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newbie need advice

MidnightSun

MidnightSun

New member
Joined
Jul 13, 2003
Location
Daly City
Moto(s)
one with two wheels
Name
Tim
I have a 1998 cbr 900rr. The handle bar shake violantly when I take both hands off it while traveling between 45-65 mph. I have about 5k miles on dunlop 208zr. I am going to get new tires this weekend but can the problem be something else beside tires?
Thanks in advance.
 
Welcome to BARF. Why are you riding with no hands on the bars? BTW that is fairly common - many bikes will do that. Other than in no hand's mode does the bike feel unstable or twitchy?
 
:newbie

Check/tighten all the bolts - my steering head bolt was loose on an older bike and I almost got a steering dampener without needing one... though yours does sound more like tires. Good luck! :teeth

Yana:banana
 
Moved to The Garage section

HKSRR... I moved your thread to The Garage section. You'll get better responses there. Enjoy!
 
If you're getting new tires anyway, you'll know if it was the tires as soon as you ride the bike.

I've noticed how tires effect my bike. When I switched to a BT-010 front there was a definite wobble (about 3 oscillations per second) at high speeds. I noticed it when bringing the bike back from the dealer after getting the tire installed. (I rode a similar bike with the same tire and noticed the exact same behavior). When I wore that one out and tried a BT-020, it was clear immediately that my bike was now very stable at high speeds.

If you still notice the problem with a new tire, check the steering head bearings.
 
I have an EX with the same problems. I'd definitely say steering head. Bearings and race for that bike might only be like 40 bucks too. I can't imagine that the tires would have such a massive effect on that bike, but apparently so.
 
Probably like everyone has said: worn tires. Check it out AFTER the change.

Wobbles can also come from numerous other sources:

Rear wheel alignment
Fork adjustment (one fork adjusted differently from the other)
Shock adjustment (too soft/too hard/mis-adjusted way out of spec.)
As mentioned: too loose, or too tight steering head bearings


Most critical is the rear wheel alignment/chain adjustment. It's easy to get it off quite a bit, & the factory marks are almost never spot on. Use the "string" method, or a straight-edge & get them spot on- & make a mark on the swingarm/factory lines so you know where that is for the next chain adjustment/tire change...

let us know how it works w/new tires....:teeth
 
check your pressure. my ninja front tire has a slow leak from a bad bead seal, and when the pressure drops below 30 i get that allot. just make sure you are at around 32-34.
 
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