bwflorence Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 Hi All, I noticed the other day that when I take my hands off the bars while doing >70Km/h the bikes starts to headshake. It settles down at lower speeds. The bike is a 03 model with 10700 KM on the clock. would the steering head bearings go that quickly ??? Could it also be a dodgy tire ?? It has the original tires on it (Bridgestone Battlax).... so far, ive implemented a workaround...I dont take my hands off the bars anymore Quote
Xtreme Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 check the front tire for air pressure as said above,cupping and balance. Quote
OrganDonor Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 Hi All, I noticed the other day that when I take my hands off the bars while doing >70Km/h the bikes starts to headshake. It settles down at lower speeds. The bike is a 03 model with 10700 KM on the clock. would the steering head bearings go that quickly ??? Could it also be a dodgy tire ?? It has the original tires on it (Bridgestone Battlax).... so far, ive implemented a workaround...I dont take my hands off the bars anymore Any luggage on it? Mine only does it when loaded with the Givis on back. Quote
bartonmd Posted May 11, 2006 Posted May 11, 2006 Hi All, I noticed the other day that when I take my hands off the bars while doing >70Km/h the bikes starts to headshake. It settles down at lower speeds. The bike is a 03 model with 10700 KM on the clock. would the steering head bearings go that quickly ??? Could it also be a dodgy tire ?? It has the original tires on it (Bridgestone Battlax).... so far, ive implemented a workaround...I dont take my hands off the bars anymore Any luggage on it? Mine only does it when loaded with the Givis on back. Mine started doing it when I got the GIVI's, and got pretty bad with the nearly worn out PR on the front... Still running the PR front (for another 2 days anway) and did the tapered steering head bearings and it's stopped COMPLETELY, even with the worn front tire... Mike Quote
RTGwalt Posted May 12, 2006 Posted May 12, 2006 Mine started doing it when I got the GIVI's, and got pretty bad with the nearly worn out PR on the front... Still running the PR front (for another 2 days anway) and did the tapered steering head bearings and it's stopped COMPLETELY, even with the worn front tire... Mike Wow...interesting that the tappered bearings worked so well. bwflorence....your tires are cupped! Quote
brianmacza Posted May 12, 2006 Posted May 12, 2006 Hi All, I noticed the other day that when I take my hands off the bars while doing >70Km/h the bikes starts to headshake. It settles down at lower speeds. The bike is a 03 model with 10700 KM on the clock. would the steering head bearings go that quickly ??? Could it also be a dodgy tire ?? It has the original tires on it (Bridgestone Battlax).... so far, ive implemented a workaround...I dont take my hands off the bars anymore Get rid of the bridgestones.... thats likely your problem right there. My head shake problems went when I changed to Metzeler Z6. Quote
Pete in PA Posted May 12, 2006 Posted May 12, 2006 Well I've been dragging my ass to report this because I'm rather despondent over it. I did my headbearings to tapered over the winter and also put on new Contiforces. rode this spring and had no headshake. Now as the tires are wearing I'm getting it back. It doesn't start by itself but if I take my hands off at 50 decellerating and whack a grip with my fist it starts and continues. As the tires wear more it will probably start on it's own. Now I still say it's worth doing if yours are dented, the handling in the corners is much improved but it's not a cureall for the headshake like I thought it would be. Quote
bartonmd Posted May 12, 2006 Posted May 12, 2006 Well I've been dragging my ass to report this because I'm rather despondent over it. I did my headbearings to tapered over the winter and also put on new Contiforces. rode this spring and had no headshake. Now as the tires are wearing I'm getting it back. It doesn't start by itself but if I take my hands off at 50 decellerating and whack a grip with my fist it starts and continues. As the tires wear more it will probably start on it's own. Now I still say it's worth doing if yours are dented, the handling in the corners is much improved but it's not a cureall for the headshake like I thought it would be. Actually, mine would still headshake when I did them the first time (I think I didn't get a race all the way seated, and ended up loosening up on me when they wore in or something), but when I went back and re-torqued them, it's stopped completely, and this is with a fuxor'd tire too (the one that I wore 1/2 of lower than the rest, because I had a pretty bad brake pulsation... Mike Quote
