 1 or 2mm higher then the other. Just a thought. See if your seals are leaking. also try tightening things up front some.

-ash
Proud owner of a Bandit 600S former owner of a 93 GS500E

Octous

Along those lines, another thing to check would be how the front wheel sits in the fork.  Did you install / reinstall your front wheel recently?  If so, when reinstalling it, did you pump the fork a couple of times with the axle torqued but the clamp bolt loose before tightening the clamping bolt?

Respectfully.

O

mp183

Problem solved.
It was the steering stem.  Was tightened to spec by the guys at Suzuki.
Problem was that the bearing is not shot but pretty worn so it gave it that funny effect.  I lifted the front end and turned the handle bars left right and they turned pretty easily but the worn bearings probably had more resistance when the full weight of me and bike were on them.
2002 GS500
2004 V-Strom 650 
is it time to check the valves?
2004 KLR250.

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