Stiff steering.

[argonsagas]

Went out today on the GS1100G and found after a few minutes of driving the steering was stiff. It has done that the last few times I drove it, as well, but I was cold and couldn't tell if it was the bike or me. Temperature today is about freezing, maybe a degree or so above.

I can still turn the bars, but they feel stiff and unresponsive, like they need lubrication.

Is this a normal thing to expect in cold weather, or is it a suggestion of steering head / bearing problems?

[KEITH KRAUSE]

If the bearings are properly torqued and greased,I could only guess it may be a combination of tire inflation or tire compound effected by the cold,and added to that,the 'drag' all the cables/wiring can have if they are a bit stiff. Most greases should handle even lower temps'. Does anyone else experience this? Check tire pressure,if it's dropped too low it will make steering stiff. If 'OK' maybe you need to re-grease bearings and check torque.(36 ft/lbs on my '79 GS1000E) KK.

[Anonymous]

Hi Ron,
I had this trouble and it wouldn't go away until I got a new rear tire. For some reason the cold makes it extremely hard to counter steer with a worn back tire. Can you still lean the bike with your body? I have no trouble at all counter steering with my Chin Shen dual sports even when it goes below -10C.

Steve

[argonsagas]

Thanks, guys. The tires are Metzelers, and were new this summer....have under 2000 miles on them. When I noticed the problem a few weeks ago I thought about tire pressure, and checked it, but it was fine in both tires. Actually just a bit high. The steering is as it was when I got the bike. I've never had it apart, and have no clue what it was greased with.

Steve, I can't say what I did right or wrong with it today. I finally put on the Big Mitts....(Vetter Hippo Hands) and went out. They are a very different experience, and will take adjusting. I like the idea that I was able to ride for about twenty minutes before my hands started to get cold.....really good since I was not wearing gloves..... but they are an experience in awkwardness. Everything feels different with them, and I can't see through them, of course, and have to spend too much attention in finding the signal switch. The combination of the awkwardness and stiff steering made me take turns rather carefully.

[earlfor]

Re: Stiff steering.

Ron
Though I dont normally get any extreme cold weather here, I have
ridden in below freezing temps and I've never had the steering stiffen up after riding for a spell. I would put the bike on the centerstand and check the steering for stiffness. If its free when unloaded, but stiffens up out on the road, two possibilities come to mind. Either the steering stem bearings need greasing or the steering stem is too LOOSE. Tires certainly do have an effect on handling, but I have never known them to cause either loose or tight steering.

Earl


[quote="argonsagas"
I can still turn the bars, but they feel stiff and unresponsive, like they need lubrication.

Is this a normal thing to expect in cold weather, or is it a suggestion of steering head / bearing problems?[/quote]

[silverhorse47]

Hi Ron,
If there is nothing different but the temperature, I'd be tempted to suspect that the grease in your steering head bearings is cold. Before leaping to conclusions, try putting a heat lamp on them for an hour or so and see if that makes a difference.
If you look at a can of grease in the house, then put it on the porch in the cold for a while, you'll see there is a definite difference in the consistency.
Not all grease is temperature sympatico, and not many canadians think their grease will be critical in motorcycle steering head bearings in January.
Salut

[Clone]

Grease will also dry out with age and become a sticky mass. Once the grease is like this it becomes very hard in cold temperatures. Shoot some new grease into the head and see if it will push out any old black grease, if not you may have to disassemble and clean the head out. While you are at it, replace the old bearings with new and repack them with redteck or another high quality grease.

[Anonymous]

Take the triple trees apart and clean and inspect the bearings. If there are no noticable defects - repack and reuse. Steeering head bearings should be greased occasionally. This is probably OEM grease. I repack the steering head bearing on my dirt bike every year and the streeters less often. This is part of overall motorcycle maintenance - keep em clean and greased properly and the bearings will outlive you.

[argonsagas]

Found a solution.

Took the bike out today (after more than two months of inaction) and the problem had become much worse.

Pulled off the ignition cover, loosened the cinch bolt and took out the main steering head bolt.

Squirted a stream of liquid grease (goes in liquid and sets up as extreme pressure grease)

That can would squirt forward only, which was OK for the downward shot, but no good for underneath the forks.

Used white lithium spray with a 5 inch flexible extension nozzle. Shoved the flex nozzle up the vent under the forks and squirted grease upwards, moving the nozzle to get as much area covered as possible.

Steering improved tremendously.

[Billy Ricks]

Ron,
You really should take Swanny's advice and take the front end apart and clean and inspect the bearings. If the races and bearings are in good shape repack the bearings and reassemble. When tightening the front end up start at the axle and work your way up. It sounds like alot of work, but even if you've never done it it shouldn't take more than two or three hours. I can do mine in maybe 30 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Do you guys pull the fork tubes off of the tripple clamps when you do the stem bearings? Something whacky is going on with my 400 and I've already done the forks so I'd like to skip pulling them off to do the repacking.

Steve

[Billy Ricks]

Steve,
Drop the wheel, then pull the tubes before disassembling the triple clamp.

[argonsagas]

Billy:

I will take your advice. I like the immediate difference the new lube made, but I have some concern about the reason the problem developed in the first place.

I plan on taking off the tank for repainting shortly, (bought the paint today) and the front fender has to come off for the same reason, and will do the whole job while they are off.

[Billy Ricks]

I will take your advice. I like the immediate difference the new lube made, but I have some concern about the reason the problem developed in the first place.

Old bearing grease that gets subjected to all kinds of weather and moisture gets gummy to the point where the bearings don't spin freely. I'd be willing to bet when you pull the bearings you'll find you grease as hardened up to the point it is not letting the bearings work right.