Front end twitching...

[Method]

Ive been riding the GS now for a while and it when ever i take a turn on it, and im leaning the front end seems to twitch and jump about...

Its not a huge problem as because of my grasstrack and speedway experience im used to having to control a jumpy front end, it comes naturally,

im just wondering if its something to do with my riding technique? if im doing something wrong...?

I looked into getting a steering damper for it a few weeks ago but the bloke in the shop basically told me they had never made one for that bike, and that if i realy wanted one... i would have to take down about 30 measurements and even then he couldnt guarantee anything, (which basically was his way of saying - we cant help ya, but we will look like we try so you dont hate us, and come back to spend more money with us later ).
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CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[Gracie Jones]

Tyre pressure?

Also, it is not a performance bike, so if you are really giving it the beans, you are probably reaching the limits of its performance.

L

[Method]

Tyre pressures are ok, and i dont mean at high speeds or anything, i mean it does the same at high speeds, it doesnt hold the road well on the front.. but for example today riding round the block at 30mph, it was twitching and trying to jump away from me even then...
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CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[killa]

The bearings are shot?
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[KevTM]

only time i've had this is when i was turning right at a junction and i gave it too much throttle and the front twitched a bit and felt light..

don't know what it is if if's doing it all the time, unless you're going too fast lol

[Method]

Nah bearings and tyre pressure are all fine, tyre tread is fine, forks are fine, its just the front end being too light and trying to dissapear and twitch underneath me...
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CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[Yeti]

a change of fork oil?
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Lifes a Beach!

[map]

read the popup of thread from the front and wondered why you're having problems with a GS, a BMW GS . See from your signature it's the Suzi 500

You've done the obvious before deciding on a damper - tyre condition, tyre pressures, suspension springs/oil, head bearings.

Could try different fork oil and check condition of the springs.
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Method]

[Method]

But the damper wasnt only for the corner twitching, the idea was it would also be usefull when im doing long trips down open roads, for example the A47 between 'Boro and Kings Lynn is a regular venue for me, and because of the wind and the condition of the road, at anything over 80mph the bars begin to become a little unstable and the front becomes realy light, so a steering damper was meant to be for that mainly
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CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[mchaggis]

Gash front suspension on a small bike? Suspension wallowing, bouncing, squirming around, it's about par for me too.

edit: doh! GS500

It could be you're trying to control the bike too firmly through the corner, so it feels like its squirming about more. I find if I grip the bars too tightly I tend to run wide and corners just don't feel as nice.

A nice countersteer nudge to get the bike leant over and then just vaguely holding the front in the right place does the trick. Not countersteering enough makes the front end of probably any bike feel a bit duff.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[map]

Quick thought - what tyres does it have fitted? Are they a matched pair? How long have you had them and how worn/square are they?

Could try a different set to see if it makes a difference.
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[Method]

Hmmm thats a good point actually, i have had a new back tyre fitted about 700-800 miles ago ish, might be something to do with that possible, although both tyres are now nicely rounded and smooth, apart from the very edges of both...
____________________
CBT Aug '03 ... Gilera GSM 50 ... Honda NSR 125 Aug '04 ...
Full Test Dec 04... Suzuki GS500 Jan 05... Suzuki SV650 Mar 07... Gixxer 6 K5 May 08... Oh and my 'Rado
My Bikepics.com - No Brakes, No Gears... No Fear.

[stinkwheel]

When wheel bearings and things were mentioned, I hope you were checking the REAR ones, along with the rear wheel alignment and the swingarm bearings etc. They are far more likley to cause a flighty front-end than something wrong with the front end (which would tend to cause the rear to weave).

You don't have shitty tyres on it like continental or Diy-Yung do you? I had a set of contis on my GPZ500 once and threw them in the bin after about 700 miles, they were verging on dangerous.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Check over the full chassis. Wheel bearings, wheel alignment, rear shock, rear linkages, steering head bearings, forks, tyres and pressures.

The Divvy developed a habit of shaking the bars which we could not trace down. Bearings all felt fine. Eventually fitted new tyres and found a dodgy front wheel bearing at that moment (had checked them before and found nothing wrong).

A steering damper really should not be necessary, and could well make things worse on a windy day as they can make you tend to over react. Too many people using steering dampers as a bodge, about as useful as putting gaffer tape over a cracked frame.

All the best

Keith
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