Notchy steering?

[yuri2085]

When I had some work done on my bike they rode it around a bit after and told me that I had 'notchy' steering acting like I already knew. I personally had no idea what he was talking about and I have tried testing in the best way i could assume by doing that low (ish) speed rocking/wobble of the bike and it all seemed smooth.

How does one check for notchy steering (assuming steering head bearings?) and could this account for a recent high speed (110 or so...private road) wobble I had. I thought it was something to do with my lack of fairing and upright position causing the front wheel to lift sightly (with my incredible wind resistance in textiles); with the wobble increased by the obviously non symetrical wind resistance.

I question this conclusion because people say lifting the weight off the front wheel helps control a high speed wobble :s

Perhaps I have given too much info :p
Thanks in advance.

[MarJay]

put the bike on a centrestand or paddock stand and turn the bars from left to right. You should notice it then. You will probably need to replace the steering head bearings.
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[daytona55]

Also you could try and block the front wheel straight, (or put it between your knees facing the bike) then try and steer the bars, see if you get any play then.

[clancy]

[yuri2085]

Alright will be doing these checks, thing is i recently had an MOT (2 weeks before the garage said something about it...a different garage) and I watched him checking my steering head and he didn't notice anything off.

Do you guys think my initial diagnosis of the cause of the high speed wobble isnt possible?

[clancy]

at high speed the front can feel light and twitchy.
but thats relevant to all bikes, so someone wouldnt point that out. and you say someone pointed it out after having some work done? they wouldnt know about how it feels at high speed, unless they drove your bike?

[yuri2085]

Ye they only drove it at less than 10 mph around their little industrial estate. And I sat there for 5 mins today with the front wheel off the ground felt really smooth. (no movement with legs jamming wheel too).
I think he was just imagining it and the wobble was other reasons.

Thanks guys

[yen_powell]

Get the front wheel in the air (at a standstill, I don't mean do a wheelie).

Turn the handlebars slowly left and right. If you can feel that the wheel wants to point straight ahead (that's where the notch in the headstock race will be so the bearing balls try to drop into the worn part) rather than flop to one side or the other you have got notchy bearings. It's just wear in the straight ahead position.
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[yuri2085]

Hmm thats interesting I asked my mum to have a go and she did say 'it seems to go back to the middle easier than away' but I either thought that's a good thing or she is imagining it.
I will investigate in a more paranoid manner tomorrow

[yen_powell]

[Pete.]

To check for notchiness put the bike on the centrestand and get someone sat on the rear of the seat, so the front wheel is in the air. Now put the steering dead straight and standing next to the tank get hold of the bar grips with just your fingers using a light grip, turn the steering a small amount left and right very gently. If you feel a 'lump' in the steering as it passes middle, that's what the fitter is talking about.

If you can only just feel it then it can't be that bad and actually might have been mot-passable though they should have given you an advisory. If it is more pronounced it will try to hold the steering pointing ahead and you need to change the bearings. If you can't feel any notchiness then the garage might well have been looking to bill you for some un-necessary work.
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132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[yuri2085]

Ok there is a small lump/notch in the middle.
Is it really worth fixing as in does it make a difference ?
edit: read that bit about low speeds, I don't have any problems with low speed balance but you reckon it could become an issue soon?

[Vincent]

[Pete.]

[Vincent]

It's not great practice but you might get away with replacing just the top bearing. It's normaly the bottom one that's a pain to renew.
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[yuri2085]

[MarJay]

[Vincent]

If you're current bearings are "Ball Race" type ones, you can improve the handling noticeably on some bikes by replacing them with "Taper Roller Bearings" - Another reason to get them sorted. There are some tools available nowadays that can help remove stubourn bearings. remember also that you're not useing the old bearings again so you can just hack them off if needs be - as long as you don't damage the headstock in the process.

Ball Race:-

https://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j71/Drewskovitch/Ballracebearings.jpg

Taper Roller:-

https://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j71/Drewskovitch/Taper-Roller-Bearing.jpg
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