Hyosung GT250R '06 - wobbles around corners...

[DarkLord]

Hey everyone

Sorry if this has been posted before but I can't find any other threads on this....

I find that when I'm leaning off the bike and taking a corner that the bike tends to wobble under me a bit, it doesn't feel it's slipping on the road or anything or like there is any risk of me coming off but it's definitely not as smooth as it should be.... from what I've heard the rear shocks on the Whoflungs leave a lot to be desired, but being a n00b I really don't know if this is the problem...

Has anyone else experienced anything like this and if so, what is the best way to go about fixing it? I've got the bike booked in for a full service on Monday next week, should I perhaps mention it to the guys doing the service? (Spectrum in Takapuna - Hyosung dealers). I'm still running the stock shinkos at the moment - would a decent set of rubber help?

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Graham.

[WRT]

Have you checked your tyre pressures first?

[DarkLord]

Yup, I check them regularly and always make sure they're just slightly above the recommended Psi for solo riding.

[CookMySock]

try setting the rear suspension as soft as it will go, and dropping your tyre pressures to about 4psi below the recommended.

If that doesn't do anything, then can you offer us a more detailed description of this wobble ?

DB

[Hinny]

Random thoughts;
All bikes wobble when the rubber lets go.
Shinkos don't seem to have a very good reputation.
Maybe you need to slow down. It's not a race bike!
Good move asking for advice.

PS Have you got your head and shoulders off the bike or just your bum?

[325rocket]

how fast are you going? i.e. are you going for it?
how tight are the corners?
have you played around with the shock?
how much do you weigh?

[DarkLord]

I'm going fairly fast, taking 55 corners at maybe 80 or something. I don't know exactly how fast as I'm looking at the road ahead and not my speedo :D

I usually have my head and shoulders quite far off to the side and my bum off the bike as well, often I'm sitting right off the bike and my legs are carrying my weight.

I haven't played around with the shock as I don't really know how to. I'm a total lightweight, I only weigh about 60 kg or so. My flatmate has a Bandit 1200 and his bike is smooth as anything round the corners, he's only slightly heavier than me and his bike is pretty big so I don't think bodyweight has anything to do with it, however I could be wrong of course.

Thanks for the pointers guys. Let me know if you need any more info.

[325rocket]

one more...

do you still have the "chicken strips" on your tyres?

[DarkLord]

I do, they're not really that big but they are there. I'm trying to work on that though. :)

[Radar]

Check the rear shock for leaking oil - possibly on the rear wheel rim and mistaken for chain oil. While stationary, bounce up and down on the seat once or twice - if the shock is worn the bike will 'return' the bounce.

Do you feel a wobble at any other speeds but not while cornering? If so, have the tyres balanced.

Also ensure that the wheel/swingarm bolts/nuts are tight and that the chain has the correct tension.

[CookMySock]

I haven't played around with the shock as I don't really know how to. I'm a total lightweight, I only weigh about 60 kg or so.On account of your skinny ass, You will DEFINITELY need that rear shock on its lowest (softest) setting, and even then you are into the famous hyosung horrible-rear-shock situation - they aint that flash 'm 'fraid.

Two things ;

Time to get the manual out, and talk to your friendly bike shop, and put the rear shock on setting 1.

My Wife is in the same situation as you - tiny ass on her GT250R so I am gunna get her rear shock changed, so I will keep you informed as to my progress with this. I am expecting a big improvement.

best,
Steve

[DarkLord]

Thanks all. I'll mention it to the guys at Spectrum when I drop the bike in for it's service next Monday. I'll do a bit of research myself as well.

Thanks for the help.

[tri boy]

Try not "hanging off" the bike, and counter steer your way through the corners.
You might be the cause of the wobbles by upsetting the dynamics of the bike.
Rarely do you need to take the "racer crouch" on a road bike. You will be pleasantly surprised by how effective counter steering done properly works.:sunny:

[DarkLord]

Thanks for the tip tri boy, thing is my flatmate who is quite an experienced rider and has done track days etc has ridden my bike and taken corners at speed, and has encountered the same thing, which makes me think it may not be a technique thing and something to do with the setup of the bike?

Either way I'll have a chat to the Whoflung dealers when I drop the bike off on Monday and get them to take a look while servicing it.

Cheers

[CookMySock]

Rarely do you need to take the "racer crouch" on a road bike.For real ? C'mon now, it's essential and necessary, particularly on the Hyo GT-R's et al. :sunny:


You will be pleasantly surprised by how effective counter steering done properly works.:sunny:I agree with you completely here. But racer crouch plus countersteer while you're hoofing it along is tantamount to godlike ! Bring it! :first:

DB

[Leaf]

I had similar issues with my GT250R, but since replacing the shinkos with bridgestone BT45's i havent noticed it all.

Even if its not the cause of the problem i highly recommend changing the tyres anyway!

[DarkLord]

That's good to hear. I wondered if it might be the tyres, which I do plan on getting rid of anyway.

Thanks leaf. :niceone:

[xwhatsit]

Just hang on -- don't hang off the bike or do stupid wank shit like that, just hold on and if the bike moves underneath you then so be it. Light bikes like my 250RS (compounded by bollocks suspension and flexible swingarm/forks) and RG150s, KR150s etc are a bit skittery when pushed; your GT250 is a lardarse for a quarter-bike, but that sort of behaviour will show up eventually. You'll feel it skip and move and shake with road imperfections and suspension doing things it shouldn't, but smoothly apply some power (or trail a bit of rear brake before the apex) and it'll feel much better.

I forget, the GT250R crowd here sometimes run together in my head, but are you the same chap who's thinking about that CBF1000? If so, better get used to that flexing wobbling feeling :laugh:

[DarkLord]

I find it a bit easier to sit off the bike when cornering as I feel more comfortable. I think tyre pressures have something to do with it as well, as last time I rode and hung off on the corner a bit it seemed a lot smoother, and from memory I had adjusted the tyre pressures not long before.

Nope, that's not me after a CBF1000, I posted another thread asking about people's experiences of going from a 250 to a thou, just to get an idea what the experience was like, but I'm not planning on upgrading anytime soon.

[Mental Trousers]

The GT250's are notorious for losing all the gas in the rear shock (they're pressurized with Nitrogen), losing most of their damping action with it. I've ridden one that had that happen. Very dodgy in corners.

[Pumba]

Didnt you post today about a blown fork seal, the two problems may be linked, just my $0.02

[DarkLord]

It was actually doing this before I blew it, but at the same time the left front fork has been dodgy for a long time anyway and the fact that the fork seal has gone for the second time in 2 months in the first place, could mean that the two are related.