klr has the wobbles

[blueridgerider1955]

Need your input listers. My 2002 KLR acts as though it would headshake at 75 MPH (indicated) and above if given the chance. It doesn't track well and if I shake the bars a little it continues for a bit. Oddley enough, if I let off the gas it will stop. The problem is less noticable at 30 to 32 pounds in the front tire compared to lower pressures. I have lowered the bike on both ends one inch. Have a fork brace. I have checked alighment. I already expermented with various fork tupe heights. My brother's bike is identically equipped expect for the HD tube but will not under any condition exhibit this behavior (I recetnly rode his bike on an 1100 tip in the rockies last month). The problem started when I installed a new front tire (Gripster) with a heavy duty tube. This replaced the original IRC tire. Have any of yoiu had similar issus with a front HD tube? Any other suggestions? Your input is appreciated. Doug

[Chris]

Same advice applies from the thread "KLR has the wobbles"

On 8/5/05, blueridgerider1955 wrote: > Need your input listers. > > My 2002 KLR acts as though it would headshake at 75 MPH (indicated) > and above if given the chance. It doesn't track well and if I shake > the bars a little it continues for a bit. Oddley enough, if I let > off the gas it will stop. The problem is less noticable at 30 to 32 > pounds in the front tire compared to lower pressures. > > I have lowered the bike on both ends one inch. Have a fork brace. I > have checked alighment. I already expermented with various fork > tupe heights. My brother's bike is identically equipped expect for > the HD tube but will not under any condition exhibit this behavior > (I recetnly rode his bike on an 1100 tip in the rockies last month). > > The problem started when I installed a new front tire (Gripster) > with a heavy duty tube. This replaced the original IRC tire. > > Have any of yoiu had similar issus with a front HD tube? Any other > suggestions? Your input is appreciated. > > Doug > > > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >

[Krgrife@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/5/2005 5:00:27 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, doug.newton@... writes: The problem started when I installed a new front tire (Gripster) with a heavy duty tube. This replaced the original IRC tire. Have any of yoiu had similar issus with a front HD tube? Any other suggestions? Your input is appreciated. Yes, a few months ago I installed a Bridgestone ultra heavy tube and immediately found I was getting front end wobble around 75mph or so. I went back to a standard weight tube and the wobble went away. I believe this was strictly related to the tube since I was using the KT966 tire as before and changed nothing else besides the tube. The tire had been balanced with the heavy tube so that shouldn't have been a factor. Kurt [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Eric L. Green]

On Fri, 5 Aug 2005, blueridgerider1955 wrote:

> My 2002 KLR acts as though it would headshake at 75 MPH (indicated) > > I have lowered the bike on both ends one inch. Have a fork brace. I > have checked alighment. I already expermented with various fork > tupe heights. My brother's bike is identically equipped expect for > the HD tube but will not under any condition exhibit this behavior > (I recetnly rode his bike on an 1100 tip in the rockies last month). > > The problem started when I installed a new front tire (Gripster) > with a heavy duty tube. This replaced the original IRC tire.

A heavy duty tube will, indeed, make worse any tendency to headshake since it adds more rotational mass. However, it won't create a tendency to headshake. Is your front tire balanced? Are your head bearings tight? (Tighten them until there is just a little bit of friction, i.e., so that it doesn't just flop like a fish). Is your front wheel straight? What's its runout horizontally and vertically? Are your spokes tight? Are your bearings good, i.e., when you take off the speedo gear and brake caliper, does your wheel turn freely (to the point where a 1/4oz weight taped to it will make it go to the weight) and if you try to make the wheel move on its axle when all is installed normally, is there any play? One thing you can do to make the front end more stable is lower the forks in the head clamps again (i.e., raise the front). This will change the steering geometry to make it more stable. You can experiment with lowering them in the head clamps just a little at a time until the bike is stable again. As for your brother's bike being "identically equipped", that is unlikely. For example, his front springs may not have sagged as much as yours (sagging front springs lower the front end, making it less stable, and KLR OEM front springs are famous for being made out of compressed oatmeal and sagging like crazy after a while). -E

[blakeseese]

Thanks to all who responded. Found sub frame bolts loose and half worn through. Fixed by replacing bolts with stainless steel bolts. Also found a steel sleeve which fit into the subframe mounts and drilled the sleeves out to accept the stock sized bolts. This made the whole bike feel more solid. I have ordered a set of stearing head bearings as mine feel like they have a flat spot in them, and am also replacing my front wheel bearings as they feel dry and rough. I am hoping this will fix my head wobble. I will post the results as soon as I get the bike back together and get a chance to ride it. Thanks, Blake