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fear factor . . .
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 10:10 pm
by Bill Benda MD
Hello all -
I replaced the OEM Dunlops with Conti TKC 80s and at the same time added a
K9 fork brace. Big improvement on the twisties, but now I notice that when
I give the handlebars a shake at 55 mph or above on a straightaway, the
front end oscillates for a couple of seconds, worse the faster I am going.
Happens even when I give a wiggle in the saddle above 60 or so. Really
freaked me out passing a Mercedes doing 80 on Hwy 1 in Big Sur today.
I removed the handlebar mounted Memphis Shields Demon, with some improvement
but she still the oscillates for a couple of seconds at higher speeds if I
give the bars a shake. Has anyone experienced this with the Contis? Does
it happen with the Dunlops (and other makes) and I just never noticed?
Anything else to check? I have a front fender bag but removing it did not
make any difference.
I'd like to trust the mount again at higher speeds . . .
Bill
fear factor . . .
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:12 pm
by Jeff Saline
On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 20:06:41 -0800 Bill Benda MD
writes:
> Hello all -
>
> I replaced the OEM Dunlops with Conti TKC 80s and at the same time
> added a
> K9 fork brace. Big improvement on the twisties, but now I notice
> that when
> I give the handlebars a shake at 55 mph or above on a straightaway,
> the
> front end oscillates for a couple of seconds, worse the faster I am
> going.
> Happens even when I give a wiggle in the saddle above 60 or so.
> Really
> freaked me out passing a Mercedes doing 80 on Hwy 1 in Big Sur
> today.
>
> I removed the handlebar mounted Memphis Shields Demon, with some
> improvement
> but she still the oscillates for a couple of seconds at higher
> speeds if I
> give the bars a shake. Has anyone experienced this with the Contis?
> Does
> it happen with the Dunlops (and other makes) and I just never
> noticed?
> Anything else to check? I have a front fender bag but removing it
> did not
> make any difference.
>
> I'd like to trust the mount again at higher speeds . . .
>
> Bill
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Bill,
I'm wondering if the steering head bearings are just a tad loose. Do you
get a bad shake around 40 when you let off the bars and the bike
decelerates? Don't take your hands far from the bars when you test it as
if it shakes you want to be able to dampen it immediately. Head shake is
a pretty common symptom of loose heads bearings and they don't have to be
very loose to cause the shake.
If you have maybe 15,000 or more miles on your rear shock that might be
causing the problem too. Once the shock is worn it can affect the
handling in some weird ways.
Good luck getting it figured out.
Jeff Saline
ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal
Airheads Beemer Club
www.airheads.org
The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota
75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT
fear factor . . .
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:51 pm
by wannabsmooth1
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Bill Benda MD wrote:
>
> Hello all -
>
> I replaced the OEM Dunlops with Conti TKC 80s and at the same time
added a
> K9 fork brace. Big improvement on the twisties, but now I notice
that when
> I give the handlebars a shake at 55 mph or above on a straightaway, the
> front end oscillates for a couple of seconds, worse the faster I am
going.
> Happens even when I give a wiggle in the saddle above 60 or so. Really
> freaked me out passing a Mercedes doing 80 on Hwy 1 in Big Sur today.
>
SNIP>>>>>>>>>>>>
> Bill
>
Bill,
You're initiating the action, if I'm reading this correctly........So,
how much do you weigh? What tire pressures are you running? Have you
lubed and adjusted the steering head bearings? What are your
suspension settings? Have you added Progressive springs to the front,
and adjusted the preload and oil? All of these can and will affect
your handling and stability....... :)Also how may miles on the bike
and condition of the rear shock? Let's start with tire pressure, and
be sure what you're running is optimum for where and how you ride, and
go down the list, ok?
all the best,
Mike
fear factor . . .
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 12:29 am
by John Biccum
I have 25K on Contis with no issues. The TKC80s are my favorite on and off
road tire. I'd check the balance on the front wheel and I'd also check the
headset to see if it is too loose.
-----Original Message-----
From:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Bill Benda MD
Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2006 8:07 PM
To:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Fear Factor . . .
Hello all -
I replaced the OEM Dunlops with Conti TKC 80s and at the same time added a
K9 fork brace. Big improvement on the twisties, but now I notice that when
I give the handlebars a shake at 55 mph or above on a straightaway, the
front end oscillates for a couple of seconds, worse the faster I am going.
Happens even when I give a wiggle in the saddle above 60 or so. Really
freaked me out passing a Mercedes doing 80 on Hwy 1 in Big Sur today.
