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Improving handling at higher speeds??? Improving handling at higher speeds???
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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  #1  
Old 27 Aug 2008
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What are you carrying ? my BMW gets wobbly if the rear end is overloaded.
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Old 27 Aug 2008
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Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
What are you carrying ? my BMW gets wobbly if the rear end is overloaded.
Just me!!!

I'm not on knobblies either so I can't blame them
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Old 27 Aug 2008
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Yamaha manual for the '84 bike says 8 psi in the forks
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Old 27 Aug 2008
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Could your shock be dead?

Once the damping is gone, your bike will feel wallowy and vague.

The spring could also be tired.

Is it an import? Some grey imports from another market sometimes have weaker springs (eg some Japanese home market 400s had lighter springs asn generally the Japanese are a bit slighter than a lardy Westerner!!)
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Old 28 Aug 2008
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Try fitting a lower front mudguard, Acerbis do one that will fit. Stiffer 'progressive' fork springs. What Tyre pressure are you running at ?
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Old 28 Aug 2008
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But the basics should be addressed first.
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Old 28 Aug 2008
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Thanks for all the tips and advice guys!!!

The bike IS an import my docs say it was first registered in the UK in 2001 - the bike is a 1984.

When the rear wheel is lifted off the ground there is free up/down movement - before the suspension comes into play, this will be worn suspension bushes.
What is acceptable free movement???

I am going to be giving the suspension a good check over this weekend and I'm going to firm up the rear and check the pressure of the forks.
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Old 28 Aug 2008
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Originally Posted by Tenere Tom View Post
Thanks for all the tips and advice guys!!!

The bike IS an import my docs say it was first registered in the UK in 2001 - the bike is a 1984.

When the rear wheel is lifted off the ground there is free up/down movement - before the suspension comes into play, this will be worn suspension bushes.
What is acceptable free movement???

I am going to be giving the suspension a good check over this weekend and I'm going to firm up the rear and check the pressure of the forks.
I would say you should have no play in the swingarm's arc other than the movement of the shock's own piston. If you do I expect it is bushes or the roller bearings in the shock linkage (do XTs have one, or does the shock bolt straight to the swingarm?). It could even be play in the swingarm bearings.

If you stand the bike upright, knock the sidestand up and hold the bike at the back: use your weight to compress the rear shock - sort of drop your upper body weight onto the back of the bike to give the shock a sudden increase in load.

If the shcok compresses immediately or, more importantly, springs back immediately, without any restriction, then the compression is gone and that will hamper you bike's handling: if a rebuild is not an option (rarely is on stock shocks) then a new one is the only option, unless you want to chance a Breaker's Yard.

If its the only glitch with a 24 year old bike, I still think you got a nice ride....
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