1984 GS550 Feels like it wants to fall into a left turn

[Anonymous]

I recently purchased a 1984 GS550EF. No apparent damage anywhere but the front tire is a 100 and not a 110. If feels like you are using the push/countering steering technique even when you simply lean slightly to the left. I suspect an alignment problem but how do I identify and correct this?

Thanks..

[sharpy]

Left turns

Should be a 100 on a 550. A 110 runs on a 1000/1100 bike. ie GPZ1100 or Katana's with spoke wheels. String line the bike asap. Run string from both sides of the rear wheel all the way past the front and move the rear swingarm adjusters so the gap at the front wheel is the same on both sides all the way along the front tyre side walls.(bike up right for this) Steering head bearings? The bike on the centre stand have someone push down on the back and you move the handle bars back and forth slowly and notice for notches.

[Dink]

Yeah what he said
Dink

[Anonymous]

Thank-you for the advice.

I will give this a try and let you know what I find.

Fortunately, the previous owner still had the owners manual, which came with the bike. It shows the front as 110/90-16 and rear 110/90-18.
This is a Canadian model with full fairing if that makes any difference.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

wow my 750 came factory with a 90/90/16

[Anonymous]

I'm not questioning your intelligence by any means. But have you checked the air pressure in your tires? I've had people bring me there bikes and say that the bike handles like crap, and that they feel like they are going to bite the dust. Usually I can just air down the tires or air them up and the problem is fixed...

[Billy Ricks]

The correct tire for the last generation 550, 700, and 750 models was a 100/90-16. You should be running about 28-30 up front and about 32-36 in the rear depending on how much weight you're hauling. I hear people talk about running higher pressures because today's tires are built better. It still doesn't change what pressures you should be running.

[Anonymous]

I run what the tire says on its side and have no problems 8)

[Anonymous]

The steering head bearings seem fine but the string does show an alignment issue that I hope will be corrected with some adjustment. The front tire size however is definitely a 110 according to the owners manual for the bike. I also found this site that has a brochure scan that seems to confirm the tire size

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/GS/GS550-brochures/1985_GS550E-ES_US-sales1/1985_GS550E-ES_sales1d_800.jpg

Thank-you for your help.