parked, wheel pointing right or left?

[bensherwyn]

Hello all, So, I just got my 2003 KLR back from the shop (10,000 mile service, doohickey replacement, and front fork tightened to spec) and I hit the highway with pride this weekend, but the front-end still had a tendency to be a bit scary after 75mph. Basically, if I give one side a quick yank, hit a bump in the road, or brake quickly, the steering wobbles and then seems to build up momentum (kind of like a front-end fishtail) if i dont put weight on the front and react gracefully. Does anyone know what this comes from? Is this what people buy those fork braces for or should I tighten the steering column more? Any tips are sincerely appreciated. Thanks! Ben

[Donald Dickerson]

I was gonna say maybe your steering head bearings are loose. If you had the dealer do your work you may need to do a close inspection and see if they left anything off or failed to tighten the triple clamps. My bike came from the dealer with all four triple tree bolts loose. Took it back, they fixed it, then got it home to find MANY more bolts and nuts loose. I bet I took alot more time tightening bolts and screws than they did when they assembled it. --- bensherwyn wrote:

> Hello all, > > So, I just got my 2003 KLR back from the shop (10,000 mile service, > doohickey replacement, and front fork tightened to spec) and I hit > the > highway with pride this weekend, but the front-end still had a > tendency to be a bit scary after 75mph. Basically, if I give one > side > a quick yank, hit a bump in the road, or brake quickly, the steering > wobbles and then seems to build up momentum (kind of like a front-end > fishtail) if i dont put weight on the front and react gracefully. > Does anyone know what this comes from? Is this what people buy those > fork braces for or should I tighten the steering column more? Any > tips are sincerely appreciated. > > Thanks! > > Ben > > >

Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who didn't. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- Helen Keller __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

[Scott]

Yes, I noticed that if the bike is pointed to the left it scoots on the stand when I get off of it. I'm a big sinner, too and proud of it! --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Donald Dickerson wrote:

> > I don't know if it really makes a difference, but I've pointed the > wheel to the right on every bike I've ever had. If you accidently

get

> on before unlocking the front wheel, the front wheel wants to roll

and

> bike wants to fall over when leaned to the left and front wheel is > turned to the left, about the time you raise the kickstand and reach > for the keys (a '76 Goldwing was bad about that). Obviously, you

aren't

> the only one doing this. The only biker sin I was ever taught was > riding non-Harleys was a sin (Dad's a patch-holder...). > > Me BIG sinner...! > > --- Scott wrote: > > > > > I find it easier to get on and off my KLR if I have the wheel > > pointing > > right. > > > > I noticed I seem to be the only one doing this. > > Am I committing some kind of biker sin by doing this? > > Am I "stating a life style preference"? > > Do men hang left and women right? > > > > (It goes without saying women are always right.) > > > > Wait, I said it... > > No! Twas not I, Precious. ~GOLLUM ~GOLLUM > > > > (JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings reference) > > > > > > > > > Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat

them.

> > Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who

didn't.

> > "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not

exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- Helen Keller

> > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com >

[Scott]

Yes, and to add I think someone here had a wobble. His had come set up with the forks somehow tweaked. His solution if I recall was to loosen the triple tree bolts and let the forks settle, then retighten. Emphasis on retighten. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Donald Dickerson wrote:

> > I was gonna say maybe your steering head bearings are loose. If you

had

> the dealer do your work you may need to do a close inspection and

see

> if they left anything off or failed to tighten the triple clamps. My > bike came from the dealer with all four triple tree bolts loose.

Took

> it back, they fixed it, then got it home to find MANY more bolts and > nuts loose. I bet I took alot more time tightening bolts and screws > than they did when they assembled it. > > > --- bensherwyn wrote: > > > Hello all, > > > > So, I just got my 2003 KLR back from the shop (10,000 mile

service,

> > doohickey replacement, and front fork tightened to spec) and I hit > > the > > highway with pride this weekend, but the front-end still had a > > tendency to be a bit scary after 75mph. Basically, if I give one > > side > > a quick yank, hit a bump in the road, or brake quickly, the

steering

> > wobbles and then seems to build up momentum (kind of like a front-

end

> > fishtail) if i dont put weight on the front and react gracefully. > > Does anyone know what this comes from? Is this what people buy

those

> > fork braces for or should I tighten the steering column more? Any > > tips are sincerely appreciated. > > > > Thanks! > > > > Ben > > > > > > > > > Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat

them.

> > Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who

didn't.

> > "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not

exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- Helen Keller

> > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com >

[Moose]

Don't forget to check the 2 obvious, front tire wear and front/rear tire alignment. My front end had wobble starting around 65, when I checked the tire I saw that the tread was wearing uneven from age. I did check the alignment of the rear tire and it appears to be correct. Moose Scott wrote: Yes, and to add I think someone here had a wobble. His had come set up with the forks somehow tweaked. His solution if I recall was to loosen the triple tree bolts and let the forks settle, then retighten. Emphasis on retighten. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Donald Dickerson wrote:

> > I was gonna say maybe your steering head bearings are loose. If you

had

> the dealer do your work you may need to do a close inspection and

see

> if they left anything off or failed to tighten the triple clamps. My > bike came from the dealer with all four triple tree bolts loose.

Took

> it back, they fixed it, then got it home to find MANY more bolts and > nuts loose. I bet I took alot more time tightening bolts and screws > than they did when they assembled it. > > > --- bensherwyn wrote: > > > Hello all, > > > > So, I just got my 2003 KLR back from the shop (10,000 mile

service,

> > doohickey replacement, and front fork tightened to spec) and I hit > > the > > highway with pride this weekend, but the front-end still had a > > tendency to be a bit scary after 75mph. Basically, if I give one > > side > > a quick yank, hit a bump in the road, or brake quickly, the

steering

> > wobbles and then seems to build up momentum (kind of like a front-

end

> > fishtail) if i dont put weight on the front and react gracefully. > > Does anyone know what this comes from? Is this what people buy

those

> > fork braces for or should I tighten the steering column more? Any > > tips are sincerely appreciated. > > > > Thanks! > > > > Ben > > > > > > > > > Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat

them.

> > Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who

didn't.

> > "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not

exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." -- Helen Keller

> > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com >

--------------------------------- Want to be your own boss? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jim Priest]

On 10/23/06, Moose wrote:

> Don't forget to check the 2 obvious, front tire wear and front/rear tire alignment. My front end had wobble starting around 65, when I checked the tire I saw that the tread was

Check tire pressure as well! Where are you fork tubes in relation to the triple clamp? I think 'normal' is to have the top of the fork cap just a few mm above the triple clamp. At least that is how mine is setup and I've done 80+ before w/no wobble. Also do you have anything on the back? Luggage? Top case? Jim

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "bensherwyn" wrote:

> > Hello all, > > So, I just got my 2003 KLR back from the shop (10,000 mile service, > doohickey replacement, and front fork tightened to spec) and I hit the > highway with pride this weekend, but the front-end still had a > tendency to be a bit scary after 75mph. Basically, if I give one side > a quick yank, hit a bump in the road, or brake quickly, the steering > wobbles and then seems to build up momentum (kind of like a front-end > fishtail) if i dont put weight on the front and react gracefully. > Does anyone know what this comes from? Is this what people buy those > fork braces for or should I tighten the steering column more? Any > tips are sincerely appreciated. > > Thanks! > > Ben >

Most common cause, IMO, is insufficient rear spring preload, or too much sag. Your bike behaves just as it does if overloaded; the front wheel "hunts". You have already noticed that putting weight on the front settles it down. More rear spring will have the same effect. Check all the other stuff, too, but this is a simple adjustment, so try it first.