shimy, front end

[jmhelm]

recently installed a champion trike kit on my 2001 Yamaha road star. when i ride it the front end wants to shimmy fairly bad> anyone else had this problem?

what did you have to do to correct it?

thanks in advance. jmhelm

 

[Nana]

You don't mention if you had the EZ Steer rake kit put on. If not, that addition would do wonders toward clearing up the shimmy.

 

[Gorilla]

recently installed a champion trike kit on my 2001 Yamaha road star. when i ride it the front end wants to shimmy fairly bad> anyone else had this problem?
what did you have to do to correct it?
thanks in advance. jmhelm

you should tighten nut on the triple trees much tighter than called for when it was a 2 wheeler. the swing of the front handlebars when off front wheel is jacked off the ground should be no more than to go from one lock to the other. no return swing. tighten that nut and see if that helps. if you rake the trees later you still need that nut tight.

 

[CadtoChrome]

If you have installed the EZ-steer

Per Champion install instructions:

• Replacing the upper OEM bearing and race with the Champion supplied bearing and race, install Champion
lower triple clamp to motorcycle reusing original hardware as removed. Torque bearing lock nut to 30 lb. ft.

• Install Champion upper clamp with OEM washer and dome nut. Leave loose.
• Slide forks up and into the upper clamp until top of extension is flush with top surface of clamp.
• Torque dome nut to 85 lb. ft.
• Ensure that fork tube extensions are flush with top of upper clamp. Torque
upper and lower clamp bolts to 35lb. ft.

If using the stock tree, I would assure they are at the recommended torque as suggested by Yamaha.

Regards,
Chuck

 

[Bob Witte]

Don't overlook your front tire. If it is old and worn or cupped or even just poorly balanced, the "wobble of death" (WOD) will often be the result. My 750 Honda Spirit went into said wobble immediately after I took my hands off the bars (it's a test we do). The tire was worn so I replaced it and re-balanced. No more wobble!

Check it out along with the other ideas already set forth. It is often a combination of things on those front end problems.

Bob Witte
The Trinity Trike

 

[Papa Zook]

Yes what he said. :Agree:

 

[jmhelm]

Thanks for the replies, no raked trees. in the process of ordering them.

 

[trikenutmike]

If you can fit a dampner to the front forks and back to the frame this will help just like sidecars have. A blocker tire can also help.