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zx10 front end shimmy

3K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  jasonw1976 
#1 ·
so i am pretty new to the bike world and a lil help/input would be appreciated. i have a 1990 zx10 and i noticed today that at speeds over 40mph the front end starts to shimmy back and forth if i let the handle bars go (yes i know letting go of the bars is not a good idea, lol). i cant believe this is suppose to happen. someone told me i may need a fork brace, but i wanted to get some other input before getting one of these, that and i am not too sure where to source the brace, i found one for a concours.

what do ya'll think......
tia for any input
 
#4 ·
the tire looks good, i think there are wieghts on it will have to check in the morning along with the bearing play. as far as i know it hasnt been wrecked, i have only had it for a lil over a week and the po didnt mention it when i asked of any known issues, the bike has been lowered an 1" and it does have 1.25" risers on the bars........there is no evidence of shimmy when i am on the bars, even the lightest touch to the bars ends the shake immediately....
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
Stay off that thing until you figure out what is wrong with it. I don't know much about suspension, but what I do know is that is an issue that can perpetually get worse.

i.e. - A motorcycle's tires are always striving to stay in-line and upright. Your shimmying is basically fighting against the natural design of the motorcycle and the natural design of the motorcycle is fighting to stop the shimmying. This could escalate into what ralphlong was talking about - a tank slapper, or speed wobble.

 
#6 ·
ok, so the wheel has been ballanced at some point, the wheel bearings seem snug, and there is no apparent play in the steering bearings, BUT while i was looking everything over i noticed 2 bolt holes in the forks just above the front fender, so i went online to see if i can figure out whats suppose to be there, and guess what, its the spot where the factory steering stabilizer attaches.


so i guess i will be ordering one of them and keeping both hands on the bars until i do, i am not an aggressive driver anyhow, my wife and i just got the bikes and ride together with her parents.

of coarse any other input on the matter is still welcome, like i said i am pretty new to the motorcycle world.......
 
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