Low speed wobble

My K3's handlebars wobble at low speed if I take my hands off the bars - it's quite violent and the wobbling increases if I don't hold the bars. It's fine at speed and holding the bars lightly stops the wobble at low speed.

I assume if the wheel weights were wrong the wobble would increase as the speed got up? Could this be the head bearings? I checked the brakes and they aren't binding.

Would heavy bar end weights help? I couldn't fit normal weights onto the renthal bars.

[_Stretchie_]

As Mr Sid Squid would say "Don't let go of the bars"


Not very useful I know but I saw an opening and took it, plus I have the same on my BlackBird so will be watching this, the front wheel has just been balanced and that appeared to take the issue away

; )

Damn, I meant to preempt that response and forgot!

[Jayneflakes]

Mine does it when the front end goes light, is your rear set up correctly! Obviously I mean rear suspension. Go through the basics first. Both fork legs set up correctly, rear suspension unit set for your weight, wheel bearings in good order, brakes not binding, head bearing not notchy, forks not too far in or out of yokes, bar conversion not put you too far back?

Finally, what is the road surface like? That is as far as I know how to check I am afraid. Not much help, but I am just a girl with a K3 and am slowly taking it to bits as required. What about a steering damper if it is just poor roads?

Hmm, I've only noticed it the last two times I've ridden it, both times were 300 mile sprints up the M1 with a fully loaded top box - maybe I'll see if its that.

Thanks

Definately need to check your wheel bearings if the other advice doesn't sort it. Had the same issue, tried new tyre, balanced wheel then discovered the bearings were shot, replaced them and problem sorted! Happy days.
Jim

[Biker Biggles]

"Fully loaded top box"
Hint hint say no more.

[TSM]

head bearings are suspect i would say on the top of it, all depends what you mean by low speed, under about 5-10mph the bike wheel will start to loose its gyro force and start to wobble around
wheel weights dont affect it like that, they would cause there to be a vibration but the bike will still naturaly want to go in a straight line

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

"Fully loaded top box"
Hint hint say no more.

hear hear!

Well the bikes MOT has now run out and I've forgotten to even book it in yet!

I pulled the bike up on the side stand so that the front wheel was off the ground and the head bearings seem fine. I'll take the front wheel off and check the bearings.

Oh and low speed I mean up to about 50mph.