steering shake

any tips to help me with my new bike 2004 model new to the forum and tips to help this monster stay on the trail
thanks mike

this is my newer xr 04 , l have changed the brake pads and rear wheel bearing so far , l see stabizer kits but quite expensive
mike

xr honda to the max wrote:any tips to help me with my new bike 2004 model new to the forum and tips to help this monster stay on the trail
thanks mike

If you are being bounced around riding over rocks and ruts check out the details on drilling out the compression valve in the forks making them much more plush.
If it is shaking its head on smooth roads all I can recommend is checking all the bearings.

thanks Hew , l thought about the bearings as well on the front axle but seem tight but just the same well check this out . this promblem exsit on the hard surfaces at high speeds no so much in the trails or rough stuff. l read some where but can't find the topic about this promblem . thanks mike

From all the upgrades for the piggy , there is one which is a must -
have your suspension serviced and set up for your weight and riding style , thank me later  

yeah l will check out my suspension and get this in order , l find it quite firm , so being a light guy l will try to find info to make this suitable for me , Does any one of others  xr dudes with simular promblem and started a topic so l can read what they did to help out this type of situation .
thanks mad frosty  for the tip

mike

Balance your wheels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Balance your wheels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Balance your wheels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Balance your wheels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Balance your wheels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Grease all bearings with good Moly grease!

Do you have the proper Nitrogen charge in the rear shock? This is something you can check but, checking would cause you to have it serviced.

Rob Barnum for suspension work.

Steering stabilizer is worth the money. Just think if it keeps you from going down just once, how much would a possible injury cost you.

xr Honda to the max wrote:yeah l will check out my suspension and get this in order , l find it quite firm , so being a light guy l will try to find info to make this suitable for me , Does any one of others  xr dudes with simular problem and started a topic so l can read what they did to help out this type of situation .
thanks mad frosty  for the tip

mike

No, all of us are fat!

Only the superior power of the water cooled XR650R can adequately propel are sexy but, over weight butts.

Aurora

Balance your wheels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only the superior power of the water cooled XR650R can adequately propel are sexy but, over weight butts.

thanks for the tips , l will try to gain some FAT but its hard and causes plugged veins !!!. HAHA l quess l will find a manual to know how to set up my bike acccording to my weight

l need to check out my steering more closer , l don't wish to drop it at high speeds for sure . the promblem in this area l don't know but will check if some one can balance the wheels , there is weights on the spokes and it also has lead glued on the rims on the front as well as the rear
my first ride with this bike this fall , l blew the rear tube , it took the valve out of the tube , l changed the tube but didn't have a way to rebalance the rear tire . l have other xr's but 500 models and they have two rim locks the 04 xr 650 r has only one . l was going to install a second one but wasn't quite sure at what degrees on the wheel to place them and again would need advice as to where l should then get the wheel rebalanced
thanks mike

ive found with these problems [steering shake] once you have checked and discounted all bearings, rim wobbles, axles etc, the preload setting on the steering head bearings can have a large influence on this problem, i repack the bearings grease, then with the front end supported [ i.e. hanging] slowly wind down more preload with the adjustor [ this is without the top triple clamp in place], once you get to the point where its starting to bind when turning back &forth, slightly back it off till it free's up, then install top triple clamp and have forks in place with them tightened only with the lower triple clamp, then torque the stem nut to correct figure, recheck for binding while turning, its a fine line between too much and no preload, ideally you want just enough so there is "slight drag" with no movement at the bearing, too much drag will cause the bike to feel unbalanced,[ ie to fall into corners] ive never balanced my dirtbike wheels and have no steering shake, dont beleive it can cause anything but tyre vibration by being out of balance id probably remove the weights already installed as by removing the tyre to fit a new tube you will have upset this balance anyway

What height are the forks set in the upper triple tree?

l beleive their flush with the top of the tree or triple fork , being light 155 lbs l believe l have to much suspension for my weight both rear and front . the forum l read many topics about my new bike and need to address many issues which will improve it for my riding type .
my bike will be parked very shortly and will address many items which will make my bike ride as a HONDA for me , its a little to stiff for my weight . Being light with a large displacement bike l can handle the power but after reading many topics l see l need too make impprovements if some else were to ride this beast it might be ok for them .
l beleive it will be parked today its a blizzard out today yesterday took it for spin was great ,well our winters here are quite long . need to take a blizzard out for a ride shortly
mike