I removed the handlebar mounted Memphis Shields Demon, with some improvement
but she still the oscillates for a couple of seconds at higher speeds if I
give the bars a shake. Has anyone experienced this with the Contis? Does
it happen with the Dunlops (and other makes) and I just never noticed?
Anything else to check? I have a front fender bag but removing it did not
make any difference.
I'd like to trust the mount again at higher speeds . . .
Bill
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fear factor . . .
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 7:00 am
by Chris Jennings
"at the same time added a K9 fork brace."
Would the fork brace cause this?
fear factor . . .
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 7:18 am
by Rodney Copeland
I'm not sure how many miles you have on the your new tires Bill,
but every new set of tires I've ever mounted have acted that way.
The first thing I've learned to do is take them immediately to the
soft dirt and sandy riding areas to scrub off the mold release that
is always present.
Rod
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Bill Benda MD
wrote:
>
> Hello all -
>
> I replaced the OEM Dunlops with Conti TKC 80s and at the same time
added a
> K9 fork brace. Big improvement on the twisties, but now I notice
that when
> I give the handlebars a shake at 55 mph or above on a straightaway,
the
> front end oscillates for a couple of seconds, worse the faster I am
going.
> Happens even when I give a wiggle in the saddle above 60 or so.
Really
> freaked me out passing a Mercedes doing 80 on Hwy 1 in Big Sur
today.
>
> I removed the handlebar mounted Memphis Shields Demon, with some
improvement
> but she still the oscillates for a couple of seconds at higher
speeds if I
> give the bars a shake. Has anyone experienced this with the
Contis? Does
> it happen with the Dunlops (and other makes) and I just never
noticed?
> Anything else to check? I have a front fender bag but removing it
did not
> make any difference.
>
> I'd like to trust the mount again at higher speeds . . .
>
> Bill
>
fear factor . . .
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:24 am
by Jud Jones
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Chris Jennings wrote:
>
> "at the same time added a K9 fork brace."
>
> Would the fork brace cause this?
>
Most people find that a fork brace stabilizes the bike.
fear factor . . .
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:46 am
by Bill Benda MD
Thanks for the input so far. I weigh 200 lbs. The KLR has about 3300
miles. The tires were just put on by the dealer, so I assume the pressures
are appropriate for road use (and I'll check). Haven't touched the steering
head bearings yet. I do have Progressives on the front, also installed by
the dealer at the 500 mi service. I've got about 150 miles on the Contis,
including fire roads. I'll check for wobble under deceleration. Thanks for
the thoughts and suggestions . . .
Bill
On 1/8/06 9:50 PM, "wannabsmooth1" wrote:
> --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Bill Benda MD wrote:
>>
>> Hello all -
>>
>> I replaced the OEM Dunlops with Conti TKC 80s and at the same time
> added a
>> K9 fork brace. Big improvement on the twisties, but now I notice
> that when
>> I give the handlebars a shake at 55 mph or above on a straightaway, the
>> front end oscillates for a couple of seconds, worse the faster I am
> going.
>> Happens even when I give a wiggle in the saddle above 60 or so. Really
>> freaked me out passing a Mercedes doing 80 on Hwy 1 in Big Sur today.
>>
> SNIP>>>>>>>>>>>>
>> Bill
>>
> Bill,
>
> You're initiating the action, if I'm reading this correctly........So,
> how much do you weigh? What tire pressures are you running? Have you
> lubed and adjusted the steering head bearings? What are your
> suspension settings? Have you added Progressive springs to the front,
> and adjusted the preload and oil? All of these can and will affect
> your handling and stability....... :)Also how may miles on the bike
> and condition of the rear shock? Let's start with tire pressure, and
> be sure what you're running is optimum for where and how you ride, and
> go down the list, ok?
>
> all the best,
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Archive Quicksearch at:
>
http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html
> List sponsored by Dual Sport News at:
www.dualsportnews.com
> List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at:
www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html
> Member Map at:
http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
fear factor . . .
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 10:32 am
by Eric Lee Green
Jud Jones wrote:
>--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Chris Jennings wrote:
>
>
>>"at the same time added a K9 fork brace."
>>
>>Would the fork brace cause this?
>>
>>
>>
>
>Most people find that a fork brace stabilizes the bike.
>
>
>
Not if it's installed in such a way that it causes fork binding.
fear factor . . .
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 10:42 am
by Bill Benda MD
How would I know if there is fork binding?
Bill