Front end wobbling

[Indonlire]

I was riding home yesterday from work and lifted my left arm to give the hand signal I was turning and suddenly the front end started wobbling.  That's the only word I can think of to describe it.  I was going around 45 mph - slowed down, made my turn and it did it again around 40 mph.

Any ideas on what this could be?

[hootmon]

I was riding home yesterday from work and lifted my left arm to give the hand signal I was turning and suddenly the front end started wobbling.  That's the only word I can think of to describe it.  I was going around 45 mph - slowed down, made my turn and it did it again around 40 mph.
Any ideas on what this could be?

Front bearings.. (see if there is any side to side movement if you push/pull on opposite sides of the tire (hands at top/bottom)
Tire Balance is off
A bad spot in the tire

I would guess you have either an older tire or one with quite a few miles on it, is that true?

[roboto65]

+1 on the Tire check your pressure also

[Lurkin]

Add steering head bearings to the list to.

[Indonlire]

You guys are amazing!

There is no movement when I push or pull on the tire. 

The front tire has close to 10k miles on it.  I was thinking about replacing it this winter when my riding season stops for a few months.  The tread in the middle is what I would consider fair while immediately on the sides tread is low and further out tread is really good.  Yes, I know this means I just lean it a little

Both tires had low air pressure.  I just aired them both up.  Allen you are the man!

Wheel bearings, steering head bearings - since the bike is 17 years old and has just turned 20,000 miles, should these be a winter project while not riding?

So I'll ride it to work today and see what happens.  I'll let you know.

[hootmon]

Both tires had low air pressure.  I just aired them both up. 

A good reminder for all of us to check our air pressure.

[lragan]

Glad it was that simple.

I am most afraid of steering head bearings, which should never go bad -- but if they get "sticky", it can cause the basic stability of the bike, which derives from rake and trail, to vanish, resulting in a vicious oscillation.  Almost no way to avoid a crash. 

Sooo... every time I have the front tire off the ground, I check the operation of these bearings to make sure they are smooth, have no "rough spots", are silent, etc.  I put my hand on the outside of the frame over the bearings and feel, as well. 

Paranoid?  You bet I am, at least on this point.

[Smoked U]

Paranoid?  You bet I am, at least on this point.

I'm not paranoid, but it doesn't mean that I don't think "They" are not out to get me.

[Indonlire]

So on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst.  Yesterday was a 10.

Today same road same speed - it was a 2.  I could still feel and see some wobble - but was it just me being paranoid?  Was it really happening? 

I didn't feel or see anything on the way to work, just that strip on the way home.  I'll try again tomorrow and see what happens.

[Magniac]

I'm betting on steering head bearings, but they may not need replacing, might just need setting to the proper tightness. Sometimes, over time, they can loosen a little with normal wear. I wouldn't panic just yet.

[Len Averyt]

I run a dunlop on the front, on my 3rd one since getting the magna, every time it gets close to needing replacing i get that wobble as well around 40ish as well.

[Greg Cothern]

Seen SEVERAL times that a "looks good front tire" causing these symptoms.  Just a thought.

[Sledge Hammer]

So on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst.  Yesterday was a 10.

Today same road same speed - it was a 2.  I could still feel and see some wobble - but was it just me being paranoid?  Was it really happening? 

I didn't feel or see anything on the way to work, just that strip on the way home.  I'll try again tomorrow and see what happens.

My '95 is doing the same thing on K555s. It is getting worse with mileage. I suspect head bearings, and it is going into the shop just as soon as the VFR's service is done. (I don't have the time or facilities to mess with this myself.

As Lawrence pointed out, it can break into an uncontrolled oscillation that will have the bike's kinetic energy available to power it and can break your arms and then crash. It is not something to put off as a winter project.

[patty2sage]

I've had a few instance of front end wobble recently myself. Can dyna bead cause this?

[TLRam1]

Did you let go of the handlebars?

How worn is your front tire?