Front end wobble

My 01 SVS has developed a weird front end wobble at any speed. If I go over a bump, round a slow tight corner or anything like that, I can feel the bars wobbling from side to side in my hands and the bike feels unstable. The only other thing of note is that it's dead easy to turn the bars from lock to lock when the bike's not moving - way easier than it normally is (like there's no resistance)

First thought's obviously the tyre but the pressure's fine and there's still enough tread left before it becomes illegal. I'm debating if the bearings need changing but I have no way to get the front wheel off the ground to test them - do the symptoms sound like knackered bearings to anyone else?

Sounds like a deformed or out of balance tyre (or deformed because its out of balance). Has one of the balance weights fallen off one side?

before you go changing more expensive parts, check the balance.

C

Wheel weights are intact and the bike's stable in a straight line on a smooth surface. The wobble only happens when I go over a bumpy surface or round corners.

[Speedy]

If the tyre's OK, I'd be checking the wheel's fitted and done up properly, then I'd check the steering head bearings are adjusted correctly or knackered.

If you can't check this yourself, you may want to get them checked by someone who can.......no-one wants any accidents now eh!!

I checked the bearings myself once I managed to find a neighbour who wasn't a decrepit old granny to help get the wheel off the ground. They all seemed fine to me so I took it to the garage (Essential Rubber) for a second opinion and they concurred. They're suggesting the fork bushes might be knackered but I have no idea if that's a logical conclusion or not.

[Speedy]

Hmmm, well possibly, but I'd have thought you would have felt that when you checked the head races if they were that worn!!!

I had to ride my neighbours GPZ900R a month or so ago, it was horrid! Anyway, I said to him, the front end has a wobble, he said, "nah, it's a brilliant bike, thats how they are!!".

When I then checked the front end of his bike, I could see a gap between the axle hole and the spacer on the front wheel!!!!!

The wheel WAS loose!!!!!!!!!!

Faults as serious as steering/brakes on a bike need to be investigated properly, not just guessed at!!

All sorted now. Took it along to Spannerman for a second opinion and he found the steering bearings were loose - tightened them up and greased them and all is better again.

Rear shock's knackered though so that's the next job.

Rear shock was gonna be my suggestion. (I'd suggest a K5 gixer 600 shock, but I'm biased!)

You're actually partially right - the rear shock's knackered (not much dampening) and is going to be replaced at Easter. The bike feels like normal with the bearings tightened and greased so I'm not too worried about it.

[Speedy]

Well done!!

Thought you checked them????