OK heres the setup.... I've always had this front end clunk when I'm riding on my gravel driveway, its kinda bumpy and when I hit a good one I get a thunk out of the steering stem area.   So I was looking into it, and noticed that my steering stem bolt (#15 here) was only about finger tight   .  So I got out the torque wrench and tighened it down to 36 ft/lbs like it says in the manual.

So I take it out for a test run, at low speed the bike feels like much more wobbly, like the front end won't track in a straight line, its following a slightly swiggley path down the road.  The bike also feels like it wants to fall over into corners faster, I can get used to that but at low speed it still does the slight wobble through the turn.  Once I get over 35mph or so it seems to clear up and ride pretty well.

If I put it on the center stand and yank/push/lift on the forks I don't get any play I can feel, (I never did, even before I tightened the bolt).  I don't think forks are bent.  The tires only have around 600 miles on them.  It doesn't feel notchy like the bearings are worn at intervals.

I'm guessing somethings up with the bearings, maybe alignment?  Wondering why it never had problems before.  Now I tighen it, and it feels weird.     :dunno:

So what happened when I tightened that bolt? Any ideas? Racers?

Maybe you just got used to it being "wrong" and now that it's right, you think it feels wrong?

Have you checked for damaged head bearings. Put the bike on the centre stand and put weight on the rear seat so the front end lifts and turn the bars left and right. It should be smooth without any sticking points.
The bearing may need changing or sometimes just need regreasing.

Quote from: joerockerMaybe you just got used to it being "wrong" and now that it's right, you think it feels wrong?

I thought that might be the case, but I don't think it is.  I've ridden a few other bikes and they don't do this.  It acctually feels alot like when you ride over a open grate bridge and the front tire walks back and forth just a little.

I proabaly diagnosed it already, I mean what else could it be besides some sort of problem with the stearing head bearings.  :dunno:  Its riddeable so I think I will just ride it for a while and see if it solves itself, maybe my tires got worn slightly funny, and I can wear them back to good.  Either way, if I go to the trouble to tear the whole front end off, I'll replace the bearings.

Before getting too deep into the possible hi-tech answers check the easy one first, most common cause of "wobble" is tyre preasure.

Quote from: Cal PriceBefore getting too deep into the possible hi-tech answers check the easy one first, most common cause of "wobble" is tyre preasure.

Yep, First thing I checked too.  No joy. I was hoping it was something easy.

no really, put 34 in the front tire, go ride a couple miles then put 36 in there, do the same thing. 38.  then go down to 30 and see if it gets worse. a two psi difference really makes a difference, and most gauges are not that accrate.

if its only at low speeds just drive FAST!!!!!!!! :lol:  :lol:

Man, I would NOT ride a bike with a screwy steering problem!

You need to follow the procedure for adjusting the steering stem bearing. If the stem bolt was loose, what else was loose? You need to get to the adjusting nut under the stem bolt and do what the manual says. Probably tighten up, then loosen it slightly so the bearings don't bind. It definitely sounds, from what you described, like the whole bearing is real loose.

did you ever fix your problem?

mikeym

I also discovered my steering stem bolt was loose after I bought my bike. Ever since I've made it a habit to routinely check all front end bolts for tightness. While the bike is on the centerstand I carefully lift the front end up and check for bearing play and to see if it turns freely.