weaves at slow speeds

[ih656]

I have a 79' SX1100 Special. I've noticed it's hard to get the bike to handle at slow speeds (under 30 mph). When I try to go straight, it's weaving back and forth. I just had a new front tire balanced and put on the bike. It was a match to the rear tire and it didn't make any difference. It's still all over the place... Have any of you guys noticed this? Is there something I can do to correct it?

[randy]

Replace steering head bearings.

Grease and re-set swingarm bearings.

Dragging brakes?

Wheel bearings?

MSF course?

[ih656]

Thanks Randy. Bearings seem tight. Nothing sloppy. Breaks are free. What am I missing? My motor guy raced for Kawasaki. He took it for a ride, got back and asked, "what's the deal with it being all over the road?". I'm glad he noticed it cause I actually thought it was me. He tried adjusting the steering head bearing, but it made no difference. I love the bike and I'll never sell it. Maybe I sould deliver mail...I'm on both sides of the road anyway.

[Ken Talbot]

I've seen this when the steering head bearing is too tight. Loosen the locknut, back the inside nut off about 1/8 of a turn, reset the locknut, and try it again. IIRC, the specs only call for about 5 or 7 ftlbs on the adjusting nut, which is not very tight at all. If 1/8 doesn't do it, try another 1/8th or so. This adjustment is pretty easy to do, and you can reset back to where you were if nothing happens and you get to a point where there is slack in the steering head.

[skids]

Ditto to Ken's response.

[ih656]

Thanks to both of you. I'll try that tonight.

[DiverRay]

Ken, you may have missed one more thing.
Who put the front tire on the bike?? If the bolts didn't get tightened in the proper order, it will NOT ride properly!!
I would start at the front end, with the tire just off the ground. Loosen all the pinch bolts on the triple tree, and the fender mount bolts, axle pinch bolt, and caliper mount bolts. You can then start at the top, and tighten them all back up. When you are done, check the rear axle pinch bolt. Loosen it up, and see if the axle "pops" out a few millimeters. Mine did that when I first got it, as the PO didn't have a clue about this machine. When I test rode the bike, the PO thought I didn't know how to ride, as it was going all over the place!!

[ih656]

Hi Ray. When the rear axel popped out, did you retighten at that new location? In other words, was the frame under stress? Did loosening the pinch bolt releave the stress and straighten the tire?

[DiverRay]

The pinch bolt on the rear is on the swing arm. The front and rear axle pinch bolts are the LAST bolt tightened!! If the pinch bolt is tightened, and THEN the axle, you WILL have an alignment problem.
To answer your question, yes, once you loosen the bolt, and then retighten, it should be good.

[81xsproject]

sounds stupid, but check the tire pressure. When the pressure is low, the bike will tend to want to follow imperfections in the road surface.

[79XS11F]

It's rare but check your tire. I had a very similar issue after putting on new tires. bike weaved at slow speeds only. I stood up on the pigs one day and checked the tire tread as it came out from under the front fender ans sure as S**t it was defective. The tread pattern had a WOW in it.
Rob

[Ken Talbot]

Originally posted by DiverRay
Ken, you may have missed one more thing.

That might actually be the case, Diver. I interpreted his note to say the weave was there before the tire change from the "didn't make any difference" bit. He's got lots of ideas to check out now. I kind of like that one of Randy's.

[ih656]

You're right Ken. The problem existed before I changed the front tire. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I plan to try all of them.

For the record, I bought my first Yamaha street ride over 27 years ago and I've been ridin' rain or shine since. If a MC safety course will make this bike ride on a rail...I'll do that too.

Thanks again. This is a great website

[jwoell]

Stearing Head Bearings

My bike weaves a fair amount at low speeds as well. I have some other work to do with the front end, so I decided just to rebuild the forks and replace the stearing head bearings while everything is dismantled.

I was just looking for some general info from people who may have done this on their bikes. I found a steering bearing 'conversion' kit on Partsnmore.com.

https://www.partsnmore.com/cat_index...tegory=chassis

Has anyone ever used this kit? I was just wondering about the quality and why it's refered to as a conversion kit? Is this not stock to have tapered bearings? I've just read on several other threads that the aftermarket fork seals are no where near as good as the ones form the Yamaha dealer, so I've been concerned about other items as well.

So I guess my question is, do I buy all my wheel/steering bearings and such from the Yamaha Dealer? Or are the "partsnmore" items as good as the OEM stuff?

Thanks,
Jesse

[fredintoon]

Conversion kit

Hi Jesse,
likely it's called a "conversion" because most of the other ones they sell are conversions to upgrade those bikes from their less sturdy crowded ball headraces.
For sure my XS11 has Timken head races as stock. While rubber goods such as the wiper seals may vary in quality, bearings is bearings. Yamaha and the aftermarket bearing guys both use stock industrial Timken races with the outer cones ground down to fit the steering head bearing pockets. Whichever you use, the main risk is in damage on installation.
Clymers says the head races must "move freely" but they are kinda vague in telling you how to achieve this.
Set the bike on the centrestand and jack up the frame so the front wheel is off the ground. Slacken the top tree pinchbolt and crown nut. Tighten the ring nuts that are just below the top tree until the bars stay central but will fall to either side when you give them a nudge to start them moving. Then retighten the pichbolt & crown nut.