Pete in PA Posted May 12, 2006 Posted May 12, 2006 Oh believe me, I've checked. I jack up the front frequently and the amount of friction left to right hasn't changed in the least. I've never had to retourqe yet, still perfect. Quote
TURK Posted May 12, 2006 Posted May 12, 2006 Honda rec you check steering head bearing tightness every 3500 miles.what you want to do is put the xx on center stand have someone push the back of the bike down to lift the front wheel if the air if h-bars flop to either side sterring brg adj is needed the h-bars should stay where ever you put them if steering bearing adj is correct. if they are to loose gyro effect is causing the shake, front tire wear and air also may cause it Quote
bwflorence Posted May 12, 2006 Author Posted May 12, 2006 Hi all, Thanks for the replies.... Tyre pressures are OK....dont think the front tyre is squared off...but it does have 10.5k kilometres on it... Could be loose steering head bearings...how do you adjust them ??? Is it an easy process or am I better off taking the bike to the dealer ??? Quote
macmcd Posted May 12, 2006 Posted May 12, 2006 What's headshake? I was thinking about getting a hyperpro steering damper it would work great on those PA twistys how much work to install one on my 03 ? Quote
Dano Posted May 12, 2006 Posted May 12, 2006 I've had the headshakes for awhile now. I have been playing with my tire changing equipment I got a few weeks back. I replaced my completly worn out Front Michelin Sport with a less used one and the head shake went away. Then I put a new Pilot Road on the back and the head shake was back. Last night I put a new Pilot Power on the front. Head shake gone again. Tires must be a part of the problem.. I have yet to do tapered bearings. Maybe this winter. I have a road trip next week so the Givi's will go on. Head shake will probably be back again. Quote
tomek Posted May 13, 2006 Posted May 13, 2006 Bearings,worn tire,Givi,etc,,,,,,,,,,,,,,you guys can chase this problem all day and night but in reality this problem is related to frame,forks and swingarm stifness. BTW you don`t know what headshake is unless you rode 98-99 R1 on race tires without steering dumper. Just remember to keep at least one hand on the grips and all will be O.K. Quote
Pete in PA Posted May 13, 2006 Posted May 13, 2006 What's headshake? Do the handlebars even turn with all that stuff? Quote
Guest rockmeupto125 Posted May 13, 2006 Posted May 13, 2006 Hey, have you looked around? My dash is bare....no XM, no GPS, no missile launchers, garage door openers, EZ-Pass...... Quote
Para045 Posted May 13, 2006 Posted May 13, 2006 What's headshake? I have one of those Hyperpro dampers on my 98 Ti BB but still get a bit of headshake sometimes when no hands and decelerating from 90 odd kph but then the front Dunlop 208 is basically fucked and cupped badly :icon_doh: - going to get a Mich P/ Power very soon , Btw also have a Nonfango topbox which obviously does not help whith the headshake thing :icon_nono: Quote
speedygeezer Posted May 13, 2006 Posted May 13, 2006 What's headshake? I always thought that was when you shake the dew off your lily.............. :icon_think: Quote
TitaniumBird Posted May 13, 2006 Posted May 13, 2006 Hi all, Thanks for the replies.... Tyre pressures are OK....dont think the front tyre is squared off...but it does have 10.5k kilometres on it... Could be loose steering head bearings...how do you adjust them ??? Is it an easy process or am I better off taking the bike to the dealer ??? 10.5K on the front tire? It's cupped, that's your issue. Replace that sneaker ASAP. Quote
AJK Posted May 20, 2006 Posted May 20, 2006 Bearings,worn tire,Givi,etc,,,,,,,,,,,,,,you guys can chase this problem all day and night but in reality this problem is related to frame,forks and swingarm stifness. BTW you don`t know what headshake is unless you rode 98-99 R1 on race tires without steering dumper. Just remember to keep at least one hand on the grips and all will be O.K. Can you elaborate on the stiffness of the swingarm and forks. i.e. Does too much stiffness make it worse ? or does the problem exist because it is not stiff enough? cheers Quote
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