2000 kawasaki voyager front end wobbles

[laredoggg]

does anyone out there in the motorcycle world know what would cause the front end to shake rattle & roll ? this voyager has 50,000 miles on it and it does have a brand new balanced front tire yet i cannot have a loose grip on the handlebars otherwise the front end wobbles like crazy . also the forks have been rebuilt ! thanks ~ laredoggg

[elr658]

The worn square tire you have in the back.

[laredoggg]

HUH ? and you call yourself an expert ?

[Buddy G]

Originally Posted by laredoggg

does anyone out there in the motorcycle world know what would cause the front end to shake rattle & roll ? this voyager has 50,000 miles on it and it does have a brand new balanced front tire yet i cannot have a loose grip on the handlebars otherwise the front end wobbles like crazy . also the forks have been rebuilt ! thanks ~ laredoggg

A few things to check, voyagers are known for this problem, especially at slow turning speeds. The forks will flex causing a wobble. The things to check are:
1. Steering Head bearing is loose?
2. 7-10 lbs air in front shocks?
3. 25 lbs air in rear shocks?
4. Tire air pressure. If you run metzler 880's 42 front 45 rear.

The most logical fault is the steering head bearing make sure front is off ground whenn you are checking for looseness. You can tighten the nut by using a dull chisel and hammer, but only tighten 1/4 turn at a time. A little goes a long way.

Happy Riding, you got a great ride, just fix the wobble.
Buddy G

[elr658]

mismatched tires, rear tire worn flat in the middle, front tire out of DYNAMIC balance, incorrect tire pressures,loose steering head bearings, inadequate fallaway, brinnelled steering head bearings, sacked front fork springs, fork tubes raised in the steering head in a vain attempt to lower the bike, incorrect geometry caused by no air in the front and high air pressure in the rear, bent frame. THERE'S ELEVEN RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD Just jack the plate up and replace the bike with a GoldWing.

Oh, and the CORRECT way to tighten steering head bearings is after removing the steering head and replacing the never lubed, dented bearings and setting the preload with a torque wrench and the factory spanner like I do in the motorcycle shop service departments I have worked in for the last thirty years. But you can be a hack with a wobbling Voyager 12. IDGAF.

[laredoggg]

thankyou kindley, it's nice to have genuine people on this forum ! ~ larry

[elr658]

I WANT your bike both fixed correctly and continuing to serve you. If it ain't right, you ain't gonna be happy. That bike is worth doing right.

[Black Hat]

Of the things elr658 listed, figure out what you are capable of doing yourself for free, and do those first. My voyager had the wobble too, and fixing the pressure in both the tires and air shocks has almost entirely alleviated the problem. If it doesn't get any better after you've done what you can do, professional service may be in order.

[laredoggg]

thanks Black Hat , i appreciate your input !