1150 fork teflon bushings worn out

[Guest]

My 1150 would start the "death wobble" if I let go of the bars with 1 hand to wave at fellow bikers and good looking girls and bad looking girls. I assumed it was steering stem bearings cuz the bike has 89000 kilometers on it. The old ones weren't that bad but new is better right. Still had the wobble so it has to be that 50% worn Battleax tire. New Avon RR on and balanced and it still wobbles. Finally got pushing and twisting and pulling on the front end and the play is in the forks themselves. I tore them down and replaced the 4 teflon spacers and vwa la, smooth as silk with no more shimmy. So,long story but save yourself some time and money and check things carefully instead of throwing new parts in your bike. As a fellow GS'r says " to measure is to know"

[OLDENUFF]

Forgot to mention I also removed the anti dive thingies, one of which was leaking. If anyone wants them they are yours for the asking.

[Billy Ricks]

With as few times as the oil ever gets changed in these forks the bushings in most are going to be worn out.

[7981GS]

Forgot to mention I also removed the anti dive thingies, one of which was leaking. If anyone wants them they are yours for the asking.

I'm asking.

Eric

[bonanzadave]

Been battling a speed wobble for years. Replaced everything....except the fork bushings. Im on it. New bushings, Seals, 15wt oil and other bits have already arrived from Ashley. Now Im excited to do this project !! Ill post the results soon.

[OLDENUFF]

PM me with your address Eric and I'll mail them to you. Bob

[GSEScraze]

I have a ? I have a 1985 GS1150ES I just got it on the road last night it only has 8600 miles on it. I got spoiled by my 1983 GS1100E I have gotten into a bad habit of letting go of the bars when slowing down to flex my hands well not on this bike all most had to go home and change my pants it went into a death wobble that had me grabbing for the bars and thanking god I was able to get it stopped in one piece. when I got the bike it had 50 psi in the front tire so I wonder if it is messed up I know the back tire needs replaced it has a very small amount of dry rot. Most of the bikes I have had have sat for a long time be for I got them and had old tires on them when I got them going and have only had this 1 time be for so Is there more going on could the bushing in the forks be bad with only 8600 miles ? or is there more going on hear ?
Ideas please thanks in advance
Tom

[derwood]

don't let go, it's not the bushings.
it's pretty normal as long as it stops as soon as you grab the bars again.

[brufnus]

I had this problem some years ago with my GSX 1100 EF (GS 1150 in the U.S.). This was merely due to the fact, that my steering stem bearings were too loose; once I got them tightened I got rid of the wobbling. I sometimes drive without hands at even 90 MPH, makes it easier now that I have a cruise control installed :-D - and no wobbling at all at any time!

[sailorman1617]

My '82 1100E did this from new. Not a trace of wobble with at least one hand on the bars but starts oscillating pretty quickly with both hands off. Which isn't something I do often anyway, so not a problem :-)

[limeex2]

don't let go, it's not the bushings.
it's pretty normal as long as it stops as soon as you grab the bars again.

This is not normal. With more lawyers than mosquitoes in this country, do you think that a bike would come from the factory like that? It normally is the bearings when balls and race type bearings are used. The races gets dimpled were the ball bearing rides when going in a straight line. There are other items of similar neglect that can add up to the cause, but this is the #1 cause.

[Cipher]

Why the heck would nayone let go of the bars?

Anyway check out deslopping your sliders
its a real thing in an old article somewhere on the internet

[greg78gs750]

I believe they call this a "necro".....some deep trolling of the archives going on here folks.