Handling Issues XTZ
 

I have been experencing some interesting handling traits mainly on braking into roundabouts were the front either tries to tuck in or feels as if the front is stuck in a rut. MY XTZ has only done 2900 miles (09 model) is standard with Metzeler tourance tyres, the headrace bearings are also fine. I should point out that for the last seven years I have had bikes with 17 inch rims and I expected slower steering but this issue has me a bit spooked. I have also read elsewhere on the XTR forum that another member found tourance tyres going off when part worn. As soon as I get the bike back on the gas no problem and it could be me trying to ride the bike wrong and expecting too much from a trailie but any advice greatfully received - is it worth me changing the front only as the back feels fine to maybe a conti attack?

Tyre pressures OK?

Tyre profile lost on the shoulder to more of a V will give this sensation.

Head races checked you say, but perhaps an idea to get them greased up just incase you've a tight spot.

The 21" front does make it slower to turn, but a bit of counter steering soon sorts that out.

If your chain was really tight that may feel strange (tight spot again), but you'd probably have noticed before the roundabout.

My two penny worth..

Funnily enough mine's started behaving like that recently - it's definitely not a trait of the bike because it didn't feel like that for the first 35,000 miles.

Exactly the same symptoms as you - off throttle or on the brakes it feels like there's a big notch in the steering head bearings - doesn't want to let you turn the bars from straight ahead. Then at some point you overcome the resistance and the bike falls over into the corner. On the throttle it's much better.

I've been putting it down to wierd tyre-wear - I've got aggressive knobblies fitted which have done three rallies and several thousand miles, the rear is square and the front is probably a bit odd as well. Unfortunately I'm trying to use up my stock of part-worn tyres, so I'm probably not going to have a 'new tyre' comparison until the spring.

I don't remember it ever feeling like that when I had the OE Tourances on, but that was over 30 months and 30,000 miles ago :D. I do remember not being particularly impressed with the life of them.

The really obvious one - have you checked your tyre pressures?

I tend to find this sort of shenanigans happens more often than not when the rear starts to square off (or is squared off). What I reckon happens is you tend to put excessive initial effort into turning to get it off the square part of the tyre, then all of a sudden your rolling off it on to the shoulder and falling into the corner!

Unlikely but check your rear spokes. Mine came loose in Alaska and gave really weird sensation under braking when the weight came off the rear. Doesn't cost anything to check and only takes a minute.

Hi �berthumper:),
same here. My head bearings were woren. Got them changed and it feels like a new bike.
When we checked how smooth the steering moved, we recognized just a very slight resistance on one side. But it was a real horror riding the beast and turn in to turns.

Cheers
Marcus

I'd be surprised, since my head bearings are only 7000 miles old, having been changed when I fitted the WP forks. A quick check with the front end in the air didn't reveal any resistance. I'll probably pull them and regrease at some point, but at the moment my suspicion is still with the tyres.

Hopfully I am wrong. But your discription fits exactly to my problem. I told the mechanic it felt like having new knobby tires on and you want to do a turn (I have K60 scout fitted).
With knobby tires I mean real knobby tires, no Karoo or TKC80 or T63. Something like that http://www.reifenwerk-heidenau.de/mo...ofil=62&pic=64

Thanks for the thoughts, i will double check bearings pressures again. Tyres look ok they may have gone off as a thought as mine is an 08 model registered in 09 so they must be coming up 4 years old. As an aside after 30 miles last week was suprised that there was no heat in the front. My other bikes always had built up heat (inc XTX) but not this one

i've found that the headrace bearing need greasing every 8k or so. i take em out, clean up and the slap loads of grease in. 28k on one set so far

You'll need to ride over red hot coals to get heat in the front!!

Mine did the same but at about 10,000 miles. Under noprmal running, fine, but under breaking it felt stiff and jerky. Took the bearings out and re greased them in the hope it would solve the issue. I inspected the bearings and they were fine but very dry. Its a known build issue that they are sparing on the greese during assembly. Put the bike back together and torqued it as per manual and all sorted. It was like a new bike.

Before the re greasing I didn't notice the issue in the workshop, only under load/breaking did this issue show its head.

A couple of hours, some grease and the manual and I reckon your issues will be solved.

Good luck, its an easy job.

Well, mine lasts 67000 km and was greased only once:).

Yes mine does the same but the rear tire is squared off.Ijust take its the crap suspension.:blob6:

I test rode one yesterday and while being mighty impressed, it did a couple of small weird handling thing at lower speed, which is really as already mentioned here. This bike had weird stainless bar risers on it and thinner bars so I was guessing it had had the originals bent at some point. I would say greasing the headstock is the most likely culprit mind. I wouldnt say it has crap suspension as it no worse than any Advtrallie bar for maybe orange ones with WP stuff, certainly no worse than my older Tenere and Transalps or even my BMW GS.
The bars do ... combined with the seating position feel very MotoX,supermoto, for a bike of this size mind, which I found nice, but some coming off more sane or road bikes might be put off
Mind with all weird stuff in mind I went and bought one:033:

Sounds exactly where I was at 30k miles. Bottom head race bearing replaced - new bike.

Erm yeah, turns out my lower bearing is utterly knackered. It's been full of water at some point judging by the grease that was in there.

Amazingly, despite having massive dents worn into the raceways, cleaning it out and regreasing actually returned the handling to normal.

New bearings arrived in the post today, but I'll probably wait until the handling issues reappear before I bother taking it apart again :D

I would also say the head races are drying up. Normal test they feel fine but under braking they stiffen. Throttle on and they are ok again. Just undo and drop enough to get some grease in the bottom, the top one just lifts out. Bet you a pound. lol.

just a small side note to this

the greasing shortage isn't just down to the head race bearings. the front and rear wheel bearing are pretty much the same and the rear linkage is the same.

reminds me that I need to grease my head race bearings.

Just a point, but whilst everyone is thinking of greasing bits you should also note that the adjusting screws for adjusting chain tension that are in the swing arm actually go into the cavity of the swing arm itself. The exposed bit inside the swing arm can corrode and 'drag' the alloy if you are not careful. My point is that if you get the opportunity when the wheel is next out is to remove the adjusting screws and clean up, put plenty of grease on and if possible get some on the inside of the arm to cover the end of these screws to protect them. Hope this makes sense and is of some use to you guys.

Steve.:boozer:

I reckon this is good advice too. Don't quite know why there are such massive holes on the inside of the s/arm. Odd.

As for greasing the head bearings... Oh the shame. I haven't even looked at mine. Mind you, I've done no real km yet. More shame.

And I agree that the squaring-off of rear tyeres makes the (trail-type) bike handle very oddly. I don't believe the front tourance is the problem, but it also seems early mileage for the rear to have such an influence.

Well since Ive had the bike, and now Im on Mitas tyres the other day the handling became a PITA. It just didnt inspire me with any confidence. It feels as if the bike is very top heavy, and like the front wants to tuck in. Off road, it can feel like the front will do what it fancies, unless your slap bang above the bars on the pegs.... even worse than something enduro focused like my KTM 450 exc. Can this just be steering bearing grease ? I have no notchyness when i move the bars side to side with front wheel off the ground. Doesnt make sense to me ??

Perhaps the rolling radius of the tires ave changed the head stock angel.Move the forks up or down;).

I did feel it.... Perhaps not as much ....on the Siracs. May adjust the forks and see.

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