week of no use-steering feels rough.

[Nick__C]

Alright guys, just had a week away so bike has been locked under it's cover.
This morning I came to unlock it and the handle bars remained in steering lock position and I had to give it abit of a tug to free it up, I know this was probably a warning sign but I just assumed it was stiff because it had sat.

Anyway get it out, check brakes, lights etc and then set off. The steering felt very rough at low speeds.. Corning felt fine abit faster but when lowspeed junctions and roundabouts the handle bars felt very lumpy..

My first two thought's are a) bearings? And b) steering is stiff from no use..
Any other idea's/what I should check?
Cheers guys.
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'02 GS 500.

[MarJay]

Its the head bearings. Giving the option of B) Steering stiff from no use is giving a symptom rather than the cause.

The issue is that water has got into your steering head bearings rusting the bearing shell and creating a notch. The only way to permanently fix it is to replace the steering head bearings.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Nick__C]

okay cheers, the b), stiff steering would be the symptom and no use the cause but I had a feeling it wasn't lol..

Are the bearing a costly/expensive/complex job?
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'02 GS 500.

[MarkJ]

Not really, worst part for me is getting the race off the stem (I just take it to my local bike shop). Knocking the old races out and putting new ones in is easy, just takes a while if you're like me and do it really slowly because you don't want to knock them in cocked. (oo-err)

[Nick__C]

Right well I might have to take it to a local bike shop or ask a more knowledgeable friend..

How dangerous is it to ride?
No choice to ride the 10 miles home in a while but after that should I leave the bike alone till I can take it to be fixed or is casual use okay?
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'02 GS 500.

[Vincent]

[Nick__C]

okay i'm getting out soon so will try it then, much appreciated.
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'02 GS 500.

[unitynotsocri...]

when you locked it up did you use the steering lock?They can stick in the barrel,you could try wd40 down the key hole.If you rarely use the steering lock it could be your problem.
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nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

[Nick__C]

yeah i always put the steering lock on when i leave it, that wouldn't cause the lumpy steering would it though?
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'02 GS 500.

[unitynotsocri...]

the locks can get sticky and rub.Check the head bearings by applying front barke and see if there's any little knock/vibration detectable when you push the bike forward.if it uses plain loose ball bearings then you can 'nip' the bearings up a bit.I've had many a neurotic momemnt on old 70s bikes with rusty steering locks wondering if they could 'lock ' when turning tightly at slow speed, another possibility is the wiring loom might have moved by turning it tightly ,or misaligned cable but unlikeley .
like other posters say get it on the centre stand and pull the forks to check for movment.
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nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

[Nick__C]

Okay will double check that tomorrow
are the symptoms of what i described similar with worn bearings?
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'02 GS 500.

[BikerGuy95]

WD40 Mr.C! Naa only joking. Do what they said
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CBT Passed: 24th February 2011

[unitynotsocri...]

worn bearings don't usually happen suddenly.If the bike was outside on the street then some asshole might have banged the bars or tried to break the steering lock.Check for any slight bending on bars/clip ons if bearings /wiring harness/cable routing seem fine.

You could also check the forks are not twisted slightly in the yokes.

If that does'nt work spray yourself with wd40,breathe in the vapours and wait for shamanistic assistance.
____________________
nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

[Nick__C]

shamanistic help would be great

The only asshole who might have touched my bike would be my brother haha.. Was under cover in my garage for the week while i was away
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'02 GS 500.

[Robby]

Rusty steering lock wouldn't explain the notchy feeling whilst riding, but head bearings would.

The simple test for head bearings is to put the bike on the centre stand, then slowly move the bars from lock to lock using very light pressure. You'll feel them knock, click, or rest at the same point in their travel if they are notched. Nipping them up won't help a notch, only replacing the bearings.

Top tip for headstock bearing replacement. If the shells are difficult to knock out of the frame, or you can't get behind them to knock them out, run a ring of weld around the inside using a MIG or ARC welder. The weld contracts as it cools, and the bearing shell just falls out. I've spent hours trying to knock out bearings with no joy before, the trick with the welder takes under 30 seconds from turning on the welder to the shell falling out.

Knock in new ones using a drift, not just with a hammer which can damage the bearing shell. I bought an offcut of aluminium bar off ebay for a few quid to do this job.

Of course, if the head bearings are ok then it is possible that the problem is a combination of a rusty steering lock and no air in the front tyre, but this is unlikely. Check your tyre pressures.

[BikerGuy95]

[unitynotsocri...]

Try holding your brother down and squirting wd40 up his nostrils to find the cause of your steering problem!!!!
____________________
nearly a normal tax paying tosser.......with ferrileness suzi100,cg125,cb125scb100n,cb175,cd100,cj250t,kh250,c15,125 bantam,super 6,rickman gs750,xt500,250rs,dt175,lifan125,dolomite1850,metro,Morris220ld,morrisfg,leyland princess,range rover,corsa,vw camper .now struggling with legs. MORE ORDER = MORE CHAOS

[Nick__C]

Very good idea that ^

However now.. and this is where I'm really not sure what's up..
The steering is fine? :S
I got back from Wales yesterday.. had a brief ride up to the gf's and back.. and now today there is no lumpiness?
Perhaps the god of Motorcyclism has smiled kindly upon me.. lmao
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'02 GS 500.

[Benson_JV]

Or perhaps in your mind the problem is no longer there...but in reality the problem is still as...well problematic.
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[Nick__C]

That's what I benson, but the steering is definetly smooth again..not lumpy at all..
Perplexed is the wod..
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'02 GS 500.

[Nick__C]

That's what I benson, but the steering is definetly smooth again..not lumpy at all..
Perplexed is the word..
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'02 GS 500.