1987 1200 Interstate Issues

[kitesurfer805]

I just bought a 1987 Goldwing 1200 Interstate and have some issue I need help with. I got a Honda CB550 super sport several months ago and have been cutting my teeth on it. I have spend a lot of time getting comfortable with the counter steer technique and felt like I was ready to get a Gold wing since I had always wanted one. When I picked up the bike I took it for a test drive but only stayed in a residential area and only got it to 45 MPH. I was not prepared to take it out on a Highway so that was the best I could do. I got it home, cleaned it up, and went on a test drive with terrible results. For starters the rear tire is bald, and I mean bald, there is no tread what so ever. My test drive was not going to cover much distance so I was ok with that. I did adjust the handle bars up from the position the previous owner had used the bars, they are up as high as they can go without hitting the windshield. For starters I went through a residental area and practiced using the counter steer and then proceed to hit a small road that got up to 50 MPH on a hill with a turn. I will be honest and I drifted into the other lane (thank god no traffic) and it scared me pretty good. I then took it over to the local high school which is not too far away and did a bunch of practice turning. It would appear the counter steer is a lot different on the gold wing than it is on the CB550. While I was practicing at the high school it seemed like the bike turned better when I actually turn the wheel and lean the bike. Can somebody comment on how these bikes ride and what technique I need to practice.

The 2nd question I have is that while I was driving the bike it seemed to get squirrely on me. It is really weird and hard to describe but the front wheel would kinda drift or wobble from time to time. If the front wheel got on a ridge or something in the road I could feel it sort of wobble, this is going 30 MPH so I can imagine how bad that would be going 60MPH. The back wheel did it from time to time too and it seemed to be more when leaned back upright from a turn so I was thinking the bald tire could be the culprit there.

I hope someone can help me out.

[kitesurfer805]

I got on line and learned how to check the head bearings and I believe it is bad. I do not have play front to back and the steering bar moves pretty free from side to side but I kept checking and I definitely have a spot dead center where it sort of clicks into. Per the you tube videos that is grounds for a bad bearing. That could explain the front wobble and a bald tire could explain the rear tire wobble.

[Aussie81Interstate]

New rear tyre, new head stem bearings, maybe a brace on the front as well - "Superpbrace". Properly inflated tyres and more practice..

Counter steering is the same whatever bike you are riding - it also depends when you transition from steering it normally - as in very slow parking lot and counter-steering when on the open road.

[WingAdmin]

Here's a couple things you can read up on countersteering that might help:

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=38419

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=24503