Hey Doc,
Thanks again for all the information. I'll try this tomorrow afternoon, as I won't have time today.

hey, my bike used to have the exact same problem. I checked the triple tree, thought about putting in a steering dampner, a whole bunch of things. I had checked the tires, but they had less than 5,000 miles, so I figured it wasn't them. Stupid decision. After trying a whole bunhc of things, I finally changed the tires, and everything went away. Might want to try that before you spend to much time on other things.
-Jeff

Appreciate the interest, but I don't think it's my tires. When I lift the front end off the ground, it turns to one side and really bangs against the stop. With the miles I have on the bike, it probably needs tightening as Doc suggested.

My bike only has 800 miles on it and when on a lift the front does not have any give but it does fall to the right side pretty hard. Is it possible that I need to tighten my front end? Lately there seems to be something off with my front end. I have been to the dealer twice and twice they have said it's fine, but I know that it is handling different.

Blessings,
BP

bikerpastor wrote:
My bike only has 800 miles on it and when on a lift the front does not have any give but it does fall to the right side pretty hard. Is it possible that I need to tighten my front end? Lately there seems to be something off with my front end. I have been to the dealer twice and twice they have said it's fine, but I know that it is handling different.

Blessings,
BP

What do you mean by off?

Could also be the tires .... irregularly worn or under-inflated.

Doc

The best way to discribe it is the front feels like a marshmellow. Like on squishy and light, like you could lean back and pop it off the ground. I have checked air pressure and the tires only have 800 miles on them. I remember when I bought the bike the front felt very solid and heavy and now it does not have that feeling. Now it's just loose and light - very strange. One person said it could be the rear shock, so I ordered a progressive spring from Ray at Looney seats which should be here tomorrow. I figured that I would do everything this weekend to include putting on the spring and fixing the front. Any suggestions? I have been into the dealer twice and they say everything is fine, course these are the same guys who adjusted my rear wheel off by 1/2 from center. Needless to say, I have to find the problem myself.

Blessings,
BP

With only 800 miles it's highly unlikely it's your rear shock.

Have you noticed any oil on either of your forks? Maybe the fork oil is low.

If the fork nut is not on tight enough then what you usually feel is a 'shimmy' or 'pulsating' in the handlebars as the front end moves a little from side to side.

Also when you hit a bump you will hear a slight knock or a little play.

I still don't understand what you are noticing different.

BTW .... a low pressure back tire will also result in a weird feeling, something akin to riding in the tar grooves at highway speed.

Doc

The feeling is very strange. The best way to explain it is that the front feels very sluggish and squishy - almost like the front tire is flat but I checked the tires (which three gauages) and they are at 36 psi. When I put the bike on a life the bars slam to the right pretty hard so I thought it was a rakes/triple tree that needed to be tightened but it could be something else. All I know is that it's a bit scary to ride because it feels like the front just wants to lay down and take a nap while the rear wants to tear down the road

Blessings,
BP