GL1800 headshake

I just bought a 2002 wing with a KUHMO RF 195/55/16 on the rear. I have never before ridden on a CT but is seems great on this bike. The problem is at about 40mph moderate to heavy head shake starts. The bike has 40,157 miles on it, is as clean as new seems to have been very well cared for. I got it from a dealer so do not know the first owner to ask. I have only ridden about 20 miles and have not even checked tire pressure yet as I have family visiting for a long weekend and haven't had a chance. I just thought I would see any recommendations from the darkside.

I would check the tire pressure on both tires. lift the front tire off the ground and spin it, looking for feathering or cupping. I run the Bridgestone G709 with my CT and for me is the best tire combo. If your tire pressure is good and there is no feathering or cupping of the front, you might want to have the head bearing checked. Congrats on your new bike.

Thanks for the info, this morning I am hoping to take a look at the bearings. The front tire is an AVON VENOM looks nearly new no sign of cupping or wear. The bike was delivered a few minutes before family came to visit so I had no time for any checks on this issue.

I would think that the "head shake" would more likely be due to turbulence. Try raising or lowering the windshield.

Wow! Head shake! I guess you are right about turbulence. For some reason, I thought I read something totally different when I posted on that. Gettin old sux! LOL

HEAD SHAKE OR SHAKING HEAD? You two have me really shaking my head now. The original issue was the bike's head shake not mine. I have since removed a + 6" windscreen and replaced the stock height for the coming Florida summer, no change in either head shake! I do have a set of tapered bearings about to go in the steering HEAD I will let you know if it stops shaking. The shake is only from about 35mph to 45 mph once beyond that the gyro effect of the front wheel seems to overcome the ability for it to shake. At high speed well at least as fast as the wing can go there are no front end issues.

Ohhh! Now I see what you are saying and I actually have the same problem on my bike (not yet running a CT but will be soon). My bike does it during "unloaded" conditions at those speeds, in other words cruising at a given speed or light braking or slowing. If I start slowing down at those speeds and don't have a good hold on the bars and I let it progress it will go right into a "tank slap" situation. I am running a fairly new set of Dunlop Elite 3 touring tires.

Honda is famous for it's deceleration wobble it features on many different models of bikes they make.
If they would use a heavier duty quality roller bearing in their steering head it likely wouldn't be so common of a problem.

I had the same head shake/decel wobble going on. All balls tapered bearings cured the problem. Make sure you set the new races correctly and torque the bearings right. I tourged mine just a tad on the tight side as I like the feel more than having them on the loose side.

See you out there
Smokey

Is this a brand of bearings? "All balls tapered bearings"

Yes "all balls" is a brand, they are actually roller bearings. They are what should have been installed from the factory but mother Honda really likes the cheaper ball type that schwinn uses in their bicycles (see the problem here?).

See you out there
Smokey

RIVA MOTORSPORTS-POMPANO did the install of the ALL BALLS bearing kit. I was going to do it myself but this dealer offered a 30 warranty for a used bike purchase costing 50% of actual cost. It was $227 for the bearing install and a fix of a loose pin in the connector for rear turn light. I thought I would let them fight with it for that price. The tech shows steering head bearings torqued to 21 ft/lbs, preload on steering bearings 2.0 lbs. Their test ride revealed no head shake although if I want I can get a little wiggle out of it, but nothing like before. They set tire pressures at 36 front, 41 rear I was running the R/F KUHMO at 32psi before I took it in for the fix. I have not backed off the rear pressure yet so I dont know how it will feel then. Just went out this morning for a quick 120 mile blast and it rides SOOO much better. There is a footnote from the dealer's tech that the bike"does handle a little funny as the rear tire is a car tire". I'll be back after I reset the pressures and see how that affects things. But for now I am not shaking any more!!

Fern, I would definately check the front tire also. If it is a bridgestone the recommended pressure is 41. I run mine at 45. The rear? well what ever makes your ass happy ... literally 32 psi for me

See you out there
Smokey

Front tire is METZLER and dealer dropped it to 36 psi. I have not changed any pressures yet as I only ride 5 miles to work on secondary roads in neighborhoods at low speed. As soon as work and the wife stop demanding WAY TOO MUCH of my time I can return to the important things of life. Will be back when I make a few changes and report on it.