steering wobble

[fredintoon]

- - - For whatever reason, Mother Honda chose to use ball type bearings on their steering heads - - -

Hi Moto,
balls is cheaper & so long as the headraces last until after the warranty expires Honda don't give a soft bio-extruded brown thing.
Mind you, balls is better than Timkens on race bikes because they move easier and weigh less and the mechanics will rebuild a racebike after each race meeting so racers don't care about longevity neither.

[mjpxs11sh]

thanks everyone. i know the tire pressure is correct, the tires not cupped, obvious stuff seems normal. bike drives, corners, etc, great. next ill jack up the frt end and see how the bearings are in the steering head, and go from there.

[Lonerider62]

I'd say you more than likely have more than a single issue that's causing the front end to shake. Any bearing or mating surfaces that have gone beyond factory tollerance can add to a tank slapper It would be wise to do the entire front end top to bottom. An unballanced tire could do it and a cupped tire cold add to it but I doubt fixing those two things will totally eliminate the cause and the wheel bearings either probably are bad or even the torque on the axle can cause a bad feeling front end if left unattended. The older front ends were all weaker than the modern day forks and brakes and many people tried fork dampers and fork braces to try to eliminate what, in many cases, was caused by flexing tubes, axles, etc. The bottom line is when everything is at factory specs they will be much better, but probably not perfect.

[motoman]

Swing arm bushings have caused the front wheel to wobble??//////////It is possible, but unlikely in this case. What you have is somewhat typical of the larger cc Hondas. The speeds that bike is capable of, it could suddenly turn into a tank-slapper too. Replace those steering head bearings with tapered-roller sets and replace the front wheel bearings at the same time. Tires need to be paired together as far as make/style also. Our XS's, tire brands front and rear not as critical as long as they are in good cond., but not true on alot of later re-designed scoots, specially the sport/sport touring class bikes......thats just been my experience having both for a lengthy time.

[old_skool]

Swing arm bushings have caused the front wheel to wobble??
never heard of this. I mean I know its an integral part of the whole bikes stability and ability to go straight down the road, maybe rear wheel wobble, but front?

[kwats]

I would look at the swingarm bushings as well. They have been known to cause similar issues.

[motoman]

Bettin' the steering head bearings need replaced with taper rollered bearings. Those come with the same ball type bearing that WAS on my 92ST. Replace them with tapered roller bearings and your issue WILL be no more!.......BTDT. For whatever reason, Mother Honda chose to use ball type bearings on there steering heads and they easily get pounded out with flat spots on the race. Don't even bother to adjust......just replace. While your at it, pull that front wheel and check those front wheel bearings VERY carefully. If that scoot has in the neighborhood of 50K or more miles on it, replace them too while your at it......both weak areas and I'm sure the CBR is no different using the same bearings from factory.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Keep your hands on the bars Realy, if your bearings are smooth at every other speed and it handles great the rest of the time (check to make sure all trip tree stuff is tight and the main bearings to the frame are adjusted and free) The tire is a good place to start, right pressure, cupped? If cupped, it is balance or shocks worn out. I am betting trip tree adjustment will fix

[hamjam]

air pressure or head bearings

[old_skool]

Run your hand accross the tire, every bike I've ever had done that the tires were cupped, as for what cupped them, either normal use, too much rebound bounce from the forks, could be balance, but betting on the tires.

[mjpxs11sh]

hey all! was riding my 94 cbr1000f took my hands off the bars as i slowed down then the handle bars started to wobble almost uncontrolably as i slowed to 30-20mph. does that mean the frt wheel is out of balance?