Going to fall off! Disturbing sensation on motorbike

[Grumpy one]

On 9/29/2020 at 8:35 AM, colinneil said:

Maybe the problem is too much Chang.????????????

Is there such a thing as too much  ???  

[hotchilli]

On 9/29/2020 at 8:24 AM, NCC1701A said:

i have the same sensation on my Kawasaki Versys sometimes just going straight down the highway at speeds 80 plus kph. sort of a vertigo like feeling and i feel like i am going to fall off the bike. 

 

 

 

 

That's probably the veno kicking in !

[Harveyboy]

On 9/29/2020 at 8:40 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Maybe bearings of steering column, maybe a touch of vertigo 

yes that's what i thought vertigo i have this problem can controll it but cant get rid of it .. perhaps its time to hang up the bike keys 

[Thingamabob]

The tyres I suspect, but it would also be wise to get yourself checked. Possible balance issues need attention.

[Aussiepeter]

I had a Honda 550/4 that did this after a bloke took it to fit new tyres and crashed it. It was the steering head bearings. I replaced them and the problem was solved. Seems several were crushed a bit when the clown dropped it. Is this a new model ? I am not up on new Kwakkers, but the early two-stroke triples, especially the 500cc model, were known as 'widow-makers' as there were no gussets in the frame joints. They would develop "drunken camel syndrome' with no warning and cause the rider to drop it or even fall off. I seem to remember that it was more often at speed in a straight line though. Anyhow, they solved it by welding in extra gussets wherever the frame tubes joined together. As this is happening only when cornering, tyres or steering head bearings are my best guess. As others have said, get the mechanic to ride it, as it may be a common fault. Been all over Laos on small bikes and many roads are very average. 

[richard_smith237]

I’m wondering if its the ‘geometry’ of the knobbly tires...  

 

Difficult to explain... Once the bike is ‘tilted’ and the bike rides on a different section of the tire between two rows of tread. 

[RickFarang]

See and ear specialist you might need your ears cleaned. I had parked my bike for two months because I didn't feel safe on it, especially when turning. Had my ears cleaned last week and the problem that had plagued me for months is gone and I can ride the bike again. The whole thing only cost me 580 baht at a local private hospital -you price may vary, but basically it is not. a complex procedure. 

[n00dle]

Try another bike, if it still happens its you.

[teacherclaire]

Check the date when the tyres were manufactured. If they're hard as hell, you will have such a feeling.

 

      It's written on the tyres. 

 

You may be asking yourself how to tell when a tire was made, or how old are my tires?  You don't have to play guessing games to figure it out - the information is all right in front of you, on the sidewall of each tire. Look on the outer sidewall for the acronym "DOT," which should be followed by a series of numbers. The last four digits are what you need to determine when the tire was manufactured. The first two numbers represent the week, and the second pair indicates the year.

 

    Also check the rims and bearings for any damage. 

 

Please see: https://www.chapmoto.com/blog/2013/01/16/tech-tips-read-motorcycle-tire-date-codes/

Edited October 2, 2020 by teacherclaire

[teacherclaire]

32 minutes ago, RickFarang said:

See and ear specialist you might need your ears cleaned. I had parked my bike for two months because I didn't feel safe on it, especially when turning. Had my ears cleaned last week and the problem that had plagued me for months is gone and I can ride the bike again. The whole thing only cost me 580 baht at a local private hospital -you price may vary, but basically it is not. a complex procedure. 

I do not see how this is related to the OP's problem? 

[Steffan]

If its is wobbly turning corner at low speed, check air pressure of front tyre and top up if needed. This happened to me on my 900 ninja. If problem not fixed take it to a bike service shop.

[simon43]

On 10/1/2020 at 2:47 PM, JeffersLos said:

Learn counter steering. 

Er, I've been riding small and 1,000cc motorbikes for almost 45 years, on and off-road.  I know how to counter steer ????

 

Further riding suggests that it is indeed a problem with the steering head sticking.  I'll take it to a bike shop who have the tools to disassemble the steering head to investigate further.

 

Update:  Also, it's not  due to the knobbly tyres and/or tyre pressure.  Both tyres are almost new and I adjust my riding style when riding on-road.  Previous on-road riding with this bike exhibited no stickiness with the steering.

 

Update 2:  I don't experience this problem when recently riding other off-road (knobbly tyre) bikes.  It's not my balance/ear canals!

Edited October 4, 2020 by simon43

[Dancealot]

On 10/2/2020 at 1:56 PM, richard_smith237 said:

I’m wondering if its the ‘geometry’ of the knobbly tires...  

 

Difficult to explain... Once the bike is ‘tilted’ and the bike rides on a different section of the tire between two rows of tread. 

Bingo, you're right.

 

i think the sensation is caused by using off road tires on normall, smooth surfaced roads.  My knobby tires have a warning sign: not for highway use. I have the same problem and it's very scary.

 

[WorriedNoodle]

52 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Further riding suggests that it is indeed a problem with the steering head sticking.  I'll take it to a bike shop who have the tools

Was it a second hand old bike when you got it? I had same issue on my mountain bicycle, it was the steering bearings. Odd feeling of loosing control when cornering.

[simon43]

6 hours ago, WorriedNoodle said:

Was it a second hand old bike when you got it? I had same issue on my mountain bicycle, it was the steering bearings. Odd feeling of loosing control when cornering.

Yep - it's second hand ????  @dancealot, It's not the knobbly tyres.  I'm well-experienced in the correct riding manner for bikes with knobbly tyres on smooth roads.  Additionally, when I bought this bike, for the first few months, there was no strange sensation - all was fine!  I'm riding the bike every day and I have to physically push the handlebars to the left/right when taking a corner (at slow speeds),  so that I can overcome the sticking point of the steering head bearing.