Hi all. My first post. Is is normal for the fjr1300 steering to shake (handlebars move side to side) if I Take both hands off steering? I know it's not recommended but it happens immediately if I do. I'm pretty sure the demo bike stayed rock solid. I mentioned on 1st service they said they would check to no avail???
renegade
NO!!! It is NOT normal. There's a number of things to check:
- nuts and bolts; like top and bottom fork clamps, front wheel mounting.
- steering stem nut torque.
- front tire condition and air pressure
- fork tube height and condition
The list goes on but know this: it is NOT normal, it is an indication that something is wrong, loose, broken, etc. Do NOT allow them to blow smoke up your butt, your bike is NOT right. Especially on a relatively brand spankin' new one.
Whew!! That was furious and it's a hint as to why I have the signature that I do.
For me the front tire wear caused a little front end hands-free wobble. New tire and the wobble was gone. Until this past summer when it wouldn't go away. I found I needed new steering bearings. Did it myself, straight-forward job. Good luck in your quest, let us know how it turns out.
- nuts and bolts; like top and bottom fork clamps, front wheel mounting.
- steering stem nut torque.
- front tire condition and air pressure
- fork tube height and condition
The list goes on but know this: it is NOT normal, it is an indication that something is wrong, loose, broken, etc. Do NOT allow them to blow smoke up your butt, your bike is NOT right. Especially on a relatively brand spankin' new one.
Whew!! That was furious and it's a hint as to why I have the signature that I do.
For me the front tire wear caused a little front end hands-free wobble. New tire and the wobble was gone. Until this past summer when it wouldn't go away. I found I needed new steering bearings. Did it myself, straight-forward job. Good luck in your quest, let us know how it turns out.
Yep, what Ken said. My '07 always got the shakes as the front tire wore until last summer when it would not go away. New roller bearings did the trick.
Re-torquing the bearings is a simple job, give it a try. What you got to lose? The frustration that comes through your post is understandable but take comfort- you are certainly not alone. This problem has been addressed and solved many, many times over.
Re-torquing the bearings is a simple job, give it a try. What you got to lose? The frustration that comes through your post is understandable but take comfort- you are certainly not alone. This problem has been addressed and solved many, many times over.
$30.95 http://www.bikebandit.com/aftermark...teering-stems-bearings/all-balls-motorcycle-steering-stem-bearing-kits?m=145141
$33.56 http://www.allballsracing.com/ymmsearch/index/searchfromhome/
$30.99 http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/21652/i/all-balls-steering-stem-bearing-kit?WT.ac=SLIsearchand https://www.jakewilson.com/p/1828/5...86/All-Balls-Steering-Stem-Bearing-Kit?term=all balls steering stem bearing kit
You get the idea. Well worth the cost. I was surprised by the "cheapness" of the OEM bearings when I loosened my steering stem and balls from the bearings hit the floor. Literally. Plink times six. Very disheartening.
$33.56 http://www.allballsracing.com/ymmsearch/index/searchfromhome/
$30.99 http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/21652/i/all-balls-steering-stem-bearing-kit?WT.ac=SLIsearchand https://www.jakewilson.com/p/1828/5...86/All-Balls-Steering-Stem-Bearing-Kit?term=all balls steering stem bearing kit
You get the idea. Well worth the cost. I was surprised by the "cheapness" of the OEM bearings when I loosened my steering stem and balls from the bearings hit the floor. Literally. Plink times six. Very disheartening.
Be prepared to hear "it's normal" or "it's the tire" or ... or ... or ... The only thing that finally eliminated the wobble for me was new steering bearings. I replaced mine with tapered rollers.
Did you know this discussion has been going on since at least 2006? Yep, it's always been a problem. Generation after generation the saga continues....
They can be a pain. But I went into the job thinking of taking my time and doing it right. No pounding races in, no pounding bearings on (leads to breaking them), no half-azzed installation. Everything was done by hand- sanding, polishing, measuring. Everything. Yes, it took longer than some who have done it but I know it's done right.
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My FJR is the only bike I've ever owned that had/s this front end wobble. That's at least a dozen bikes- Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki included- since 1976. As mentioned earlier, a new front tire would make it go away for a little while but it always came back.
Riddle me this Batman: what if "hands on bars" only stops the bars from shaking? What if the wheel/tire/fork assy still wants to shimmy-sham down the road? What's that do to the fork seals/internals? Maybe that's why Mammy Yammy rebuilt my forks TWICE on their dime to get the leaks to finally stop, eh? Yes, no, maybe; h3ll I dunno. But I do know this- a front end wobble is not any more normal on a bike than it is in a car or truck. I understand if you are willing to accept it as such. I am not. For $22 (bearing set) and a few hrs of my time (it's winter, I ain't riding anyway) my wobble and leaking forks are gone.
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