Aurora
checked my front tree thripe camp area its flush with the cap , some of my bikes had air shreduer valve most had a cap to add oil with proper amount this set has a valve to adjust or screew ?
. Need to learen more ' so if l raise fork up higher more pressure on the front wheel ?? sso more steeering effort but less raise.
Maybe my bike needs more weight on the front axle with a adjustment , let me know l havn't taken the beast to the max yet but wish to but wish the steering to be firm or planeted on top end . theirs a place for wheelee's buts that another topic
thanks mike

So much to check - as said just do one thing at a time.

Very common it can just be the amount and type of wear on the tyres, or just the brand of tyre, so changing them can help.
I don't trust wheel weights that are on the spokes - old school of solder wire wrapped on them, urgh... For no real reason though.

it could even be a loose hand-guard flapping around. Stiff rear shocks & soft front forks don't help. Have you serviced the forks? Even just change the oil could help.

At least by the end of this you will know your bike and have well greased and maintained bearings!

thanks for the advice Big Kuri
with this info and all others l will check it out more , just what a smooth ride at high speeds
Its that time of year here to park the bike its snowing and starting to stay now so l will check out bike as l have no former history of this bike to see what maintence was done and will let you know after if l sloved this promblem
thanks mike

Leant some more the wind grabbing the duck work for the raditor will also cause simular steering shake , if so any better duck work for these bikes
thanks mike
oh received my clarke 16.3 tank like new more time on bike with out walking back to the fuel station , great for my lenght of riding time , things are starting to work out
GREAT FORUM learnt much will help out this beast

a way to reduce the wind sock effect,you can pull the front of the shrouds togeather with some cble ties and a couple of stategically placed holes, also helps with the topspeed i actually managed to rip one of my shrouds off doing a topspeed run

thanks Temporary kiwi
l see what your talking about.
its frezzing in this area that last few days -40 to - 35 celuis to cold to work on bike or ride , l have many ideas now to help this BRP, l hope to find out the top end on this bike after a bunch of adjustments that you guys stated . will check out bike before a top end run
thanks again mike

Have a great time tonight and all a stay off your bike if you had a few , take a taxi ,bikes here do not go in the snow well,
mike

a future taxi bike actually was used in my home town many years ago

tok the xr out for a few spins on top end it has that steering shake , so l put the bike back on the stand , the side to side play is not bad maybe a 1/8 of a inch ,
But l spun the tire and looked at the aft and forward movement it was terrible , l see where the promblem lies now how too repair it ??!!New Rim ??!!!!. The tire is like new the rim loooks great BUT ??!!
Not sure if this can be repaired , bearings are tight and no axle play
FOR AND AFT rim promblem any thoughts to help with top end speed shake
thanks mike

this only occurs at near top speed , from 80 mph to 90 plus mph , wish to see what the bike will do top end but wish to have a nice bike no acccidents or hurt one self ,maybe a front rim is in order ??!!
mike

I might be wrong but most offroad bikes i have ever ridden have suffered from some stearing shake/ vibration  at high speeds , i always believed that its because of the unbalanced wheels and the whole nature of the knobbies /offroad tyres .
perhaps trueing and ballancing the wheels would help . 

Mad Frosty wrote:I might be wrong but most offroad bikes i have ever ridden have suffered from some stearing shake/ vibration  at high speeds , i always believed that its because of the unbalanced wheels and the whole nature of the knobbies /offroad tyres .
perhaps trueing and ballancing the wheels would help . 

l willl look into another rim and all , for and aft balance must be hard to repair , the rim looks great but wish for a stable bike at hi speeds if all doen't work out will add a scott stablizer the front mount model will keep you posted on my findings , just what a stable bike , but maybe a front endro tire is what l need not so aggressive??!!

thanks mike

l will try a different rim and wheel assebly l won on ebay , l will check out the new rim and all for balance and rebearing it .l hope this will improve my steering shake if not a scott stabizer will be in order . will let you know the out come
mike

hope this helps, can't seem to host a picture on this site now ??!!
mike