Weird handling problem, advice sought

HeatedGrips

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My 1150 has developed an odd and somewhat alarming handling trait. When cornering beyond a moderate lean angle the front suddenly feels like it wants to tuck under and I have to pull the bike more upright - resulting in a wider line than intended. It's like the frame is hinged in the middle.

The tyre pressures are my normal ones, 34 front and 38 rear, and I haven't changed the suspension settings. The bike has just done 18k.

Anything I can do, apart from switching to brown-coloured trousers?
 
make sure there's nothing loose, then ignore the problem.

but don't blame me if you crash ;)
 
HeatedGrips said:
My 1150 has developed an odd and somewhat alarming handling trait. When cornering beyond a moderate lean angle the front suddenly feels like it wants to tuck under and I have to pull the bike more upright - resulting in a wider line than intended. It's like the frame is hinged in the middle.

The tyre pressures are my normal ones, 34 front and 38 rear, and I haven't changed the suspension settings. The bike has just done 18k.

Anything I can do, apart from switching to brown-coloured trousers?
Click to expand...

What tyres are you using ?

If you`re noncing about on tarmac with 'this season`s must-have' TKC80s,or such like,try more road suitable tyres........... ;)
 
I'm using Tourances, as I have been for the last 18,000 miles. That's the problem, I haven't changed anything at all on the bike, so I'm wondering why it's doing this.
 
Wheelies with heavy landings, damaged steering bearings and/or Telelever bearing?

Have you checked the tyre tread & sidewall for damage or bulging? There was a batch of dodgy Tourances a while ago.
 
I'm running my 1100`s on 36psi front and 42psi rear....try that.
 
HeatedGrips said:
My 1150 has developed an odd and somewhat alarming handling trait. When cornering beyond a moderate lean angle the front suddenly feels like it wants to tuck under and I have to pull the bike more upright - resulting in a wider line than intended. It's like the frame is hinged in the middle.

The tyre pressures are my normal ones, 34 front and 38 rear, and I haven't changed the suspension settings. The bike has just done 18k.

Anything I can do, apart from switching to brown-coloured trousers?
Click to expand...

check tyre shape , i borrowed a courtesy bike which had good tread but the tyre was deformed and the bike was all over the place. also check alignment of wheels , a little bird told me that bmw's had a front to rear wheel alignment problem ( the little bird was a 16 stone hairy fat bugger ).
oh and check ye nuts, try dressing on the other side you might be unevenly loading the bike, if your female obviously take no notice of the last suggestion.
thats enough work for a sunday, im off back to bed this hangover is killing me.
GOOD LUCK!
 
loosenuts said:
check tyre shape , i borrowed a courtesy bike which had good tread but the tyre was deformed and the bike was all over the place.
Click to expand...
Was it an 850R from Jefferies? I had one in April that was so bad I stopped twice convinced something was broken. It was just a worn front tyre. They lent me another one last month that was almost as bad, horrible things :(
 
worn telelever ball joint - top of the fork brace ?

bike on centre stand - push gently forwards with front brake on - as tyre tries to rotate, you'll feel a clunk as the ball joint play is taken up.

front shock damping gone ??
 
a.JEFFERIES COURTESY BIKE

Number 6 said:
Was it an 850R from Jefferies? I had one in April that was so bad I stopped twice convinced something was broken. It was just a worn front tyre. They lent me another one last month that was almost as bad, horrible things :(
Click to expand...

I TOOK OUT THE 850 FIRST THAT LASTED 200 YARDS, IT FELT POOR. THEN I TOOK OUT A 1200 WHICH HAD DEFORMED TYRES I WAS TOO EMBARRASSED TO TAKE IT BACK, FELT IT MUST BE ME HAVING A BAD BIKE DAY.
These are the guys who sent a tech. to test my bike after the crash and the guys who are putting it back together ,cant wait to see the result ,i might finish up with a trike !
 
Problem solved!

The back tyre had gone out of shape, God knows how, but it weren't properly round anymore. Only did a few thousand on the damn thing.

Thanks for the helpful replies (not you, Steptoe).
 
deformed tyre

HeatedGrips said:
The back tyre had gone out of shape, God knows how, but it weren't properly round anymore. Only did a few thousand on the damn thing.

Thanks for the helpful replies (not you, Steptoe).
Click to expand...
im glad you found prob. mine was the front.
.
as you prob . know im trying to get folk to check bolts on the lower bridge front wheel ,its on the 1200gs but it wont hurt you to check . they are set at 25nm . 2 at each side.dont use a BMW dealer i dont trust thier results.
im sure it will be ok but you dont want what happened to me and phil.w to happen to you .
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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