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bike feels unstable at high speed

Joined Jul 2015
15 Posts | 0+
midlands
hi all,
I'm new to all this so please be patient with me,
when travelling at speeds your mother would cringe at, my bike feels very light and the handle bars have got this slightest shake on them, I'm in top gear yes I'm going full chat this happens anything over 115mph where law permits :thumbup,
it does not get any worse faster i go but it very un- nerving, I've checked headstock,wheel bearings, tyre pressures everything seems just fine the bike has covered 2700 miles and mechanically faultless.
my mate reckons its just trying to lift front wheel but i disagree, b4 my tuono i had a cbr600rr and that felt so planted at any speed, my conclusion is that cruddy steering damper.

ANY IDEAS LADS?????
 
You could drop the forks through the yolks a bit, it might just be you aren't used to the flat bars yet. On your CBR you are much lower over the front due to the clip on.
 
Are you holding on too tight? Anything over 110 with the standard screen and you have to start pulling on the bars more, this will start to induce a slight weave. Mine has never got any more than that though. Nothing to worry about. ;)
 
I'm with Heppy on this, but would also check your suspension settings.

Too much preload on the front would make the front ride high and could contribute to your symptoms.
 
As Rizla, check these, also not enough preload on the rear.
Is the front tyre ok, not cupping or anything like that?
 
thanks for all your replies, tyres are 260 miles old, got pilot powers on them got a mra screen, i haven't touch suspension so could be that ,the bike is second hand, i don't know maybe it is me holding on too tight or too upright??
 
thanks for all your replies, tyres are 260 miles old, got pilot powers on them got a mra screen, i haven't touch suspension so could be that ,the bike is second hand, i don't know maybe it is me holding on too tight or too upright??


Could also be riding style as you suggest yourself.

If you are too upright and give it the berries you will inadvertently pull on the bars.

I took my mana risers off for this very reason as they were great and comfortable for normal speeds, but I sat too upright with them for fast riding and pulled on the bars.
 
If I sit too upright and give it the berries the front doesn't feel planted due to the three foot of air between the road and tyre
 
Mine feels like this at speed too. Only slightly but feels light and shakes the bars a bit. Not my riding style as my Fireblade never did this. I think it is the steering damper.

Is very minor and I don't ride at those speeds often, so doesn't tend to bother me.
 
Could be steering damper but with low miles i doubt ...only way to check is to pull it and check for air lock..
 
I had something similar during a "spirited" ride back from the ring trying to hang onto an RSVR, Panacotta & S1000RR and thought it was because I was on it, turned out I had a slow puncture in the rear and was down to pressure dropping. Managed to plug it and get home but refrained from doing those speeds :crazy
 
This is the price you pay for having a naked bike , wind blast in your chest , pull on the bars and everything gets light !!
You cant compare it to a sports bike as they have fairings and you have a load more weight over the front wheel .... best thing is to stick your chin on the tank and close your eyes !!!!!
If you drop the forks through the yokes it may make it a little bit more unstable at speed
 
i'd go for tyres, had mich on mine and the front end just didn't like it. went back to dunlop and all fine.
 
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