Wallow/torsion? Feels like the bike is bending!

Erm, hopefully just a quick post but for the last couple of days I've noticed an alarming problem with the bike, one I've never come across before.

Symptom:

- Best described as a wallowing or torsion through the bike, particularly noticeable during spirited riding through corners.
- Feels like the front and rear wheels are spreading further from each other so it has a sensation of 'give', or movement in the bike/frame itself when cornering.
- Could also be described as a snaking feeling, the bike won't hold line/isn't planted.

Causes?:

- It was dark when I got home so I can't check tire pressures 'til the morning but I am fairly sure I know what that feels like. No flat tire for certain.
- Had the bike for 3 years, so unless the forks/shock can suddenly 'go' then it isn't the SV's characteristic softness.
- @ Last service I was told rear wheel bearings were gone, not urgent, but in need of replacing. He didn't have any in and I've done the miles to the next service fast so it's in again soon. Could these shot bearings cause what I'm describing?

Bit stumped really, the feeling is persistent from day to day, very unsettling, and makes the bike feel unstable/a bit dodgy.

Any ideas? Any help much appreciated one and all

Wheel Bearings gone..... Not Urgent???? Ermmm never heard them words placed in that order. You need to get the bearings done asap mate!!! Yes i'd say that is the cause of your problem. I had it happen on my RS125 and boy was it unearving. I was doing about 80 on the M6 and it was something I dont want to experiance again! Get em changed asap.
HTH

Yep, this kind of thing is due to something "loose" in the back end and is usually highlighted with a pillion.

It can be due to lack of shock damping, loose rear spindle, or even an overheated shock, or low rear tyre pressure.

But in this case... Knackered wheel bearings

what sideshow said!

husky

[Spanner Man]

Morning all.
As the others suggested, check your shock, linkages, & steering bearings etc.
From when a slightly defective bearing is noticed, it'll only be only a couple of hundred miles before it'll become totally knackered, & certainly wont last to the next service. I suggest that your dealer is talking twaddle! Hence I suggest that you take your bike elsewhere in the future.


Cheers.

Originally Posted by sideshow46

Wheel Bearings gone..... Not Urgent???? Ermmm never heard them words placed in that order. You need to get the bearings done asap mate!!! Yes i'd say that is the cause of your problem. I had it happen on my RS125 and boy was it unearving. I was doing about 80 on the M6 and it was something I dont want to experiance again! Get em changed asap.
HTH

Maybe I mis-quoted him. Phoned him up this morning 'cos the bike needs a service anyway and he remembered. Said that there had been 'some play' in the rear wheel and that the bearings were certainly worn/a bit rough. Said that if they had been gone properly he wouldn't have let the bike out of the garage without having replaced them.

Incidentally, what does it feel like when the bearings go then?

Originally Posted by Spanner Man

From when a slightly defective bearing is noticed, it'll only be only a couple of hundred miles before it'll become totally knackered, & certainly wont last to the next service. I suggest that your dealer is talking twaddle! Hence I suggest that you take your bike elsewhere in the future.

Good info to know about bearings, cheers Spanner Man. Though as it happens this is the best mechanic I've ever come across, really seems to know his stuff and is really helpful. Might have been my fault if I misunderstood him though I didn't know bearings could 'go' quite so quickly.

As it happens, I checked the pressures when it got light this morning, front fine, rear mysteriously down to 10 psi. So that, of course, was the main issue. Still getting the bearings done anyway, but somehow lost pressure even though I can't find a puncture anywhere. Better keep an eye on it.

Sorry for wasting orgers time when it was the most basic thing that was the culprit Thanks to all though

[BoltonSte]

Maybe it's the rear valve that knackered, I'd soap it up after you've reinflated it.

ste

[jambo]

Originally Posted by svste

Maybe it's the rear valve that knackered, I'd soap it up after you've reinflated it.

ste

Fairy liquid & water, applied liberally to the tyre, the pretty bubbles should show who's to blame

Originally Posted by MeridiaNx

Incidentally, what does it feel like when the bearings go then?

When you were younger did you ever get a push bike wheel on just its spindle, hold it either side and spin it really fast. Then you try and turn the wheel and you get the gyroscopic force pushing against you? Its like sitting on top of it. Thats the only way I can try and describe it.

The wheel just goes wherever it wants too. At 80 on the M6 I just got a little wiggle, when I started to slow down to get onto the hard shoulder the effect gets worse.