ZX6R G2 1999 steering problem, anyone help??

[tpuck]

Hi all,
I took a shot of my mates zx6r a couple of days ago, very scary!!
The bike feels very strange and corners really badly, as i tryed to work out what was going on i noticed that the steering seems very reluctant to steer then all of a sudden the bike would fall very quickly to the side of lean!! does that make sense??

i spent a wee while trying to counter steer both directions and it was the same every time, the result is massive over steer and a very uneasy feeling on the bike.

My mate has not long passed his test and has been saying that he cant get any confidence in cornering, i now know why.

i have checked the steering head bearing and there seems to be no play in it, could it still be the problem??

can anyone help? thank you
T

[TUBZ69]

it honnestly sounds like fucked headbearings mate, or the tyres could be squared off...
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those who risk nothing, become nothing, achieve nothing....
c90 rvf 400, vfr 400, gpz 500, Gsxr 750, R1, Zx6r....

[TUBZ69]

it honnestly sounds like fucked headbearings mate, or the tyres could be squared off...
____________________
those who risk nothing, become nothing, achieve nothing....
c90 rvf 400, vfr 400, gpz 500, Gsxr 750, R1, Zx6r....

[ms51ves3]

Definitely check the tyres for squaring

[KevTM]

squared tyres was the first thing i thought of..

if it feels like sh*t though it could be anything, low fork oil, wrong fork oil, buggered rear shock, wrong shock settings, dodgy bushes in the linkages, wrong tyre pressures even, misaligned rear tyre adjustment, front/rear height set up wrong.

Worth giving the whole thing a once over as it could be a combination of some/all of above.


I take no responsibility for any damages that may be caused from the advice given.

[Chriss]

Had this on my Triumph, the tyres were over inflated to around 50psi.
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

[The Tot]

Won't be surprising on an F/G 6R for the headbearings to go. Lean the bike on its side stand to get the front wheel off the ground and turn the bars from lock to lock - if it's notchy, then head bearings are shot - easy job to do. That's what happened to my 6R AFTER it was diagnosed that the tyres weren't square (only had them on for 1000 miles). But then again, there's no play.

If you can find the suspension settings from a haynes manual - put it back to stock. That'll be a cheap fix with a spanner.

If you want new boots, I can vouch for getting roadsmarts on the bike!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[tofu-wtf]

I have a G1 and I can tell you that the tyres dont have to be too squared off to get that effect.

I have just changed the tyres on mine and I was amazed at the amount of handling that had been lost.

IMO If the head bearings are OK, and that is like a 2 minute check, go get new tyres.
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Eagles may soar.............but rats don't get sucked through jet engines!!
1999 ZX6r G1.....it makes me smile

[Fawbish]

[Fawbish]

[The Tot]

What mileage is the bike? If its anywhere between 20-35k, and there's no history or receipts to check that it's done, then it'll probably be wise to change or do the following:

Grease rear shock joints and linkages
Change tyres
change head bearings
Re-gas and service rear shock
Change front fork oil


Once that's all done, it'll be as sweet as a nut. I noticed my bike go through the transition of being a stable, compliant turner to what you've just described there and the steps . The mitigating steps were taken in that order as the problem progressively got worse.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[TheDonUK]

Also check the front wheel bearings, worn ones can cause similar handling as to that which you describe...

Low tyre pressures will make it sloppy, but that double tip into corners is often bearings i have found.

What tyres are you running on it?
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[Fawbish]