Almost bit it in the corner . . .

[IanDMacDonald]

Been riding my GSXR lately and got back on the XS11 earlier. Going NB on a freeway in a corner around 75 mph, and that front-end just about felt like it was going to wobble apart. Had to let-off the throttle and let the bike to go where it wanted to control the wobble.

So, the death wobble is always there regardless of fork brace or not. It reminded me of pulling a trailer with all the weight in the rear. Only thing to do was slow down and wait it out.

[Rasputin]

I think a wobble at only 75Mph is just a symptom of something else wrong. I had one coming out of a corner at 90 and it was just a very short lived experience (well cept for cleaning the poop out of my pants). Are you sure of the proper steering head bearing condition and tension and is your swing arm properly spaced?
As you have been riding a different bike for a while did you check the air pressure in your tires, or your forks (depending on what front end you have as I do not recall right now). Were you loaded differently than before somehow? I have found a few issues I did not know about, when I had when I suddenly put a lot of load in my bags or added a passenger. Same thing with adding a Jammer which I do not recall you doing lately.
Just saying that a 75Mph wobble seems a bit weird and if you have not already checked stuff, it may be time.

[IanDMacDonald]

Hey Ras- You bring-up one very good point that stood-out among many: steering head bearings. I have noticed a popping noise in the top near my tank sometimes coming to a stop. I'd assume this may be one of the issues? The PO did have a package of All Balls Steering head bearings he gave me when I bought the bike. The bike is naked, so there is no weight-shifting issues.

The only other thing I can think of is the fact that that stretch of freeway is WINDY in a way that you have to hit your brakes coming into the corner, even though nothing is posted, nor does it appear to be a sharp corner.

[MPittma100]

Death Wobble

Been through a death wobble on a naked 1978E at 125 MPH. Just leaned forward and it quit. Bike was too new at the time, so nothing was worn out or defective. Just an aerodynamic thing.

In the case of a fast cornering wobble, the normal cause (as mentioned) is a steering/suspension malady.

I have seen a Hogsley Ferguson do this due to all (15 PSI) of the air having leaked out of the rear shocks. Leak was fixed and wobble disappeared.

Our 30+ year old year old shocks, forks, and springs may be slightly worn by now?

[3Phase]

Ian,

If you've got a popping noise find out what the heck is doing it! A cracking frame head would make a nice popping sound and give you the wobbles.

When the steering bearings on my '80G were going out it wasn't really noisy but I could feel it when I came to a stop and it'd make a click on rollback: stop-click. I really did not enjoy changing the bearings.

.

[IanDMacDonald]

Next time I get a chance, I'll pull the tank off, lift the front end, and see what's going on. Fortunately, I'm sure anything FUBAR'd can easily be replaced. Don't look forward to replacing the bearings . . .

[Rasputin]

Short of quoting Fredintoon on this site, I will say that the easiest way to get steering head bearings out is to have a welder and run a bead around the bearing race. Once it cools it will literally drop out.

[BA80]

Steering head bearings is usually the cause of the wobble in a turn. They can get an imperceptible sticky spot in them from rust. It won't be noticed until you are in a turn and unconsciously making tiny steering adjustments. The sticky spots cause you to over correct in both directions.

Wobble

[BA80]

Short of quoting Fredintoon on this site, I will say that the easiest way to get steering head bearings out is to have a welder and run a bead around the bearing race. Once it cools it will literally drop out.

A dremel with a cutting blade works well also. You can cut the race far enough through that it'll fracture with a sharp blow and drop right out.

[3Phase]

Ian, remember when you opened up that box and tried to toss the bubblewrap? Guess where it went! (pop!)(pop-pop!)(pop!)

.

[jwhughes3]

I experienced a similar high speed wallowing I called it on our Utah trip. Rear tire had started to develop a shoulder,though plenty of tread left. As I leaned I would be riding on and off the corner of that squarer profile. Front wheel cupping from age weakend springs did not help. Replaced tires with new and BAM, no more wallowing even at 90+.

I will also be checking bearings in case tires are masking an issue.


John

[jwhughes3]

Been through a death wobble on a naked 1978E at 125 MPH. Just leaned forward and it quit. Bike was too new at the time, so nothing was worn out or defective. Just an aerodynamic thing.

I can vouch too. Had a death wobble start on me at 120-125 coming back from XSSE with the Navy bike. It was loaded up. Leaning wayyyy forward and letting off throttle stopped it along with a death grip on the bars. I felt with rear loaded and fairing trying to push front up,it unloaded the front wheel.

John

[IanDMacDonald]

I'll take a stab in the dark and guess two things: the occasional pop I hear when coming to a stop, and that death wobble may be correlated. Cannot be sure of that till I give that wheel a tug and look for a notchiness in the bar travel.

The second guess I have is that high speed turn I took is something that the bike does not like. Only reason I say this, is for the speed limit being 70 mph, in a car, driving 75+, you have to drop down to 60mph or you're going into a wall or the car next to you. Just a very weird curve you don't realize you're until you HAVE to hit the brakes.

This is the first time I've gotten the full wobble since putting a fork brace on. I do know going over rough road, I get minor wobble, so maybe my bearings have been bad the whole length of my ownership of the bike.

I better take care of this soon, as I have new tires . . .

[motoman]

I'll take a stab in the dark and guess two things: the occasional pop I hear when coming to a stop, and that death wobble may be correlated. Cannot be sure of that till I give that wheel a tug and look for a notchiness in the bar travel.

The second guess I have is that high speed turn I took is something that the bike does not like. Only reason I say this, is for the speed limit being 70 mph, in a car, driving 75+, you have to drop down to 60mph or you're going into a wall or the car next to you. Just a very weird curve you don't realize you're until you HAVE to hit the brakes.

This is the first time I've gotten the full wobble since putting a fork brace on. I do know going over rough road, I get minor wobble, so maybe my bearings have been bad the whole length of my ownership of the bike.

I better take care of this soon, as I have new tires . . .

.....Good option Ian, and the next time that happens, your best choice is to full-throttle and pressure rear brake at SAME time to 'set' the rear of bike, gradually let off power if your 'drawers' are still filling.....WHEN in a corner.
BTW, wall or car next to you IS part of the issue....where the eyes go, arms and upper torso follow......counter-steer pressure is what directs the bike, not boby lean my friend! Eyes where you WANT to go, not where your at or side vision...focus grasshopper.

[ViperRon]

You said focus now me when I had my high speed near tank slapper I was so focused on that feeling you would not believe. I went out on a back road to run full throttle and cut the engine to see how well the carbs were set and at about 8K I hit a little lift in the road and when I settled down the wobble began and if I let off the throttle it near became a tank slapper. Throttle up and it went away cut throttle and it came back had to just slowly nurse it down to 80 I felt I was just lucky. I feel my mistake was old Continental tires with not enough air they were at about 28 psi. I just had not checked them in a while. I have been wide open on new tires and not had it happen.