My GSA handles weird lately

motorbikeman · 12-04-2012, 12:10 AM

I bought a brand new GSA some months ago and I loved how it handled. It felt light and very flickable.

However, for the last one month or so the handle has become extremely heavy and the bike refuses to corner. Once I manage to turn it in it just wants to keep turning in. I have checked tyre pressure a few times and its always 2.1 - 2.2 bar in the front and 2.5 - 2.6 bar at the rear. I have also tried the suspension settings and nothing works. It just wont feel like it was.

I haven't crashed it or done any heavy off road riding yet. There was a puncture in the front tyre which was repaired and there seems to be no leak.

The handling is so bad I dont even feel like riding it anymore. Its done 9000kms and I'm waiting for another 1000kms before I drop it in for a service. Meanwhile, anyone else experienced this same issue?

viz · 12-04-2012, 02:43 AM

Put it on its main stand and check the steering lock to lock with the front wheel off the ground. It should be light and smooth with no notching, free with no resistance; you should not be able to feel the steering head bearings and it should have no free play forward and back, up and down. If it is tight and or notchy there is something wrong, probably with a bearing that maybe collapsed. Not that hard to fix...

viz

vagueout · 12-04-2012, 02:56 AM

Those pressures you quote in "bar"s are at the absolute minimum of pressures for road use, the bike would feel sluggish to turn. I'd urge you to go and pump the tyre front--38 psi and rear-- 42 psi at COLD pressures. I'm confident you will find your bike much more agile. May also be worth playing with you rear pre-load setting.

vagueout · 12-04-2012, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by viz

Put it on its main stand and check the steering lock to lock with the front wheel off the ground. It should be light and smooth with no notching, free with no resistance; you should not be able to feel the steering head bearings and it should have no free play forward and back, up and down. If it is tight and or notchy there is something wrong, probably with a bearing that maybe collapsed. Not that hard to fix...

viz

Sorry to jump on your advice, but these have ball-joints instead of conventional steering head bearings, and i've yet to hear of one of these failing other than due to crash damage.

tommyvdv · 12-04-2012, 03:19 AM

Take a look at yr tires. Are they worn to a plateau?

motorbikeman · 12-04-2012, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vagueout

Those pressures you quote in "bar"s are at the absolute minimum of pressures for road use, the bike would feel sluggish to turn. I'd urge you to go and pump the tyre front--38 psi and rear-- 42 psi at COLD pressures. I'm confident you will find your bike much more agile. May also be worth playing with you rear pre-load setting.

I didn't know that! I will certainly try the pressures you mentioned. Right now its 32 front and 36 rear. Thanks.

motorbikeman · 12-04-2012, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommyvdv

Take a look at yr tires. Are they worn to a plateau?

No the tyres are fine as of now!

bobbybob · 12-04-2012, 04:57 AM

What you describe is exactly the way tires feel as they wear. 5000 miles means they most likely have some "squaring off" which contributes to the feeling that it just wants to "fall on over" instead of holding the lean angle. It gives a "notchy" steering feel. It doesn't take much wear to cause a distinct loss of cornering feel.

lhendrik · 12-04-2012, 06:19 AM

Yeah, the tires are worn and need air, so stop riding the bike :))

Motorcycling requires a bit more maintenance participation than you may be used to, especially on such a "mechanically advanced' bike as a GSA :) It would be a shame to walk away from a bike because of air and rubber.

I think you will benefit from a more hands on approach, especially when it comes to the next level of maintenance, like changing the oil or getting someone to do it for you. Even if you choose to pay for it, it would be good to get used to looking closely at things on this beast.

Good luck, and many years of happy riding to you.

motorbikeman · 12-04-2012, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lhendrik

Yeah, the tires are worn and need air, so stop riding the bike :))

Motorcycling requires a bit more maintenance participation than you may be used to, especially on such a "mechanically advanced' bike as a GSA :) It would be a shame to walk away from a bike because of air and rubber.

I think you will benefit from a more hands on approach, especially when it comes to the next level of maintenance, like changing the oil or getting someone to do it for you. Even if you choose to pay for it, it would be good to get used to looking closely at things on this beast.

Good luck, and many years of happy riding to you.

My last bike was a Royal Enfield so I'm no stranger to hands on maintenance. I'm still learning about a highly advanced bike like the GSA and this for example is a good learning experience.

Ayrshire Bull · 12-04-2012, 07:07 AM

lots of great advice here....

I too would first look at dialing in the pressure - as per Vagueout's suggestion .....

then taking a really good look at tires (for flat spots or cupping) as per Tommy's suggestion

where do you live?

motorbikeman · 12-04-2012, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayrshire Bull

lots of great advice here....

I too would first look at dialing in the pressure - as per Vagueout's suggestion .....

then taking a really good look at tires (for flat spots or cupping) as per Tommy's suggestion

where do you live?

I'm from Dubai. We do quite a bit of non stop high speed riding for many a kilometres here. I'm assuming if I've been riding at minimum tyre pressure since I got the bike then it must have damaged the tyres.

