EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted October 10, 2002 02:10 PM
I assume you've already checked to make sure the settings on the forks are exactly the same: x turns out rebound, x turns out compression, same line springs?
How about rear wheel alignment? I'm sure you've already checked this; but I had the same thing come up & I couldn't find it for the longest time. I was positive I had checked the rear end; but somehow it had moved just a smidge on one side & the bike turned into a wobbler...(not my Ninja, my ZRX.) Once I equaled both sides, wobble gone.
Then there's one other thing that happened to me (long ago, 81' KZ1000J); my bike was knocked over & I didn't know it, & it bent the upper triple clamp. The next fast corner I went around the bastid started wallowing all over the place. Nothing fixed it no matter how hard I tried. In fustration I finally bought a upper triple clamp & installed it. Bingo, wobble went away.
Only weeks later one of my customers came by who had been out of town (Navy) for months, & told me he saw some twit knock my bike over with his cage. The guy picked it back up, & I hadn't noticed. Turns out the bent clamp was all it was. Maybe your bike was knocked over & picked up? I know this is grabbing at straws, but you might want to glance at the "wings" as these always get rashed in a drop...
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
  
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FinalVelocity
Expert Class
Posts: 150
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posted October 15, 2002 05:52 AM
Hi EBD - sorry haven't check the board in 5 days and saw your reply.
Yes my suspension is correctly dialled in. I've tried diff. suspension settings - ranging from fully stock to the settings in that Bike mag. article and finally to my level of riding and weight. The wobble remains.
Rear wheel alignment is spot on using Muzzys's alignment tool Wilson had.
The bike's never been down (touchwood).
I'm all over this now - damn I really need to solve this problem. It's a question of time before I'm thrown off I know, it's SO damned wobbly. 
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aliveagain
Needs a life
Posts: 5033
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posted October 15, 2002 05:18 PM
could the rotors be warped?It may be stupid of me to ask but was the tire mounted for the right rotation?good luck,always like a stumper.
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I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
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FinalVelocity
Expert Class
Posts: 150
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posted October 23, 2002 05:43 AM
Nope. Tire is mounted right. Still hunting for solutions!
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ZHooligan
Moderator
Post Whore Extraordinaire!
Posts: 3829
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posted October 23, 2002 07:39 AM
At this point Final I would think a virgin, maybe a young goat and a volcano to throw it all in might be a viable option.
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To those who do not count their life in years, but in how life
has touched them in the past and how much it can hold in the
future; -- Youth is forever.
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finalvelocity
Expert Class
Posts: 150
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posted October 23, 2002 03:36 PM
Looks like it's coming to that eh?
If it does'nt go away I will :
1.Either bite the bullet and install a steering damper (which still really won't solve the problem) - OR -
2. Sell it.
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aliveagain
Needs a life
Posts: 5033
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posted October 23, 2002 05:59 PM
How about sending a friendly email to the tire company and ask for their input?Have you added anything to the handle bars,new weights or accessories?Try taking the tire off, double check everything and reassemble?
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I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted October 23, 2002 06:55 PM
At this point I think you need to try something. Have whoever mounted the tire look at it; get a second opinion from someone knowledgeable, let a dealer mechanic ride it, do something! Do it now before something bad happens!
I think the best thing you could do is buy another 120/70 & try it. They are only $80 (D207ZR) After mounting & balance, ride it & see. If it still does it have a mechanic/racer friend/knowledgeable person ride it. If it quits, time to take the tire back...
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted October 24, 2002 06:07 AM
FV, Just making a wild guess here... did it take a large amount of weight to balance the tire? Sometimes, rotating the tire on the rim a 1/4 or 1/2 turn reduces the amount of weight needed (sometimes it makes it worse!).
M3, I also run a 120/65, but I run a 180/55 in back since it's overall height is very close to the 200/50 (I thought the 190 was shorter the the 200... in most cases). I put a Muzzy damper on about the same time as the 120/65 and never really had any headshake issues. Only when the front tire was worn (feathering or cupping) would I get any headshake.
