Handling issues ER5

[SilverWings]

Hey there, thanks for looking! New to the forum but not to biking, been riding for 8 years and had my current bike (ER500A1) for just over 2 years, use it as my daily commuter.

I've come begging for advice, I'm having issues with my handling. At first I put it down to rubbish winter road surfaces and the fact that I have a decent tyre on the back and a rubbish one on the front, but it's been getting worse and is knocking my confidence when riding.

The bike feels fine on the straight (mostly). Sometimes it feels wobbly at lower speeds but I'm *reasonably* sure that's due to the way the road has been surfaced, there are lots of grooves running along it.

My problems are mainly in corners, more specifically right hand bends. When I bring it in to a turn the bike will fight me and if I really push it and try to lean in the front wheel feels like its going to slip right out from underneath me. A couple of times I've had what I describe as a 'ducking' feeling as if I've hit a tiny patch of ice and slipped, it's a real 'oh shit!' kind of moment. I've not gone down yet, both times immediately backed off the throttle (not that I was on it very hard) and dragged it back up again. I'm having to crawl around corners because the front end just doesn't feel like it wants to cooperate.

Left hand turns are hardly an issue, there's perhaps a tiny bit of unsteadiness but not nearly to the extent of right turns.

I've checked the wheel alignment and tyre pressures, the front was a bit low but pumping it up made no noticeable difference. If I point the bike down a hill and let go of the bars it does pull to the right. I've seen suggestions regarding this from bent forks to needing to adjust suspension settings. I hope the forks aren't bent, I've never crashed or dropped the bike. I do ride over a *lot* of potholes so I am a bit worried? I replaced the front wheel bearings yesterday as they were totally shot however this has made exactly zero difference in the handling. The forks are not blown. I haven't checked the head bearing yet, waiting for OH to finish work so he can hold the back down (don't have a jack lol).

I would love to hear some suggestions, hopefully it's something simple. Really can't afford an expensive or time consuming fix right now, this bike is my only means of getting to work :/

Thanks in advance!
SW

[jaffa90]

Roads in the uk are slippier this time of the year and right handers have the camber of the road to fight against.
Pulling to the right ??????????? could be worn front tyre on the offside but what tyre pressures are you using and are you a heavy guy ????

[dansp1]

check the headrace bearings, notchy bearings will make a bike feel incredibly nervous

[andy_uk]

May be worth checking the wheel bearings too.
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Aprilia Classic 125, GS500E, ER5-A1, ER5-C4, ER6 & an XJ6 project frame...

[SilverWings]

I'm a chick, and no, not that heavy :p The tyre doesn;t *look* worn to me. I've had tyres wear unevenly on previous bikes and know what that feels like, it's not quite the same. Front tyre sits around 34psi, back at 36.

Will check headrace bearing asap, it was only done almost exactly a year ago, should it have failed again so soon?

[dansp1]

Will check headrace bearing asap, it was only done almost exactly a year ago, should it have failed again so soon?[/quote]

no, but it doesn't mean they haven't

[kgm]

I'd check the steering bearings again anyway and fit some tapered ones if worn. If the current ones were overtightened (it doesn't actually take much) they would wear quickly.

You said it had a crappy tyre on the front? Is that still the case? Run your finger over it and see if there is a ridge. My PR3s get a bit squared off at the front eventually and get a little cupping - not always all that visible but makes it stiffer to initiate a turn and then it drops in sharply. They also track much more when worn. If it is a cheapy/worn tyre I'd change it for something better - it'll improve your confidence no end. Michelin Pilot PR3/PR4 are my favourite so far if you can get them in the right size - fantastic in the wet/cold; they worked wonders for my confidence when I added them.

One other thing to check is to make sure that the fork legs are straight in the yokes. Loosen off the yokes and give the legs a wiggle, then tighten it all up again. A hard knock can sometimes knock them out of line or cause them to become twisted which might explain why it's turning hands off. Feel your stanchions for any creases which would suggest they've actually become bent, although the only way to properly check is to take them out. Slightly bent won't make much difference - I rode my ER6 with bent stanchions for a little while after a crash until the new ones arrived and it didn't make much difference tbh.

[SilverWings]

Just been out to have a wiggle of the front end and I can detect nothing wrong with the head bearings :/ Handlebars move smoothly from side to side, no unwanted play, no notchiness etc. Whole thing feels very solid (unlike when I'm riding it!).

[chris-red]

[SilverWings]

[chris-red]

Checking the forks are straight requires removing the front wheel loosing the fork pinch bolts then twist the upper stantion whilst holding the lower still, the lower shouldn't move if it is bent it will move.
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[SilverWings]

Yes, the front wheel was off the ground. Will have a more thorough look tomorrow, thank you

[dansp1]

what did you find?

[Teflon-Mike]

[iooi]