I have an 06 GSXR 1000 that I've owned since new. Recently I went to pass another bike, I was in 3rd at about 3/4 throttle and as soon as the front end began feeling light the handlebars began shaking violently back and forth. At this point i was probably doing around 80 or so. I have taken the bike up past that mph and it cruises fine as long as i'm not hard on the throttle. Any idea what could be causing this?
I did crash it on the track around 4 years ago but after i put it back together I kept doing track days and it was fine. I stopped riding track around 3 years ago and the bike mainly sat in the garage aside from the occasional weekend ride every month or two. At this point I had tires mounted but never really rode it hard until now.
At first I thought that it may be that my front was never balanced correctly but would that only cause an issue when on the throttle hard? Wouldn't it ride like shit while cruising as well?
It has happened twice and both times was while accelerating hard. The first time was a few months ago i just completely forgot about it. I don't accelerate hard too often anymore but i'll try it this weekend. I'm fairly certain that it will happen every time that the front gets light.
Look here. Either a spot where the steering wants to stay in or detectable movement when you try to move the wheel back and forth. There's probably something related in the service manual.
The K5/K6 has aggressive geometry. Things need to be spot on.
Recently no. I have a 190/55 rear and 120/70 up front. Forks are flush and I raised the rear. I don't remember the exact amount that I raised the rear but while doing track it was never an issue.
The only thing that has changed is the tires. Which is why initially i thought that it may be a balancing issue but after talking to a friend of mine he mentioned that if it was a balance issue i should have a vibration while cruising as well.
Not for this. I'd like to see the front end hanging free. Suzuki's a bit vague with details and only says "by supporting the motorcycle with a jack" on page 8-35. I guess that they're putting it beneath the oil pan and lifting there. I have a 4' x 1" nylon strap in a loop that works well for lifting the bike. For front end lifts it loops around the sliders and over the front of the tank. A chain hoist does the actual lifting.
The rear end was probably on a lift while this was happening.
You can see multiple references to holding/grasping the front fork legs and moving them back and forth to check for play in the bearings on 2-27 and 8-35.
I use a set of T-stands. On most models the cross bar will sit under the headstock and stop against the raised land surrounding the lower bearing seal.