shaking handlebars...

[Buggles]

Hi All,

I've noticed that when I let go of my handlebars while riding, they start to shake a bit...

I've had this on another bike and it was the bearings in the steering column that had worn out. However, that bike had much play in the front wheel and 25k miles on the clock. My triumph only has 5k on the clock, and no play in the front wheel...

Any ideas?

JB

[Snaphappy]

Check you rear shock preload, if you can stiffen it up and try again, at speed your bike may be squatting too much, making the front too light, just enough to let the bars wobble, I take you don't feel anything when riding with your hands on the bars, If you can, then check through, wheel balancing, bearings, top to bottom, brakes.

[owdoggy]

Have you got a topbox on?
My 700 (4k) was fine as standard but gets the wobbles when you take your hands off the bars with a topbox fitted.
So if it's this then .........er ........ don't take your hands off the bars


Doggy

[Buggles]

Originally Posted by Snaphappy

Check you rear shock preload, if you can stiffen it up and try again, at speed your bike may be squatting too much, making the front too light, just enough to let the bars wobble

Good point, I'll check that. Did find that the bike squats a bit when I pour on the throttle.

Originally Posted by owdoggy

Have you got a topbox on?

Yes I have, and it contains a 6kg chain, 1kg padlock, 1kg disc lock and some other bits & bobs...

Will have a long hard look at the spring preload. Just need to look up in the manual how to change it

JB

[Raven]

My bike (5.5K TA650) does that with a top box on, stops as soon as its off...

[jasonbc]

Originally Posted by Buggles

Hi All,

I've noticed that when I let go of my handlebars while riding, they start to shake a bit...

I've had this on another bike and it was the bearings in the steering column that had worn out. However, that bike had much play in the front wheel and 25k miles on the clock. My triumph only has 5k on the clock, and no play in the front wheel...

Any ideas?

JB

my varadero used to do that with the topbox heavily loaded, also help when i tightened up the headraces

[Buggles]

Originally Posted by Snaphappy

Check you rear shock preload, if you can stiffen it up and try again, at speed your bike may be squatting too much, making the front too light, just enough to let the bars wobble, I take you don't feel anything when riding with your hands on the bars, If you can, then check through, wheel balancing, bearings, top to bottom, brakes.

Have adjusted preload and damping, looks like the shaking is gone. Haven't had much time to test yet, as the road to work is 2.5 miles and I never even get out of second (could do the entire way in first if I had to). But at 30mph, letting go of the handlebars and they don't shake...

We'll see, off to Cornwall in a few hours...

JB