Strange Handling Symptoms

Rode into work this morning in the cold and noticed that turning corners in slow city-traffic intersections, the bike feels funny. It kind of wants to turn the front wheel in the direction you are turning. This makes the bike want to stand up a bit.

I remember a friend with a 4th gen having a similar problem on the VA Skyline drive, but I think his bike was falling into the turn? Anyway that was traced to a VERY low pressure in the front tire - like 15 lbs! Needless to say, he doesn't own a bike any longer, as he had no clue how to maintain a machine.

I suspect the tire pressures are low, as it recently got a lot cooler here. I get used to not having to worry about the pressures very often, as in the warmer weather they stay very constant. But now I probably have to top them off for the winter weather moving in.

Experience?

The same has happend to me. Check your pressures. Make sure your valve stems and valves are good. Because it came on so quick, I doubt, but you may still want to check: Tire wear, steering head bearings, and free spin of the wheels.

in colder weather you'll likely lose air pressure in your tires a bit quicker, i'd get out the trusty air pressure gauge and have a look.

if tires have worn funny due to low pressure you'll get strange handling like that - pulling into corners. a quick check for uneven or odd wear might be worth a look too.

i hit a huge bump on my big summer tour that broke the carcass of the front tire, so i got a low speed chatter. replaced the tire and it was golden again.

good luck.

Not exactly the same symptoms but related... I've noticed lately that my suspensions seems so stiff, I've tried all sorts of preload positions and rebound settings but can't seem to dial it in. Does cold weather affect the damping oil or the springs? I find that the bike wants to sit upright with every little bump at lower speeds, not due to the wheel turning in me thinks, but something to do with suspension settings. Too much or too little preload? My instinct says too much (due to the harsh ride), but the crux is: does too much preload make the bike stand up? or too little up front? or too much up front and too little up the back or vice versa, or some combination ... wacko.gif ... it's driving me round the bend!!

A little theory has formed in my head about preload... if there's too little, then the spring would give under my and my gear's weight, thus it might be unable to absorb the bumps as it's already compressed to the max due to the aforementioned... whaddya'll reckon?

Auspañol, Nov 28 2007, 04:42 PMNot exactly the same symptoms but related... I've noticed lately that my suspensions seems so stiff, I've tried all sorts of preload positions and rebound settings but can't seem to dial it in. Does cold weather affect the damping oil or the springs?

I would asume so.

I find that the bike wants to sit upright with every little bump at lower speeds, not due to the wheel turning in me thinks, but something to do with suspension settings. Too much or too little preload?

Sound right to me. (I'm only right about 10% of the time).

My instinct says too much (due to the harsh ride), but the crux is: does too much preload make the bike stand up? or too little up front? or too much up front and too little up the back or vice versa, or some combination ... wacko.gif ... it's driving me round the bend!!

Kind of depends on your weight. Check out Slammer's preload how to. Worked wonders for me.

Now I shall step aside, and let the smarter folks really help you. LOL.

Rivcyko, Nov 28 2007, 10:47 PM

Auspañol, Nov 28 2007, 04:42 PMNot exactly the same symptoms but related... I've noticed lately that my suspensions seems so stiff, I've tried all sorts of preload positions and rebound settings but can't seem to dial it in. Does cold weather affect the damping oil or the springs?

I would asume so.

I find that the bike wants to sit upright with every little bump at lower speeds, not due to the wheel turning in me thinks, but something to do with suspension settings. Too much or too little preload?

Sound right to me. (I'm only right about 10% of the time).

Very diplomatic of you!! goofy.gif

My instinct says too much (due to the harsh ride), but the crux is: does too much preload make the bike stand up? or too little up front? or too much up front and too little up the back or vice versa, or some combination ... wacko.gif ... it's driving me round the bend!!

Kind of depends on your weight. Check out Slammer's preload how to. Worked wonders for me.

Now I shall step aside, and let the smarter folks really help you. LOL.

You missed the annex...

Auspañol, Nov 28 2007, 10:45 PMA little theory has formed in my head about preload... if there's too little, then the spring would give under my and my gear's weight, thus it might be unable to absorb the bumps as it's already compressed to the max due to the aforementioned... whaddya'll reckon?

Well I checked the pressures and they were a little low but not much... But it was a warmer day though when I checked so I still wonder if they do drop off when its chilly out. Need more data to understand. I will try to get some more info and post back.

To AuspaA~
I know that too little rebound can get you wollowing after bumps though faster sweepers (well that's where its most noticable anyway). Its hard to nail these things down with conjecture. I would try dialing the rebound settings and take it for a ride.
Now as far as preload, are you saying it feels like it has changed lately? Shouldn't change noticably at all. Check your sag settings again, once set, these should stay static. Then you have a base point to work from for rebound settings.

You will get a funny handling sensation at city speeds, if your steering head bearings are notched. When you go to tip into a corner, the bike will feel reluctant then sort of flop into the corner. It's easy to check - put the bike on the centre stand, then get someone to push on the rear of the bike to lift the front wheel off the ground. Holding onto the fork lowers, turn the front end side to side about the central position. If they're worn, you'll feel a very slight resistance as you turn either side of the straight-ahead position.
While you're at it, try pulling the forks back and forth to check for wear.

Todd maintains his bike well, so steering bearings likely not the problem.....just increase tyre pressure some and see if it improves things.....how many miles on your VFR ??
gauges need to be comparison checked against other gauges occasionally in case they've gone off.

(Your old buddy from Buffalo! I still remember that last Halloween party!)

not sure if this is your issue, but when cold, both of my bikes feel like it is unstable and wants to turn into the turn too much, almost as if the rear had been raised or the front lowered too much. i 'think' (dangerous i know) that this is simply your tire rubber being hard when cold and therefore, the profile is much different as it is not compressing as much and therefore is more 'steep'. this makes the tire feel completely different. in my case, after 15 minutes or so, it seems to go away.

turtlecreek, Dec 10 2007, 08:14 PMnot sure if this is your issue, but when cold, both of my bikes feel like it is unstable and wants to turn into the turn too much, almost as if the rear had been raised or the front lowered too much. i 'think' (dangerous i know) that this is simply your tire rubber being hard when cold and therefore, the profile is much different as it is not compressing as much and therefore is more 'steep'. this makes the tire feel completely different. in my case, after 15 minutes or so, it seems to go away.

I experience something similar to TC. I let my bikes warm up to operating temp. and by the time I ride over and down to the other side of the twistie mountain I live on, the bike handles better. Hope that's all there is to your problem..... fing02.gif