Bandit Alley

MODEL SPECIFIC => BIG BANDIT BANTER => Topic started by: tbot on August 22, 2005, 09:26:14 PM

Title: hop and skip
Post by: tbot on August 22, 2005, 09:26:14 PM: Not really sure how to describe it. The front end seems to hop at lower speeds (<35MPH). It feels bouncy. When I got home I checked the fork, no leaks. I hit the brakes and it responds properly. Fork oil maybe, I dunno. Thoughts?
Title: hop and skip
Post by: PeteSC on August 22, 2005, 10:04:10 PM: Is this something new, or has the bike been doing it all along...or as long as you've had the bike.
(THink you bought it used...)

The stock fork springs are pretty mushy on the bandits.
Usually, they dive quite a bit under braking, but not sure I've heard about the bouncy stuff.

New fork springs are pretty cheap, Progressives are like $70.
Title: hop and skip
Post by: tbot on August 22, 2005, 11:28:56 PM: It's nothing new. It just seems to becoming a bit more noticable these days. The B12 has 24000 miles on it. I picked up a few years ago at 18K. Since I have no history on it, I guess I'm looking for opinions. Is it time to change the fork oil?
Title: hop and skip
Post by: jwalters on August 23, 2005, 01:25:02 AM: Fork oil sounds like the first thing I would check. Quite possible the previous owner used the wrong weight oil or something.

Here is my howto on spring removal and oil change if you've never done it before. It was done on my 97 B12. http://genome.uiowa.edu/~jwalters/tmp/springReplacement/
Title: hop and skip
Post by: Red01 on August 23, 2005, 07:11:24 PM: What kind of shape is the front tire in? Look for any irregularities in tread wear. Uneven tread wear can cause steering shakes, too.
Title: hop and skip
Post by: 2005B12S on August 23, 2005, 08:11:51 PM: I am with Red01 on that. Tire imbalance or wear is where i would look first. An out of balance tire will cause hopping- check to see if the tire weights are still attached or for abnormal wear.

Good Luck, Ed
2005 GSF1200SZ
1983 GS750ED
Title: New tires
Post by: tbot on August 24, 2005, 06:26:44 PM: Quote from: "Red01"
What kind of shape is the front tire in? Look for any irregularities in tread wear. Uneven tread wear can cause steering shakes, too.
.

Both front and rear tires are new. They just past 75 miles today. I'm thinking though that you may be right. It felt egg shaped this morning on the ride to work (if you can "feel" a shape). Between 35 and 75 normal. Under 35 bumpy, >75 hoppy. Normal speed on the interstate here in CA is 80MPH to pace traffic. If it doesn't settle out in the next 50 miles or so, I think I'm gonna pull the front tire and have it rebalanced or return it (I bought the road hazard ins and something may happen to it :wink: ). The balance weights are still attached.