My bike is currently in need of a front tire. I have noticed the shimmy at slow speeds with both hands on the bars. Past experience with this is when you replace the tire, everything will smooth out.

Hello

I good way to check if its the steering head is to jack it up and see if the front end just flops from side to side

it should have some resistance (for instance when you jack it up it should stay in the position it in or slowly swing to one side

this is what was wrong with mine right from the shop new

easy fix losen the side bolts on the triple tree , remove the top nut , and remove the instrument cover a inch back place a towel on the tank and lift your bars and triple tree right off the front end

remove the lock sleeve losen the lock nut and tighten the head with channel locks and a rag

finger tighten the lock nut and replace the lock sleeve

see if you have added resistance to the front end and check to make sure it will move from side to side with out any obstructions

and re-install the assembly and go for a ride

you will see everything is fixed worked great for my bike increased the handling properties as well

let me know if this helps

good luck

Arcturus

Never go back to that mechanic again, he is incompetent. A properly set up motorcycle will not shimmy at any speed. I can take my hands off the bars on mine and it can ride down the highway as far as I care to go. Everyone else has already covered the most common causes of wheel shimmy.

First,

Next, my '05 did the same thing right out of the box new. Couldn't figure it out at the time.

As soon as I changed my front tire, stable as a rock. I tend to think the dealer never balanced the tires when they assembled it. Anyway, just my my experience.

Ratl.

I have a question, when you remove the top tree and the lock sleeve, is there supposed to be a rubber washer between the two lock nuts. There is on mine and it doesn't make sense. I believe the parts fiche shows a washer, not sure though. Getting ready to put it back together and would like to know. Thanks, Sonny

Sonny:

There's no washer. What you might be seeing is a metal lock that fits over/between the teeth of the two lock nuts. That keeps them from turning independently.


Rich

No ... there is a rubber washer between the two toothed nuts ... inaddition to the lock washer that rests on top.

Doc

Thanks Doc, I guess the purpose of the rubber washer is to allow the alignment of the two nuts so as to be able to put the lock sleeve on. Duh, should of thought of that. Thanks Sonny

Yes .... with a metal washer between the two nuts it's almost impossible to line the notches up. If you did then I'd suggest you buy a lottery ticket.

Doc