"Squirrely" over 70mph

Zthou1977 wrote:

Assuming the frame is straight, I would check that top box of yours. IIRC (I don't have one on my police bike) the original top box was not rigidly fastened but used a system with springs because a rigidly mounted top box made the bike unstable.

You are correct Sir! the topbox is mounted on the p;olice mounts and is moveable by 2 inches either side.... it was weird to me, I thought the topbox was the cause of problems so removed it... bike still same... so refitted it.

i think the problem is Tires... but i am pretty broke so will put up with thew weird handling for another 2 or 3,000 miles.

we put a new rear on my 900 cause it picked up a slice.....and even though my old rear was the same (avon roadrider) and was only a few months old,and even though i ran 36 psi in both,and even though my shock settings,chain adjust marks and all else is set exactly as it was on the old tire.....


my bike is completely different feeling than it ws yesterday in the rear.....it feels like i clicked my koni's up to passenger settings and is way smooth on tracking setting into freeway sweepers and 90 degree in town turns.....


go figure...see what it feels like in 50 miles....

Craig,

I am assuming you changed the tire yourself. I've never changed my own motorcycle tires although I could if I had tire irons. My question is, if you balanced them yourself, do you need a supply of different weights? And do you do it on the bike?

Ross

i will draw fire for this but.....nah i don't balance em ...there is a circle that looks like a @ and some times the tire has a dot thats got yellow marker dye on it.....i put that @ mark where the valve stem is...so far so good...rock solid up to 125, as fast as i wanna go,for now on this tired old girl...i was taking a shot by shot to post for folks who wanna buy a ten dollar set of irons and mount there own....i got the needed tips here on KZR to start doing my own...lost my valve stem remover and ended up finishing in the dark with a drop light...after a trip to auto zone......talcum powder in the tire for tube free slide to re-aline the stem after the last bead gets ironed over the lip...15 minutes if all tools are there....turkey pan for every single nut,clip ect that comes off....keeps ya from getting any roll aways ......if not for kzr...i would still be begging shops to mount a tire i got online and getting dirty looks...screw em...i don't trust em any way with my life...imo

i can change the rim any where but a high strong wide bench is a big help...and a third hand to pin a iron while i get another bite,shallow bites miss the tube,small steps of an inch for the next slide over save time,they don't fight the bars like a 3 inch bite does....i kneel next to my car and have some one drive back onto the tire super close to the rim....to pop the bead free if it is being difficult...

i always leave the chain like this and a throw away rag with brakleen to wipe the hub out,grease the bearings while out,and wipe the chain free of grit.....good to go...0% wobble this morning at 100 mph...and good launch from a burn out.....oh well....seems balanced fine:woohoo:

I balance mine off the bike. Just support the ends of the axle (I put an ice chest under each end, very professional) and spin the tire. When it stops turning mark the tire at the top. Do this again. If the marked spot stops at the top again, that's the lightest spot. I use the strip weights with the adhesive already applied. You can tape some weight at the light spot and spin it again. Adjust the weight and do this until the tire seems to stop at random positions. Then you can peel the adhesive rom the weight and stick it on center of the rim at the light spot, or you can divide the weight in 2 equal parts and spread them equidistant from the light spot. This will give you 3 equal "heavy" spots and eliminate the barbell effect of 2 opposing heavy spots. When you're done check it by spinning the wheel a few more times to ensure it doesn't always stop at the same spot. Keep in mind,this is a time and beer consuming process, so don't even start it when you're in a hurry. I do mine with the disks attached so they are balanced too. You will be surprised at how out of balance some tires can be. By the way, as trianglelaguna said don't go in deep with the tire irons, just catch the edge of the rim or you will pinch the tube. I guide the tip of the iron with my finger to be sure it doesn't catch the tube. My wife acts as my 3rd hand. Ed

That is because you molested it as you slid it on the rim you TP TT. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
trianglelaguna wrote:

we put a new rear on my 900 cause it picked up a slice.....and even though my old rear was the same (avon roadrider) and was only a few months old,and even though i ran 36 psi in both,and even though my shock settings,chain adjust marks and all else is set exactly as it was on the old tire.....


my bike is completely different feeling than it ws yesterday in the rear.....it feels like i clicked my koni's up to passenger settings and is way smooth on tracking setting into freeway sweepers and 90 degree in town turns.....


go figure...see what it feels like in 50 miles....

I haven't read the posts yet but Dunlops??? That is probably your problem right there. These tires IMO and I know people on here disagree but... these tires I would never ever run on my bike ever again. I have had several before so I have plenty of experience with them and I have found that the rubber gets harder than most other brands making them without traction which was fun for me doing burnouts on the road at 30 and impressing my friends to think my bike had nasty power but on the highway after sitting for so many years the cornering was a bit scary. Tires don't like flat spots so very well. Did you check the wheel bearings as well?
Also just because they line up on the marks doesn't mean the wheels are in perfect alignment. The shocks may not be equally compressing, the fork seals? have they been leaking. Too many factors at play here. There is something going on for sure and I would bet it is the tires being old and decrepid but you are a mechanic and I would assume you know and have ruled out those things. You weren't a Harley mechanic were you?
Martynbiker wrote:

Hello again...

Although I have been working on Bikes for 30 years and consider myself a fairly competent mechanic who will take on most things I have never owned a KZ before and they sure are a little different to most other bikes I have ridden.
Handling wise, my KZ1000P feels like it is going to be a pig at low speed yet is as agile as any bike I have ridden, the tires are Dunlops and hold the road well, yet will 'track' the slightest groove in the pavement making the bike sometimes feel as if it is bendy in the middle.
My main concern is over 70mph it feels as if I am riding on ice, the bike is very "squirrely" and feels 'loose'.

I have checked tire tread and pressures, the head bearings are fine, no notchiness or stiffness, the swing arm bearings are OK, the rear shocks seem fine as do the front forks.

Is it ME, or do they all feel this way? my old DR650 was rock steady at 80-90mph but there is no way I want to do these speeds on the KZ, she feels happier at 55-60.

Any ideas Guys??

I am a believer in balancing motorcycle tires. I just like that velvety smooth feeling. Also helps the tire to stay glued to the road instead of constantly challenging the front shocks and trying to bounce around.

I do like 650ed does to balance the tire and wheel assembly, except that I use two cinder blocks, standing on end. Then I place two 1" x 2" pine strips on top of the cinder blocks and under the axle. As the "heavy spot" settles to the bottom, I slightly roll the axle back and forth. This allows the heavy spot to more accurately find the lowest point. Mark that spot. Repeat the exercise several times. Then start adding weight opposite the heavy spot. Trial and error until the tire will stop at any spot and not roll.

Good luck.

saxjonz wrote:

you are a mechanic and I would assume you know and have ruled out those things. You weren't a Harley mechanic were you?

Yes I have ruled out everything bar the tires. So tires it MUST be!

Harley Mechanic? Harley mechanic!!!!!! roflmao, I have worked on exactly two Harley in my life, both in the last 10 Days. No brakes, Don't Handle, Crap gearbox, overloud, lumpy vibrating nasty crappy things they are...
Thats gonna bring out the Haters.... lol

lol! Just checking to see if you were paying attention. I had put some new tires on my 79 before I gave up on her many years ago and bought a zr1100 on the criminally cheap but then when my garage went up in flames I got her out of storage and had exactly the same problems with the tires. Now I know many people on here love Dunlops and they are just fine for Harley's but I personally think they will never ever ever hug my KZ rims again. Not as agressive as I like to ride around corners and straight out accellerate and brake. Those be the recipe for white knuckles and racing striped underwear if you ask me.:huh: