Steering seems loose??

azia · April 28th, 2009, 11:18 AM

Not sure if I'm being paranoid, but I feel like the steering is "loose" on the bike. I can turn left to right with very little pressure and while I'm riding it feels like the bike is doing a very slight fishtailing. When I stop I use some rear break but anything more than a coasting stop I fishtail.

I lowered my bike last month - front and back. Was out riding last night and one guy told me it might be because my forks aren't level. That when I tightened the bolts back on after putting in the lowering blocks, I might have tightened one down more than the other causing one fork to be slightly higher than the other. Could this be the issue?

I'm thinking the other possibility is that my tire pressure is low. Would this be a symptom? I'm going to go buy a gauge tonight anyways as I (

) haven't checked it all month.

Alex · April 28th, 2009, 12:00 PM

I'd check tire pressure, if it's significantly off it could be showing the symptoms you describe. I'm not sure how the individual forks would be at different heights; they are connected at the bottom via the axle, and while it's not the thickest axle on our ninjettes, I'd think it's still sturdy enough to keep the forks in line.

azia · April 28th, 2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

I'd check tire pressure, if it's significantly off it could be showing the symptoms you describe. I'm not sure how the individual forks would be at different heights; they are connected at the bottom via the axle, and while it's not the thickest axle on our ninjettes, I'd think it's still sturdy enough to keep the forks in line.

Hey Alex, thanks. I will check the tire pressure tonight. I suspect that might be the issue (or should I say...I am HOPING that might be the simple solution? heheh).

As for the forks, I didn't really understand him either. Lol!

komohana · April 28th, 2009, 12:46 PM

just a thought...could suspension settings cause any of that?

Snake · April 28th, 2009, 12:52 PM

I would bet that it is tire pressure.

azia · April 28th, 2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by komohana

just a thought...could suspension settings cause any of that?

fortunately, i didn't change the suspension and since this problem just started last month i can rule that out.

randomwalk101 · April 28th, 2009, 01:31 PM

get a steering damper...see the other thread

kkim · April 28th, 2009, 03:48 PM

my guess would be tire pressure, too.

azia · April 29th, 2009, 11:24 AM

Checked the tire pressure this morning and it was 27/31. I don't remember 100% but I think it's actually 31 in the front, 27 in the back which is 1 psi less AND completely opposite of what it should be.

Will check again tonight to see if I'm just going bonkers or if this could be the reason....

Nemy · April 29th, 2009, 12:15 PM

Well a reversed tire pressure would still mean you're going bonkers

Does it feel completely different than before you had the lowering kit/forks done?

azia · April 29th, 2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemy

Well a reversed tire pressure would still mean you're going bonkers

Does it feel completely different than before you had the lowering kit/forks done?

Lol! See, the problem is, I lowered it AND took it to a mechanic before riding this season so I'm not sure if I'm just paranoid or if it's really a difference from last year either due to lowering or maybe the mechanic tried to put more air in my tires.

I don't think that 1 psi makes enough difference for me to notice....

I'll report back later tonight.

Alex · April 29th, 2009, 04:51 PM

I don't think the tire pressure was enough off to make that much of a difference in what you were feeling. If the front or rear was 15 psi, or maybe 45+ psi, then maybe something would start to feel particularly strange. But a couple psi here or there would be much harder to notice, and IMO would be unlikely to cause what you described.

kkim · April 29th, 2009, 04:58 PM

it could... depending on what she's feeling.

also, did someone adjust your chain lately?

azia · May 1st, 2009, 01:01 PM

Dammit, the tires are right (just 1 psi low though).

My chain seems to be fine, but I'll double check tonight. This is not a huge issue but again today I felt several times when I break (I tried using just front and then front and a little bit of rear) the front sticks but the back very slightly feels like it's swaying to the right.

Sighhh...

Meeting some of my girls tonight one of whom is a mechanic. See what she says... I wonder if the answer will be "Yes Lindsay, it's just your paranoia"

Alex · May 1st, 2009, 01:04 PM

Is it possible that you're locking up the rear wheel? Do you feel the rear of the bike sliding in either direction if you just use the front brake?

azia · May 1st, 2009, 01:09 PM

^ To test it out, I tried using just front or front and only light pressure on rear and same thing still happens...

