1150 headshake ...revisited

[Guest]

Finally....finally got time to install my new bridgestone BT45`s. I took her out for a good ride. Its amazing what good rubber does for a old bike. I only got it to slightly headshake once. Before it almost did it every time coming down from around 50mph. I installed a 150 on the rear. I used a later model wheel(85-86) which is a 3.5 width. It felt good and looks much better. Honestly I can see where a 4 inch wheel might be a touch better. But it appears to track well and fall into a curve very good. Much better than the worn out metzlers that were on it. I will probably just ride this summer and check the steering head bearings this winter. My next move is to regear. I want to put a 16 on the front or around a 39 on the rear. This bike has a slight buzz that I can`t shake and its right where you seem to ride most of the time. Thanks for all the past help!

[jimcor]

Chris, that sounds amazingly like a Concours. 50 miles per hour and decelerating is exactly where loose steering head bearings will send Connie into a St. Vitus' dance of head shake. Tightened my bearings and put on a new Dunlop 205 and the dance was gone. Added a fork brace a little later to combat some high speed instability.

Proper pre-load on steering head bearings make a BIG DIFFERENCE.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Even if you don't have time to inspect the brgs Tighten them It only takes 1/16 turn to make all the difference in the world

[Anonymous]

If someone could give a few details on tightening the stearing head bearings I could use the info. My 82 1100E has a bad wobble at speed. It feels more like the back end and Ive changed the front wheel and tire complete. No difference. Im sure 22 year old suspension is a factor as well. Thanks, Dave.

[Anonymous]

My 82 1100E has a bad wobble at speed. It feels more like the back end and Ive changed the front wheel and tire complete. No difference. Im sure 22 year old suspension is a factor as well.

Is it a wobble (high frequency oscillation of the front end) or a weave (lower frequency, usually the entire bike is moving around badly)? A wobble is usually at the front end and a weave is usually at the back end. If you have not replaced the swingarm bearings, that is worthwhile anyway with a 20+ year old bike. Replacing the shocks and fork springs/oil/bushings will make it seem like a new bike. If you use Progressive shocks and do a good job it will handle better than they ever did new from Suzuki...

Mark

[Anonymous]

Mark, for sure its a weave. Feels like its on a hinge. Only does it at 100mph plus. Ive been dusted by a couple 600s. Ill give them the cornors, but I should be able to hold em off on the straights. Thanks, Dave.
p.s. Are the swing arm bearings pressed in and if so how do you change them ?

[Anonymous]

Are the swing arm bearings pressed in and if so how do you change them ?

I can't speak specifically for your bike, but usually they are needle roller bearings and are a light press fit. Normally, you can get them out by taking a punch from the far side of the swing arm (from the bearing you want out) and working around the circumference of the bearing race, tapping as you go. It is definitely a time consuming job (but not really difficult), because you need to pull the swingarm out and then knock out bearings and re-install new bearings, then get the arm back into the chassis.

Some of your wallowing may be due to tired shocks, too. To see if your swingarm bearings are the culprit, get the bike on the centerstand and get the back end in the air. Pull the wheel side to side and see if there is any play. Any movement at all is too much, whether you can see it (this is really bad) or hear it clunking as you go from one side to the other.

Mark

[mushman]

Head shaking GS1100ez

My 1100EZ also has a speed wobble that scares the bejesus outta me as I start to corner at speed. I've tightened the steering head bearings and done a wheel alignment but it still persists. My front forks are OFF the air. They were rebuilt and re-valved by Lindemann Engineering of Calif. a couple of years ago, and I use Works Performance shocks in the back. Here's what I'm wondering now. The last road trip, with the bike heavily weighed down with gear and such (the suspension compressed slightly), the wobble went away completely. Can anybody diagnose this? Is it too much rebound damping in the fork that causes the tank-slappers and is that remedied when I have more weight on the bike? Would changing the weight of the fork oil help? My comprehension of suspension problems sucks. Heavier or lighter fork oil? Or is that the solution at all?

[earlfor]

Re: Head shaking GS1100ez

I had that problem with my 1150. Heavier fork oil didnt improve things. I started using straight automatic transmission fluid in the forks and the problem has not recurred. My guess is the lighter oil allows the forks to dampen more quickly.

Earl

My 1100EZ also has a speed wobble that scares the bejesus outta me as I start to corner at speed. Would changing the weight of the fork oil help? My comprehension of suspension problems sucks. Heavier or lighter fork oil? Or is that the solution at all?

[cbxchris]

Earl what type tranny fluid did you use?? There are so many kinds now.

[earlfor]

Citgo Dexron III

Earl

Earl what type tranny fluid did you use?? There are so many kinds now.

[cbxchris]

Thanks!! I`m going to try it. My front end is still to soft even with spring set at its stiffest position. I am now running new stock oil at stock amount. Guess now I need to know how much tranny fluid.8O Funny thing about this headshake. I can only get mine to do it now when I first go out (within the first mile or two). After that it will not do it even when I try to make it do it. I guess possibly the tires are slightly flat spotted from sitting and thats all it takes. After warm up it won`t do it. These things are touchy is all I can say.

[earlfor]

Chris, fork oil amount is 286 ml or 9.67 U.S. ounces.

uhhhh Chris.......that would be 9.67 in EACH fork. LOL :-) :-)


Try turning the posi-damper caps counter clockwise to the full down position.
This would engage the greatest fork dampening with the minimum amount of fork travel.

Earl

Thanks!! I`m going to try it. My front end is still to soft even with spring set at its stiffest position. I am now running new stock oil at stock amount. Guess now I need to know how much tranny fluid.8O Funny thing about this headshake. I can only get mine to do it now when I first go out (within the first mile or two). After that it will not do it even when I try to make it do it. I guess possibly the tires are slightly flat spotted from sitting and thats all it takes. After warm up it won`t do it. These things are touchy is all I can say.

[renobruce]

Re: 1150 headshake ...revisited

This bike has a slight buzz that I can`t shake and its right where you seem to ride most of the time. Thanks for all the past help!

I had the same buzz between 3500-4000 RPM. I did a good carb synch and the buzz is gone. I still have an issue with the front end wobble. I checked the bearings, changed the fork oil, new matching tires front and rear, etc. Still wobbles. I also noticed that when I have a passenger the wobble goes away completely.

[Anonymous]

My GS750 had a nasty shake on decel from 40mph down. Tightening the head bearing slightly, retorquing axle and forks didn't help. Then noticed the forks were slid up to the handlebars, lowered them so the fork caps were even with the top triple and problem almost completely eliminated.