Front end feels heavy & unstable

[ivelramit]

Hi guys. I test rode an SV650 the other day and its front end felt a bit heavy when turning - and maybe even slightly unstable. When accelerating out of corners, I had a feeling that the bike wanted to move off the path it was on. It was not as horrible as it sounds, but I thought it felt worse than another SV I had been on.

Checked the tyre pressure and it was only slightly lower than recommended (29). The tyres also seemed ok (not too worn). What else might cause the bike to feel like this? Maybe the front suspension needs servicing? It did seem a bit soft, but I'm no mechanic. I don't think it's anything structural, the bike was in mint condition - except for this one issue.

Any thoughts?
Cheers.

[Gremlin]

I've never liked the front end suspension on the SV650, old or new model. Both were way too soft.

[mossy1200]

Any thoughts?

If you were test riding it and were not happy with the handling don't buy it.

[JimO]

If you were test riding it and were not happy with the handling don't bye it.

buy Cletus buy

[eelracing]

Squared off tyres can give the same impression,initially sluggish to turn in but then suddenly dropping you into the corner.
Check the basics...steering head bearing feel, get a mate to lean the bike over on it's sidestand (if no centerstand)and get the front wheel off the deck.Turn bars side to side,should flop easily over to each side without a rumbling feel from the bearings or tight spots.Also grab bottom of forks and push and pull them feeling for any movement at head bearings.Check wheel bearings while your at it.

Check front and rear wheel alignment the munter before you may have misaligned rear wheel when adjusting chain.

Best advice if an SV is what you really want then test ride as many as you can.

[mossy1200]

buy Cletus buy

Dat looks more rite dan my wong

[ivelramit]

Thanks for the responses so far.

I've never liked the front end suspension on the SV650, old or new model. Both were way too soft.

I've heard others complain about this. But two other SVs I rode felt different (and I'm pretty sure they had stock suspensions), so I suspect it's more than just that.

Squared off tyres can give the same impression,initially sluggish to turn in but then suddenly dropping you into the corner.
Check the basics...steering head bearing feel, get a mate to lean the bike over on it's sidestand (if no centerstand)and get the front wheel off the deck.Turn bars side to side,should flop easily over to each side without a rumbling feel from the bearings or tight spots.Also grab bottom of forks and push and pull them feeling for any movement at head bearings.Check wheel bearings while your at it.

Check front and rear wheel alignment the munter before you may have misaligned rear wheel when adjusting chain.

Best advice if an SV is what you really want then test ride as many as you can.

Tyres and bearings seemed ok. A friend of mine (with what I'd consider quite a bit of experience) helped me with the inspection and thought the bike was good structurally and mechanically. I don't think we checked the wheel alignment, though. I could definitely go back and do that!

If you were test riding it and were not happy with the handling don't buy it.

I know... Good advice, and I have lived by it up to this point. However, in many ways I preferred this SV to the others. I really think it's a well-maintained accident-free bike, and it 's in better condition than the others I've seen - except for this odd feeling up front in corners. Hence my dilemma.

I guess what I was trying to get at is this: what's the worst-case scenario assuming that the bike is structurally sound, ie. it had not been in a serious accident (which I'm pretty confident of)?
Wheel alignment is easy as to fix; if it needed a suspension service, that would make me think twice but would not necessarily be a deal breaker. Can it get worse than that?

[ducatilover]

It could be your riding

[haydes55]

Rear spring too little preload, rear end lowered or a bent frame/swing arm could also cause a heavy steering front end.

Sent from my HTC Desire 310 using Forum Fiend v1.3.2.

[AllanB]

Stock bars on it or little bitty ones? If a lot narrower than stock it will feel heavier. Squared off rear tyre? The worst handling Suzuki I rode was a SV1000 with a square rear tyre - you had to haul it over to corner.

[Murray]

29 lbs front tyre sounds pretty low - put it to 34 and see if theres a difference

[BMWST?]

29 lbs front tyre sounds pretty low - put it to 34 and see if theres a difference

yeah,classic soft front tyre feel

[Paul in NZ]

The bike is now getting on a little and the springs may well have sagged or the bike could have been lowered. If the rear sags down the rake increases and you get chopper like steering. In other words approach things like this holistically. A heavy front might be caused by a soggy rear.

[F5 Dave]

Wheel alignment won't cause that, it would manifest as a slow weave at just above walking pace (or worse at real speed).

Did you take the weight off the front wheel (sidestand with a mate to hold it) & really check the steering bearings as any notch will cause just that effect.

[ivelramit]

The bike is all stock as far as I can tell. Definitely stock handlebars, and I'm pretty sure it hasn't been lowered.
I'll try to take it for another ride with properly inflated tyres. I didn't think 29 would be all that low, but maybe...
I think the condition of the tyres is ok, but I'll check again (also it has just been through WOF).
As for the steering bearings - seems like a feasible cause, so I'll check these again as well.
Thanks for all the input!