That's the best way that I can think to describe it. A "steering wander". Yesterday afternoon the bike started to require increasingly frequent steering corrections (minor) in order to keep it headed straight down the road. Weird.
Tire pressures are okay, spokes on the front wheel sound tight (rear wheel is solid). Does this sound familiar to anyone?

thanks,
Chris

 

It could be an alingment issue. The front and rear tires should be in alingment with each other. You can use an 8 foot flourescent lite tube to check it. Do you know what I am talking about? If not, I will describe as best I can.

 

I think I know what you mean; stand the bike up, straighten the front tire/forks, and lay the light bulb along side of the front and rear tires to see if they're in line. Correct?
Thanks for your help.

 

sure it wasn't the road you were on?

 

I wondered that, but then I rode to work again last night and it had the same problem on that trip.

 

That is how I do it.

 

Double check the rear swing arm bearings and the neck bearings. Mine got so bad that when I pulled hard on the throttle, the chain would pull the tire over enough to rub the fender.

 

Another question...I jacked the bike up in the air and went around to the front and pulled/lifted up on the front wheel. There is a little play in the neck. Enough that I can see it as I lift up the front end. I'm guessing that there shouldn't be any play here and so I'm guessing that I've found my problem. My front end has a single bolt on the top of the neck (none underneath) and it is tight. Might the neck bearings (or some such thing) be the culprit? What would cause the play in the neck?

thanks,
Chris

 

Chris...
You are correct. There should be no play in the steering head at all. You need to adjust the head bearings to the correct adjustment. This is most likely the reason for the steering problem you have.......pg

 

So is there some sort of "adjustment" that I can make on these or it it more a matter of replacing the bearings altogether? I'm suppossing it's the latter. If that's the case, and I'm taking off the front end, is there anything else that I should check/replace while I'm in there? Any tips for this operation? This'll be my first time doing this.

as always, many thanks,
Chris