Steering lock trouble

[Jimmy]

Hi. Wondering if anyone has some advice that will save me an 'off'. I suspect the locking mechanisim in my steering lock has broken - maybe it's spring loaded and the locking pin is 'floating'. If I lean the bike over to the left (including simply using the stand) the lock activates sometimes. Leaning it over to starboard and it disengages!! The lock itself retracts when using the key, but the actual lock pin into the steering head ain't retracting - hence the swing technique!

Am I going to have to disassemble the whole bloody front end to access the internals within the steering column/frame or can I get the lock out without going inside the frame? Suffice to say, I don't really want to leave things as they are - an accident waiting to happen as they say!!

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks.

[Dodgyiti]

Sometimes you put the key in the lock and turn it, and there is a small hole to insert a thin rod [ or nail ] to remove the whole lock without major stripout.
Very important to sort out, no matter how much work is involved

[XTC]

It shouldn't cause a problem to normal riding as when moving along you dont turn your bars to the extent that the lock would engage. But then I would not ride it with it like that. Fix it.

[XTC]

P.S what's the TT like on the road??

[moko]

P.S what's the TT like on the road??

Weird situation here Andy,XT was banned(or at least you cant get new ones anymore)because it breaks new European noise/emission regs,it was sold as a road bike.Yamaha then brought in the TT600 with exactly the same motor but as it`s classed as a dirt-bike it`s exempt :sneaky2: Typical Euro-bollocks.I had an XT before I bought the Fazer,and a cracking bike it was too but all I can go on r.e. the TT600 is from road-tests,basically it seems that on the road they`re pretty much the same,TT has ally rims,different exhaust,brembo brakes and a different exhaust,looks better without those stupid fake rad things on the side of the tank as well(both of mine shook apart under warranty).Now we`ve got the road-biased XT660 and it`s SM sibling the TTs days are numbered.Probably still got the XT`s Achilles Heel for road work...butt-numbing seat,I did 100 miles on mine once in a day(something I do on the Fazer all the time)and I could hardly walk,felt like I`d "spent the weekend at Elton`s"

[Jimmy]

P.S what's the TT like on the road??

Thanks all. A three hour job to strip down the front end and reassemble - less one broken locking pin (about 1 cm in diameter). It had snapped off from the lock. Bike to henceforth be locked using my best padlock!!

I only use the TT600 on transit stages when adventure riding (and sometimes around town when the rear knobbly is ready for replacement). It goes well - high riding position for great visability, plenty of power (43 hp), 131 kgs, great front brakes (brembos) and Olins shock. Will go anywhere of course, and is fun to flick around the 'burbs. Seat is fine - but sure, only good for 100ks at a stretch, but wouldn't usually find any transit stages that long.

Mine's set up pretty much for the dirt (charity trail rides, Alpine Express etc) but it only takes 10 minutes to put the number plate and rear indicators on - so a lot of (versatile) bike for <$10k, and uncomplicated, air cooled 4 stroke reliability.