Ayrshire Bull · 12-04-2012, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motorbikeman

I'm from Dubai. We do quite a bit of non stop high speed riding for many a kilometres here. I'm assuming if I've been riding at minimum tyre pressure since I got the bike then it must have damaged the tyres.

I was wondering if you lived someplace with lots of twisty, windy roads ..... or someplace that might have long straight sections.

For the latter, I'd expect more 'squaring off' of the tires - the former might see more even wear across the entire tire, side to side.

Is it easy for you to post a picture of your tires - ?

motorbikeman · 12-04-2012, 08:39 AM

Filled air. 38psi front and 42psi rear. The bike seems much more agile now. Great advise from ADV members as usual. My rear tyre seems to have squared off a bit though.

What I don't understand is how did the workshop guys filled 32psi front and 36psi rear right from the start and even after my first service!

fastgpfred · 12-04-2012, 10:08 AM

It is what it is. Tire pressure is the first place to check if you loose precise steering

12-04-2012, 12:10 AM	#1
motorbikeman ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Oddometer: 15	My GSA handles weird lately I bought a brand new GSA some months ago and I loved how it handled. It felt light and very flickable. However, for the last one month or so the handle has become extremely heavy and the bike refuses to corner. Once I manage to turn it in it just wants to keep turning in. I have checked tyre pressure a few times and its always 2.1 - 2.2 bar in the front and 2.5 - 2.6 bar at the rear. I have also tried the suspension settings and nothing works. It just wont feel like it was. I haven't crashed it or done any heavy off road riding yet. There was a puncture in the front tyre which was repaired and there seems to be no leak. The handling is so bad I dont even feel like riding it anymore. Its done 9000kms and I'm waiting for another 1000kms before I drop it in for a service. Meanwhile, anyone else experienced this same issue?

12-04-2012, 02:43 AM	#2
viz I Ride Ms Piggy Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Sydney, Oz Oddometer: 1,798	Put it on its main stand and check the steering lock to lock with the front wheel off the ground. It should be light and smooth with no notching, free with no resistance; you should not be able to feel the steering head bearings and it should have no free play forward and back, up and down. If it is tight and or notchy there is something wrong, probably with a bearing that maybe collapsed. Not that hard to fix... viz __________________ Pig In The City - 2010 BMW R1200 GSA Adventure Webmaster BMW Touring Club of NSW

12-04-2012, 02:56 AM	#3
vagueout Beastly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Location: sydney, east Oddometer: 1,123	Those pressures you quote in "bar"s are at the absolute minimum of pressures for road use, the bike would feel sluggish to turn. I'd urge you to go and pump the tyre front--38 psi and rear-- 42 psi at COLD pressures. I'm confident you will find your bike much more agile. May also be worth playing with you rear pre-load setting. __________________ i just seek clarity

12-04-2012, 06:19 AM	#9
lhendrik Truffle Rustler Joined: Dec 2008 Location: New York and Floridoodie Oddometer: 1,947	Yeah, the tires are worn and need air, so stop riding the bike :)) Motorcycling requires a bit more maintenance participation than you may be used to, especially on such a "mechanically advanced' bike as a GSA :) It would be a shame to walk away from a bike because of air and rubber. I think you will benefit from a more hands on approach, especially when it comes to the next level of maintenance, like changing the oil or getting someone to do it for you. Even if you choose to pay for it, it would be good to get used to looking closely at things on this beast. Good luck, and many years of happy riding to you. __________________ Normal is just a setting on the dryer. Armageddon was yesterday - Today we have a serious problem. 2009 R1200GS Adventure 2008 K1200GT

12-04-2012, 07:07 AM	#11
Ayrshire Bull why the hell not? Joined: Nov 2002 Location: North Vancouver, B.C., CA-NA-DA Oddometer: 1,299	lots of great advice here.... I too would first look at dialing in the pressure - as per Vagueout's suggestion ..... then taking a really good look at tires (for flat spots or cupping) as per Tommy's suggestion where do you live? __________________ "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." - HDT

12-04-2012, 03:19 AM	#5
tommyvdv Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2011 Location: Belgium Oddometer: 198	Take a look at yr tires. Are they worn to a plateau?

12-04-2012, 04:57 AM	#8
bobbybob Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Oddometer: 242	What you describe is exactly the way tires feel as they wear. 5000 miles means they most likely have some "squaring off" which contributes to the feeling that it just wants to "fall on over" instead of holding the lean angle. It gives a "notchy" steering feel. It doesn't take much wear to cause a distinct loss of cornering feel.

12-04-2012, 08:39 AM	#14
motorbikeman ^OP Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Oddometer: 15	Filled air. 38psi front and 42psi rear. The bike seems much more agile now. Great advise from ADV members as usual. My rear tyre seems to have squared off a bit though. What I don't understand is how did the workshop guys filled 32psi front and 36psi rear right from the start and even after my first service!

12-04-2012, 10:08 AM	#15
fastgpfred Adventurer Joined: Apr 2010 Location: Northern Calif Oddometer: 42	It is what it is. Tire pressure is the first place to check if you loose precise steering

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