Front end shake

[Bluewing]

I have a 2001 Goldwing and when I slow down to around 30 or 40 mph I get a wobble in the front end if I don't hold the handle bars. Tires have about 6,000 miles on them. I don't notice it as long as I have my hands on the handle bars. Any ideas?

[detdrbuzzard]

hows the air pressure and are the tires cupping

[WingAdmin]

I've read a lot of this happening to 1800's as a result of tire cupping. I'd check the air pressure in the tires first, and have a look at the condition of the front tire to check for cupping.

How many miles are on the bike overall?

[alle751]

Your problem could be the bearings in steering head. I recently had a rake kit installed on my trike.
Kit included 'All Balls' bearings, which are tapered roller instead of ball bearings. The new bearings
took all shake out of front end.

Hope this helps and have a good day.

[bluewing05]

Front axle could be out of alignment. If you are running any tire made by Dunlop that could be your problem. Put a set of Stones on it and you will smile!

[WingAdmin]

The 1800's started out with Bridgestones when they first came out in 2001 (previous Wings came with Dunlops). There were many problems - very early cupping, and tires lasting less than 5,000 miles, resulting in furious owners. In 2003 Honda switched back to Dunlops, and the problems went away.

[bluewing05]

The 1800's started out with Bridgestones when they first came out in 2001 (previous Wings came with Dunlops). There were many problems - very early cupping, and tires lasting less than 5,000 miles, resulting in furious owners. In 2003 Honda switched back to Dunlops, and the problems went away.

Put a set of E 3 Dunlops on my 05 no cupping at all Very bad wobble!( I only ran these for 4,500 miles!) Put a NEW set of Stones on NO wobble at all. Alot of riders are having wobble with Dunlops v.s. any other tire brand. The New Stones are not the Stones of 2001. 2003 and on the D 250s are prone to cupping and wobble that follows. You need to check other forums and you will find this trend.

[upssnowman]

I change a lot of sterings head bearings for guys and seems to always be the fix , no matter what itres they use.
there all-balls bearings, they are a tapered bearing verses the ball bearing set up as the new ones

[WingAdmin]

I've read that elsewhere - that changing from the ball bearings to the tapered bearings solves the front-end wobble.

[jtw0188]

I have a 2003 GL1800A and have a similar issue, the front end shake is non-existent when my front tire is new, but as tire wear occurs, the shake starts, and get more pronounced. As the tire nears it's end of life, it is very pronounced. This has happened with Dunlaps, Bridgestones and Avons. The Dunlaps seem best for mileage.

Are the tapered bearings available for owner installation? And what does changing them do to the warranty - not that I have to worry about that any more... just asking. Thanks

Woody

[MSGT-R]

Changing head bearings will not invalidate the warranty. Head shake can be caused by:

Tire wear (cupping).
Bad fork seals (uneven pressures and oil levels left-to-right).
Loose or bad head bearings.

[Flyone]

How would Honda know? Changed them on mine and wobble went away. I wouldn't worry about voiding the warranty.

[samgaut]

Front axle could be out of alignment. If you are running any tire made by Dunlop that could be your problem. Put a set of Stones on it and you will smile!

What did you mean by stones

[WingAdmin]

Front axle could be out of alignment. If you are running any tire made by Dunlop that could be your problem. Put a set of Stones on it and you will smile!

What did you mean by stones

Bridgestones.

[MSGT-R]

As in "I got my Stones from Parnelli Jones"..

[samgaut]

As in "I got my Stones from Parnelli Jones"..

Where you put those stones?

[MSGT-R]

[samgaut]

Sorry i am`a frenchman and i dont understand your answer. I would like to know where you put this parts. On the rim on the handdels where, where?

[MSGT-R]

Sorry, I thought it was a double-meaning joke..

"Stones" is a slang term referring to Bridgestone tires. A TV commercial tune used to sing "I got my Stones from Parnelli Jones.

It is also a slang term for testicles. "You don't have the stones to tell her the engagement is off"

[IllBlue02]

Hey, Am I the only one who asked Honda about this? I just bought a used 2002 and experienced the same wobble at lower speeds when I took both hands off the bars. Here's what the Honda tech told me:

It is a natural phenomenon - it is caused by the forks flexing/twisting (although it maybe exagerated by worn or cupped tires) - the Honda solution - "Keep your hands on the bars! Once you let go of the bars you are a passenger and not a rider."

Now, several other riders I've talked to readily acknowledge the wobble and say add a fork brace. My 2-cents.

[wruehl]

This is VERY common on these bikes. Traxxion Suspensions claims their front suspension kit ($1149.00) fixes 99.8% of bikes afflicted with this but short of that either go faster or keep your hands where they belong. Some have claimed that switching to a tapered roller bearing on the stem of the triple tree has fixed SOME bikes, but I have no data to support this.

[Tammy]

replace round front head bearings with upgraded tapered bearings. this is a common problem with 2001 to present gl1800

[MSGT-R]

Shifting your weight a little more to the inside of the turn will lessen wobble even if it's from cupped tires. Don't just sit and let the bike take you for a ride; get active.

[tjr002]

Mine has done this since it was new. It's really only noticable upon decelleration aound 35 MPH. I've heard all the fixes; tapered bearings, cupped tires, etc. My answer: Keep your hands on the bars!!

[wruehl]

replace round front head bearings with upgraded tapered bearings. this is a common problem with 2001 to present gl1800

Many a 1500 did this too.