GSXR front end fitted - instability at high speeds

Originally Posted by Lozzo

If you want to check for notchiness in the head bearings then leave the front wheel on the ground with the weight of the bike on the front. Get a couple of bits of flat perspex and put one on top of the other with oil or grease between them and lay them under the front wheel so you can turn the bars much easier. The notchiness you get in a head bearing usually happens on the bottom bearing that takes the majority of the weight of the bike, and lifting the front end takes the pressure off that bearing so you can't feel the notchiness.

I lift the front when I'm checking for play in the bearings by pulling/pushing the forks, and also checking for side to side movement of the bars etc. That is much easier with no weight on the front end, but you generally won't feel notchiness until the wheel is on the deck. It was like this only 2 days ago when I took a customer's ZXR750 J1 for MOT, felt fine with the front in the air, rode like a sack o' crap cos the head bearings were notched.

ahh cheers for clearing that up