Just my 1.5 cents worth.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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FinalVelocity
Expert Class
Posts: 150
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posted October 24, 2002 07:39 AM
 Edited By: FinalVelocity on 24 Oct 2002 08:41
AliveAgain: No bar ends or weights. Two dlrs I went to said that sometimes Kawasaki's big bore sportbikes are notorious for such head shakes when aftermarket tires esp. from a different manufacturer are installed. I called Kawasaki and they asked me not to take my hands off and ride.
EBD & Redelk: I went to THREE dealers. First one rode it, checked and (supposedly) aligned my wheel and said it can't be helped and that there was no problem and charged me 80 bux for saying that. Second dlr rode it and said that there was a very light shake and I should change my tire, which I did (bought another Michelin Sport 120/70). Took it to a third dlr - he inspected my steering bearings (charged me only 40 bucks so I don't know how he checked the bearings), and basically also told me that some Kawis have that head shake esp. when not using OEM tires. So basically I still have that bad handlebar shake even with my new tire, wheel probably balanced 3 times now. Everything else has been checked.
My bike is at Wilson's place now after I toppled it while putting it on the stand. He's helping me fix it. He says he's gonna pull the entire front end off and go through it one by one. Hopefully we can fix this, else I'm selling the bike.
It's not worth getting thrown off it.
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mach111
Novice Class
Posts: 81
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posted October 24, 2002 11:35 PM
f.v,
please keep us posted on your findings if you get a fix.Like you i myself have the SAME exact problem. I have rode too many other 12's with no shake in the bars. 2 bikes had same tires as mine. I bought my bike and changed nothing but tires,after 3 sets everything was fine.i could take my hands off at any reasonable speed and smooth as can be.all of a sudden,i changed tires to that 120/65 series and it started.so i took it off for a 120/70,it got less shake,but its still there,and i just dont believe in "coincidences".something has happened here with our bikes.what?i have no idea.i too have 3 rebalances,front end checked and put on correct.i think something is loose or warped.if i find something this weekend,i'll let ya know.
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FinalVelocity
Expert Class
Posts: 150
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posted October 25, 2002 06:56 AM
Oks looks like we're the only ones on the board currently to have this problem. Wilson and I are gonna go through the front end in a week or two. Change fork oil, maybe replace the steering bearings. I wish I had somebody's wheel to swap and test, right now I don't.
I'll post my findings. Good luck trying to fix your 12's problem. Handlebar shake really sucks. And worrisome.
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted October 25, 2002 06:22 PM
Edited By: redelk on 25 Oct 2002 19:28
Another wild guess... slightly bent rim? Have you put just the wheel (without a tire) on the balancer? Preferably a spin balancer (i.e. a Snap-On WBM250, WB304A or 305A) instead of a bubble-type. Spin balancers can display both left and right side imbalance amounts on the wheel.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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mach111
Novice Class
Posts: 81
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posted October 26, 2002 01:54 AM
only snap-on rebalancers here.i dont believe its the wheel or tire.i'm now on my 2nd set od dunlaps the same ones.i thi9nk something is loose or warped as i said.
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finalvelocity
Expert Class
Posts: 150
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posted October 27, 2002 07:35 AM
Edited By: finalvelocity on 27 Oct 2002 07:36
Redelk - haven't done that - all three times wheel with tire was balanced. That is worth checking out. Any chance I have bad wheel bearings?
mach111 try swapping your front wheel with someone else. Worth a shot.
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flite leader
Zone Head
Posts: 651
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posted October 27, 2002 01:46 PM
front end ........ tire shake
you may want to check & snug up your front steering bearings
that hold your triple trees in the frame
not unusal & is reasonably expected these get
more clearance after you ride...... decidely after a few wheelies
just a helpful suggestion
____________
bend your mind.....
or break your ass...!!
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