There are a few simple things to check first, which don't cost much:

- Check the fork yokes are straight (in line with each other),
- Check for play in the steering head bearing,
- Check the chain adjusters are equal; if the back wheel is slightly off straight, it will make the bike crab, flop into corners on one side, and shake the bars. Use a straight-edge or string to line up the back wheel rim with the front.
- Check wheel bearings front and rear,
- Check the tyre pressures, and check the tyres are seated properly.

If it feels like something 'gives', it could be a wheel bearing, or steering head bearing. I'd suggest you go through the above checks first, even if only to rule out the usual suspects; they're mostly pretty cheap to fix. If it's none of those, you could start looking at more unusual causes, like worn fork sliders, swing-arm pivot, bent frame, etc. Be methodical, and you can narrow it down pretty quickly. If you have a second pair of hands available, it will help for some of these tests.

 

You don't say whether the bike was previously OK with no bar shake but --
As well as all the above you might want to check the fork oil is correct level in each leg, I had the same problem with my transalp with bar shake so I checked things out (nothing needed adjusting and nothing changed) anyway being unhappy with the standard soft fork and the dive under braking I fitted some fork valves which made a total transformation, no bar shake at all and can let go of the bars at will. So on the 650 transalp at least I can only put it down to the standard fork and its ineffective damping.

 

What are those valves you are mentioning here, I am considering it for my 600 alp.

 

Might be worth checking the front wheel is perfectly round & true.

Phil

sent from my 'phone

 

Good point and together with balance, I once had a rear wheel that was out of round and it caused one hell of a problem when the bike got up around 90MPH.

 

Thanks guys, have been through the list apart from fork oil and changing tire. Will be changing the tire now anyway so will see if that helps. It is nothing serious, works ok if I hold hands on the bar,but it will start to ocsillate if I let go of the handles. I am assumimg it is the bridgestone tire.. gonna fit a Metzeler Tourance. Will let you know if I get to a solution.

 

This i did not understand, but they look level - Check the fork yokes are straight (in line with each other),
- OK - Check for play in the steering head bearing,
- OK - Check the chain adjusters are equal; if the back wheel is slightly off straight, it will make the bike crab, flop into corners on one side, and shake the bars. Use a straight-edge or string to line up the back wheel rim with the front.
- OK, but considering changing anyway - Check wheel bearings front and rear,
- OK - Check the tyre pressures, and check the tyres are seated properly.
- Tyre changed to Metzeler Tourance, still the same
- Have found no play in the fork either
- Oil not checked yet.

in right turns feels like the wheel gives a little, not so on left turn ... I therefore suspect bearing.
Wheels are round and even.

If I cant figure it out I might take her to the Honda garage for a diagnostics.

It goes straight, but the handle will not hold still once i let go of it. Maybe it is like that on my TA also, but forgot to check that...

 

I could also be the shake caused by wind getting blown around the fairing.
Depends what speed you were doing at the time.

 

This is for any speed, and even in calm weather. Same with original or MRA screen. I guess nobody elses have this wobble is that correct ?

 

Mine has it ,but it's only when I take my hands off the bars ,nothing transmits through them that I can feel.

 

No problem when hand on the bars, it is when i let go .... you know, leaning backwards, hands behind the head and legs resting on crashbars ....:toothy9:
Ok, so that was a bit over the top ... no, I let go of the bars and hope it will continue as normal, but then i get a little wobble on the front that just continues and gets worse, and i need to catch the bar again. It is a bit controlled, but also annoying. Not that I normally drive like ... see no hands !! ...

 

You might have discovered the cure there...
But it sounds as though the wheel balance isn't quite right: have you lost a weight?
(I suspect that, since the bike rides OK as long as you keep your hands on the bars, there's nothing seriously amiss, just a slightly out-of-balance wheel front or rear)

 

It was like this before and after changing the tyre. Tyre was changed by professional and balanced so not that, i also checked the balance before mounting it. Went for a spin today, and tried again. Below 60km/h nothing serious, above 60 km/h the movement left-right on the bar is noticeable once i let go. Maybe I conclude its the tire due to its design (Mtzeler Tourance), and possibly the bearing should be changed anyway, just to be safe. Apart form that the bike is symmetric and feels safe with hands on bars, hence only other options I can think of is slightly out of line wheels. Will check the oil in the forks this winter, and replace that too. Thanks all for investigating with me. Will let you know if I find the culprit.

 

And then I found this post, seems like others have the same experience ..

http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/wheels-tyres-tubes/116065-metzeler-tourance-2.html#post948705

 

After reading this tread I narrowed it down to Tyre pressure and preload on aft damper.

http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/varadero/35313-how-does-yours-handle-2.html

So will go for 41-42 psi (2.7bar) on the aft tire and 2.5bar on the front

Maybe up the Preload on the damper again too.

 

Im'e still betting its to do with the damping, I had the same symptoms on the 650 transalp with hands on bars it was OK, take my hands off and immediately started a tank slapper. I checked things out and could not find anything wrong, the only thing I did was fit the fork valves and I can remove my hands at will and no hint of a slapper. Maybe its a bit outspoken to say it but it may be an inbuilt design fault.

 

My SD01 rides fine no hands, just a slight drift to the left which can be corrected with thigh pressure. No vibrations at all::thumbup:

 

Tried mine yesterday; Wobbles like buggery hands-off but nothing noticeable when even lightly held…in short, stop riding hands-off, put 'em on the bars and ride the bl00dy thing

 

This is a VERY old story, going all the way back to the '99 Vara. What the actual cause is seems to be a bit of a mystery, but a large part of resolving the problem seems to be down to tyre choice.

My personal experience is: On Michelin Anakees there is next to no wobble when hands are removed from the bars - but there is a little, especially as the tyres wear. So far all other manufacturers tyres I've used have shown very obviously greater levels of wobble, but however, all wobble disappears when hands are on the bars.

Some folk have blamed topboxes, panniers, or fat folk on the pillion, but in my opinion it's a tyre related issue on the Varadero.

 

Thanks all. Nothing to worry abt in other words. Thanks a lot for clearing this up.:thumbleft::thumbleft:

 

Investigated this further also with my old Transalp on Metzler Tourance. I dare suggest its the tyres and the airpressure and wear. Anyway, still happy, and not a problem. I believe a slightly higher pressure than recomended will reduce the effect, it did on my Transalp. But not recommending anything.:toothy10:

 

Narrowed it down further. Slightly the tires, then Air pressure and damper setting. Stiffening the aft damper helped considerably, also checked alignment of rear wheel.

 

Mine shook its head when fitted with conti trail attacks, its fine with Michelin anakees.