Wobblyness up front

I taped a wireless camera to my L/H indicator yesterday on my journey home
from work and recorded a bit of video (camcorder in my backpack). The
purpose of this was to try and see if what I *thought* was happening was
*actually* happening. At about 2:11 into the vid (just after I pass the
white van), you see the front starting to flap whilst giving some beans
through a fast, shallow sweeping bend. Is this a symptom of worn tyres or a
shite bike?

Here's the vid...
http://www.ninjaboy.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Saunter_Home.WMV


BTW you may be able to guess my former identity from the link...

F.K.

 

I must be going blind, coz I didn't see any flapping and although the SV
thou isn't God's gift to bikes, I wouldn't call it a shite bike either. Has
the bike still got those Dunlop things on it that so many SV's have?

That could well've fucked up any chances of a reasoned response. You do know
that don't you?



--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

that sounds *fucking* awful, my cordless drill sounds better.

apart from the sound track, you *seriously* need to consider throwing
some money at a roadcraft course.

 

The mic on the camera is was right next to the engine so all you hear is the
whine and no exhaust note.

Nah, roadcraft courses are fur poofs.

 

The flapping is fairly subtle but if you look hard enough, you'll spot it.

It's still on the OE Michelin Pilot Sports. They've done about 2500 miles
now. The front is still ok but I fear the back is getting a bit long in the
tooth - almost down to the wear indicators.

I'm not bovvered!

BTW, I got a new heli - just another a shitey Raptor 50SE but with a OS50
Hyper, Hatori JK pipe, Radix blades, fast digital servos all round and some
worthwhile "bling". I was hoping to test it this weekend but the fekkin'
weather's shit. So what about you then, still flying?

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Freddy Kruger belched forth and ejected the
following:

My Ratbike does that when the rear tyre's squared off, especially when
cold.

 

My rear tyre is a bit squared off now so that's a likely cause. I'll probly
try a set of Pilot Powers next.

Cheers.

 

Motorcycling is a contrary thing: when you think it's the front, it is
invariably the rear at fault. Similarly, you will be convinced that
the problem is electrical, but always find it to be a fuel issue.

IME, 90% of front end shimmies are due to probs at the back - worn
tyres are a favourite, low pressure is too. Worn bearings and bushes
in the swingarm and rear suspension always make the front feel funny
too. Look to your arse, young man.

 

Cheers man, I do keep a close eye on tyre pressures (I check 'em twice a
week or so) and have found that 34f and 36r to be the optimum for me. The
wobbles associated with low pressures are more obvious to me at low speeds -
roundabouts etc where you can feel the side walls folding a bit - I'm not
getting that. As for bearing/bushing wear, the bike's only a year old with
2400 miles on it so they're unlikely causes. I'm going to get me a set of
Pilot Powers for this summer and see how I go. I'm pretty much set on
trading the SV in next year for a gixxer 750 K6 so I'm not really prepared
to throw loads of dough on making it handle better. BTW, yes my rear tyre
is pretty worn & squared off a bit so I'm sure that's the cause of my
shimmy.

Meh!

 

If it's that subtle is it really a problem or did you just get the bike
shaking its head a bit?

Better a woprn set of Michelins than a new pair of 208's.

I don't really know. You're a sensitive creature at heart and I know that.

On and off, but more off than on. I just got a Raptor 50 too though, but not
blinged to death. Decent servo's and gyro, plus a 3810 and a PCMS 1024 Rx
with all the suport shite. I blinged the crap out of me Futura and recently
stuffed a YS 91 in there, so that's pretty good, but I'm WELL out of
practice.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

The general concensus (well Lozzo anyway) is that the Avaon Azaro's are the
bollocks for these bike things. I got through a set of Bridgstone 014's and
fitted a pair of Conti Road Attack's which are brilliant when theyre hot,
but absolutely lethal when they're cold, so my next pair WILL be Azaro's.

I'm pretty much set on

Well it's not going to help is it? And your pressure's seem a bit low,
specially t' back one. My Kwak book says 41lbs and IIRC, my pal Ian's SV 650
has the same pressure recommendation.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

My book says 36 front and rear for solo riding - 36 front, 42 rear for two's
up. I'll try a bit more and see if it feels any better - maybe the book
pressures are for 6 stone Jap dwarves (I'm more like 12 stone fully kitted).

 

I've never tried 208s but I had a bike with 207GPs on it a while back and
they were fucking dangerous when cold. I highsided the bastard and ended up
with concussion after landing on my head from what felt like 20ft in the
air. The bike suffered a bit too - most of the plastics, indicators, handle
bar, brake lever, brake pedal, engine cover, exhaust etc were fucked down
the r/h side. Dunlops? NEVER again.

I said "I'm not bovvered", not "Am I bovvered?" but you're probly right
about me being sensitive.

Well I haven't flown for maybe a year now so I'm pretty much out of it too.
Shaky thumbs time again...

 

Don't try Conto Sport Attack's then. I think they were designed to teach
people the error of riding through the winter.

I highsided the bastard and ended up

Dunlop's on my pal's SV 650. He doesn't know how bad they are, but the're
showing zero signs of wear after 4500 miles.

'Course you are, you're a heli flyer among other things. We're all sensitive
us.

I think it got to almost 3 years for me, then a bunch of us went out and ran
in our new motors. One to the point of holing the piston. Short (60 size)
pipes don't work well with an OS 91 running 30% nitro though, but would he
fucking listen?


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

I'm about the same and my Kwak always feel pretty solid with 41psi, although
I could do with backing off the preload on the back just a tad or two. It's
brilliant 2 up "as is" (but then again.....) but it's a little harsh on
bumpy B roads.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19