Woolly feeling?

[the_laughing_mole]

I've had my 1150GS for over 3 years now - a 2001 model with 30k on the clock. Runs absolutely fine and in great condition. Except. Except that over the last couple of months I've felt the handling seem a little, er, woolly Up to then the GS always felt completely rock solid in corners, now it feels a little less so. A bad road surface makes it feel less stable than it used to. Even on the straights at times it feels less secure. In corners previously I'd never thought about the handling - it just went round on rails - now it feels less so.

I can't really put my finger on it, but something seems to have changed. I checked the tyres - both good and new within the last year. No apparent sloppiness between wheels and swingarm..... No change in riding - always solo - or load.

Could it be the rear shock? (Or even the front). Do they tend to go at this mileage and if so, would they create this unsettled feeling in the ride?

If so, what replacement would you recommend?

 

[Colban]

If the tyres are good (pressure/wear) and there is no play in the paralever,the rear shock at 30K miles is a good bet.
Does it make any difference if you increase the preload or the damping?.
I fitted an Ohlins to mine but Wilbers is also often reccomended.
Much smoother action and seems to follow the road better.

 

[motobiker]

Or simply have the rear shock revamped.. that is probably THE most cost effective way to regain the bikes 'composure' £100 +/-

 

[dancata]

My bike feels exactly the way you describe yours, but I am not sure on what causes that.

My bike has rear wheel play (needle bearings will be changed to home made bushings this weekend), the ball joint on the telelever is new, but there is some play if I face the front wheel and grab it at 9 and 3 o'clock and then push it back and forth. Maybe the Koyo bearing in the fork brace, but I didn't got there yet.

 

[Wrigsby1]

One of the popular causes of vague handling is the pivot bearings in the swing arm/bevel joint. If they are notchy then you don't always feel it with all the heavy bits attached but it will make a big difference.

Like head bearings feeling 10 times worse with the front wheel off, take the back wheel off and un bolt the parrallel brace bar under the swing arm. Then move the bevel box through it's arc and you may get a shock if the bearings are on the way out.

Oddly enough, many a standard shock will probably been have changed for summat posh like an ££££lins but the orig shock feels far, far better with new pivot bearings.

Remember that if the bevel isn't pivotting properly, the rear wont't be keeping up with the front suspension wise, so will make it feel a bit wallowy.

Cheap check and cheapish fix.

 

[dancata]

I am dieing to try the bike with the new paralever bushings this weekend

But what concerns me is the bike's front end... Like I said, I have play in the front wheel, if I face the it and grab it at 9 and 3 o'clock and then push it back and forth, I can feel the play in there; the ball joint is new and I only opened the round plastic cap and the KOYO bearing looks nice and clean, but I guess I will have to open the fork brace to see what needs to be replaced in there.

 

[Trullion]

My 850GS has a woolly feel too. It took me ages to suss this, then I realised it's the seat cover. Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[the_laughing_mole]

Thanks guys - either a shock refurb....... or a new seat cover
Seriously, the refurb sounds a good idea. Any recommendations for where I could get that done down South?

 

[Wrigsby1]

Or new pivot bearings as above. Check 'em before the shock rebuild. The only way to truly check 'em is with the bevel unbraced as mentioned above.

As for Dancarta's front end I bought a GS that had been a front end many years beofre and i suspect fitted with a more worn front fork/telelever arm. The bearing had at least 5mm play up and down. The nice M/Works boys sent be a 2nd hand one with no play for not too much cash. You could see/feel the play as you lifted the front end up on the centre stand.

 

[GSART]

oem suspension refurb

Just had mine done at MCT in Stowmarket in Suffolk.

Top job, very quick turnaround. £85 + VAT for the job + postage if required. This is the second oem shock i have had done and these guys have done a far far better job than the last one i had refurbed. I am very happy with their services and would certainly recommend them...... ooh, i just did


http://www.mctsuspension.com/contact.htm

 

[Steptoe]

It's the lambing season.

 

[dancata]

Or new pivot bearings as above. Check 'em before the shock rebuild. The only way to truly check 'em is with the bevel unbraced as mentioned above.

As for Dancarta's front end I bought a GS that had been a front end many years beofre and i suspect fitted with a more worn front fork/telelever arm. The bearing had at least 5mm play up and down. The nice M/Works boys sent be a 2nd hand one with no play for not too much cash. You could see/feel the play as you lifted the front end up on the centre stand.

My telelever arm is brand new, so are the forks and bridge between them, and the ball joint too. The only thing that I can suspect is the bearing and/or the pin from the upper fork brace, but when I will open that thing, I will have new bearing and pin