Unnerving Wobble

[Forester]

Heya.

So if I let go of the bars at any speed between 35 and 60 the bars start to wobble from side to side, the faster I go the quicker it comes on and the harder it happens. Understandably this is a little worrying, not that I tend to ever ride without my hands on the bars but I should be able to take them off for more than 2 seconds.

Tire pressure is fine, steering head bearings are fine. I've also tried realigning the rear wheel.

Any ideas guys?

[KiwiCol]

Worn front tyre? Out of balance?


How did you check the head bearings btw?

[Leyther]

Tricky one to pinpoint as there is a raft of reasons that could be the cause, tyres, wheels, steering bearings and suspension are obvious but screens, top boxes and rack loading can also contribute, its a process of elimination I'm afraid.
By the way how long has it been happening, it could be that its something you have changed if recent.

[Forester]

The front tire has tons of life on it, with or without screen or top box, it happens.

[Blubber]

As above:

front tire shot,
wheel bearing on their way out,
incorrect balanced front wheel,
loose front axle,
play on head stock,
tire pressure
etc.

The wobble you mention is not a common problem for a gsx1400.

[VladTepes]

My money is on wheel balance.

[Hooli]

It's always been front tyre worn unevenly or topbox for me.

[Andre]

An uneven worn tire doesn't come from nothing.

[KiwiCol]

An uneven worn tire doesn't come from nothing.

Camber of the roads is the usual culprit - wears faster on the RHS of the tyre than the left.  If you ride on the RHS, it'll be the left side of the tyre that wears first.
That's how it goes down under anyway, we have a fair amount of camber on the roads - maybe less in the northern half of the globe?

[Andre]

Can't judge the down under road camber or that in GB. Here, the camber is negligible. As long as you don't always ride in circles in one clock direction I presume that If the camber would cause wobbly tires, this would be such a common issue that  we all would complain about it.

[Kiwifruit]

Have you raised the front wheel and spun it, can you feel any bumps on the tyre as it spins under your hand ?
May pay to check the rear tyre also.

[Macon]

Have you raised the front wheel and spun it, can you feel any bumps on the tyre as it spins under your hand ?
May pay to check the rear tyre also.

Can check the wheel bearings at the same time 

[saggy0000]

nelly does the same when luggage fitted,perfect without,if thats any help

[Forester]

Well I'm having the head bearings looked at on Tuesday but I'm hoping it's the tires as that's my next purchase. My front tire right now is from 2006 and my rear from 2004.

[KiwiCol]

Mate, 7 years is considered fairly old age for a bike tyre, yours are bloody teenagers!  They might have tread still showing, but they're nothing like a 'new' tyre any more. Bung some new ones on & then compare, that'd be my recommendation anyways.