Strange handling - help needed!
 

Hi everyone - my bike has started handling a bit strangely recently and I could really do with some helpful advice from u :D .

My bike is a curvy '02 model with 22k miles. Its still on standard rear shock and forks and to my knowledge the forks and shock have never been serviced so I'm thinking they may need looking at soon! The handling issue is that the front end recently has started feeling very weird. As I go round a corner at slow speed the front end tends to turn in quicker than the rest of the bike and at higher speeds the bike is very reluctant to turn, the bike feels like theres no weight on the front end. However, when I ride down a steep-ish hill the bike seems to handle a lot better as it feels like I am more in control of the front - end and also the bike steers more quickly. Do you think replacing the rear shock and new fork springs/oil will cure this or does it sound more serious?

Any help/advice will be massively appreciated, thanks in advance :cool:

Re: Strange handling - help needed!
 

Check tyre pressures.

Re: Strange handling - help needed!
 

Hi - I checked these already, I'm running Avon Azaro Storm STs and usually go with around 34psi front and 38psi rear - that ok? Tyres have been on around 1000 miles so not worn yet. I did have front puncture recently and had it plugged with a mushroom, could this cause handling issues potentiallly? Dontt hink it is this because handling was getting poor before the puncture happened, though it does seem to be even worse now

Re: Strange handling - help needed!
 

try 36- 42 ?

Re: Strange handling - help needed!
 

Check head bearings?

Re: Strange handling - help needed!
 

What tires have you got on.

Depending on wht you have try front 33Psi-35Psi and rear 36Psi-39Psi.

Steering head race bearings adjusted correctly. That can allso give feeling to what you have described. Does it feel like you need to hold onto the bars a bit tighter ie bike seems to wonder a bit.

Regards forks, at 22,000 and if it's never been changed then it needs to. My current bike has 15000 on it and I can tell it needs changing. Just waiting for some good weather to do that.
Shock is not leaking fluid is it?

As with even the most complicated sounding problems I'll say keep it simple for starters.

..so pressures try 34psi/35psi front and 38/39Psi rear and go from there.
Also change the fork oil. Let us know which brand you can get easy and I'll try and help with fork oil weight(WT written on the bottle don't mean much sometimes) assumming you are happy with the OE springs.

For me the springs on my naked I'm quite happy with but then that's how I like it. I weight roughly about 12.5 stones of pure muscles....blah..:lol:


Ben


Edit: duh! Thought it was the Hovi5 that had the problem(don't ask). In that case with tires I'll run 35psi front and 39psi/40 psi on my Avons(one before the storm.

Anyhoos, while you are here, how are you getting on with the storms?

Re: Strange handling - help needed!
 

Read this The main SV650 site is a mine of info. :D :cool: Low tyre pressures will cause a bit of squirm. The tyre does not maintain it's profile while being leaned over and so feels odd.

Re: Strange handling - help needed!
 

Given your discription, I'd guess you rear shock has gone, this would change the gyometry of the bike and transfer weight off the front end, mind at 22k the rear shock will be well knackered anyway.

Cheers Mark.

Re: Strange handling - help needed!
 

Thanks for all the helpful advice guys, much appreciated :D .

I will try the 36/42 tyre pressure idea first then , see if I have any luck with that, I really hope it is that simple! I will definitely get shock and forks sorted as well then - I dont think the rear shock is leaking but it certainly is very bouncy if I am 'progressing' ! I'll let you know how I get on with that.

Sounds like head race bearings may be playing a part also then as my symptoms are very similar to what you mention there - loose and a bit 'floppy' front end making it fall into slow corners.

Before this handling weirdness began I have to say I was loving the Avon Storm tyres - I've mainly been riding them in the wet since putting them on and I have been getting some serious lean with the warm weather recently, even in pouring rain :cool: . They feel very secure in the wet and in the dry they feel just as good - I am well impressed and they only cost £185 fitted, bargain. Even had a couple of knee-down laps of a roundabout during a dry spell couple of weeks ago, so they must be good :D .

Re: Strange handling - help needed!
 

I think you are spot-on Rictus - it really does feel a bit like a 'sports-chopper' at the moment, like the bars are a bit too high, so I suspect its sagging nicely, that is exactly what it feels like. Might be time to treat myself to a Hagon :D . Is it worth paying out for a hagon or should I get a GSXR/Ninja shock on the cheap? Is it worth the extra hassle of cutting the battery box?