Will check with my friend tonight and get my bf to try riding it to see if he notices....that should eliminate if it's a real problem or just me.

April 28th, 2009, 11:18 AM	#1
azia ninjette.org member Name: Lindsay Location: Toronto, Canada Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250 Posts: 67	Steering seems loose?? Not sure if I'm being paranoid, but I feel like the steering is "loose" on the bike. I can turn left to right with very little pressure and while I'm riding it feels like the bike is doing a very slight fishtailing. When I stop I use some rear break but anything more than a coasting stop I fishtail. I lowered my bike last month - front and back. Was out riding last night and one guy told me it might be because my forks aren't level. That when I tightened the bolts back on after putting in the lowering blocks, I might have tightened one down more than the other causing one fork to be slightly higher than the other. Could this be the issue? I'm thinking the other possibility is that my tire pressure is low. Would this be a symptom? I'm going to go buy a gauge tonight anyways as I () haven't checked it all month.

April 28th, 2009, 12:00 PM	#2
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	I'd check tire pressure, if it's significantly off it could be showing the symptoms you describe. I'm not sure how the individual forks would be at different heights; they are connected at the bottom via the axle, and while it's not the thickest axle on our ninjettes, I'd think it's still sturdy enough to keep the forks in line. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

April 28th, 2009, 12:46 PM	#4
komohana ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Steve Location: Kekaha, Kauai HI Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 GSX-R 600 2003 EX250: Woodcraft Bars, Levers, Mirrors, Shim'd Mixture, Synthetic, '08 Rear Shock Posts: A lot.	just a thought...could suspension settings cause any of that? __________________________________________________ Remember when sex was safe and motorcycles were dangerous?

April 29th, 2009, 04:51 PM	#12
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	I don't think the tire pressure was enough off to make that much of a difference in what you were feeling. If the front or rear was 15 psi, or maybe 45+ psi, then maybe something would start to feel particularly strange. But a couple psi here or there would be much harder to notice, and IMO would be unlikely to cause what you described. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

May 1st, 2009, 01:04 PM	#15
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	Is it possible that you're locking up the rear wheel? Do you feel the rear of the bike sliding in either direction if you just use the front brake? __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

April 28th, 2009, 12:52 PM	#5
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	I would bet that it is tire pressure.

April 28th, 2009, 01:31 PM	#7
randomwalk101 self wrencher Name: john Location: houston Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 08 250r and 07 600r Posts: A lot.	get a steering damper...see the other thread

April 28th, 2009, 03:48 PM	#8
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	my guess would be tire pressure, too.

April 29th, 2009, 11:24 AM	#9
azia ninjette.org member Name: Lindsay Location: Toronto, Canada Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250 Posts: 67	Checked the tire pressure this morning and it was 27/31. I don't remember 100% but I think it's actually 31 in the front, 27 in the back which is 1 psi less AND completely opposite of what it should be. Will check again tonight to see if I'm just going bonkers or if this could be the reason....

April 29th, 2009, 12:15 PM	#10
Nemy ninjette.org sage Name: Tim Location: Portland, OR Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2009 SE Ninja 250R Posts: 796	Well a reversed tire pressure would still mean you're going bonkers Does it feel completely different than before you had the lowering kit/forks done?

April 29th, 2009, 04:58 PM	#13
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	it could... depending on what she's feeling. also, did someone adjust your chain lately?

May 1st, 2009, 01:01 PM	#14
azia ninjette.org member Name: Lindsay Location: Toronto, Canada Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250 Posts: 67	Dammit, the tires are right (just 1 psi low though). My chain seems to be fine, but I'll double check tonight. This is not a huge issue but again today I felt several times when I break (I tried using just front and then front and a little bit of rear) the front sticks but the back very slightly feels like it's swaying to the right. Sighhh... Meeting some of my girls tonight one of whom is a mechanic. See what she says... I wonder if the answer will be "Yes Lindsay, it's just your paranoia"

May 1st, 2009, 01:09 PM	#16
azia ninjette.org member Name: Lindsay Location: Toronto, Canada Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 Ninja 250 Posts: 67	^ To test it out, I tried using just front or front and only light pressure on rear and same thing still happens... Will check with my friend tonight and get my bf to try riding it to see if he notices....that should eliminate if it's a real problem or just me.

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