I just picked up a '96 CBR F3, its stock except for the muffler and seat. Its a great bike but I do have a small front end vibration. Over ~60mph, the front end headshakes if you let go of the handlebars. It tracks straight and doesnt seem to have any other handling problems, forks *look* straight and arent leaking. The previous owner had laid it down on the right side at low speed. Could this be a tire problem or is something out of whack in the front end?

Oddly, my old FZ had this problem although it came on at slower speeds and was much worse. Damn the old bikes.......

Thanks!

 

Stop letting go of the handlebars.

It sounds like loose head bearings could be the culprit. Or, your tire is cupped/misshapen. Or, improper inflation.

Are the clip-ons damaged?

Congrats on the bike! I started on an F3...I miss that bike... The Corbin seats are amazing. Night and day versus the stock unit.

 

Tire looks pretty good, no uneven wear - clipons dont look damaged.

Not to say there is something wrong with the tire, but how do you tell?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Tire looks pretty good, no uneven wear - clipons dont look damaged.

Not to say there is something wrong with the tire, but how do you tell?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Uneven wear/misshapen tire would be an indicator. How old is the tire?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How old is the tire?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No idea - I'll go snap a pic

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No idea - I'll go snap a pic</TD></TR></TABLE>

You don't need to do that. Just check on the side of the tire, where all the writing is. There should be a four-digit number within an oval / circle. The first two numbers indicate the week the tire was made, the last two the year.

On a sidenote, my old FZ600 had developed the same problem. My mechanic told me it was the steering head bearings. I sold the bike to my friend before I had a chance to fix it, but the mechanic had quoted me $150 to repair. HTH.

 

Tire is a "Michelin Pilot Race", 120/60/17 - 31psi inflation, stamp is "3000" in the oval.

 

Not sure what the problem is, but nice bike! I love the F3's...and for some reason I really love that color scheme

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">On a sidenote, my old FZ600 had developed the same problem. My mechanic told me it was the steering head bearings. I sold the bike to my friend before I had a chance to fix it, but the mechanic had quoted me $150 to repair. HTH.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Bearing set is $70 or so from bikebandit - is this a DIY job? tapered bearings are notoriously hard to install without damaging and setting the correct preload on.... at least thats my experience.

 

That is one OLD tire. Even if your steering head bearings are the culprit, I would change out those tires quickstyle.

I don't know how labor-intensive steering head bearings would be. I don't mind paying a reputable shop good money to fix that, since it's just something I can't do on my own (or will not attempt to do). My theory is, since I save money on doing as much maintenance as possible on my own, I can afford to spend a little bit when I need to.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That is one OLD tire.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well shitlox - recommendations? Primarily street riding and shenanigans - I guess the answer to all tire questions is "pilot powers" but how long do they last? I plan on putting 10k miles on it this year.

 

10k? That's all tall order for any sport-oriented tire. A friend of mine has had good success with Pirelli Diablos, saying they've lasted for 8k miles of commuting, which includes some canyon riding and three trackdays.

The Metzeler M1 Sportec does not last as long (mine haven't), but they should be really cheap now with the new M3 out (and the Racetec).

I've since switched to using take-offs from friends' bikes. It's free. I'm cheap.

But I splurge on my track tires.

 

Well I dont expect them to last 10k, but 6-7k would be acceptable.

 

Everyone I know that has tried them loves Pilot Powers. They last awhile and they stick well.

Any shops near you that can take a look at the steering head bearings?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marmaladeboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Any shops near you that can take a look at the steering head bearings?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah there's a good shop that i have been using - I'll try to do some diagnosis myself and see if I can determine if they're bad. Looking at the manual, they dont look like its too hard to replace.

Thanks for the input

 

Good luck with your front end.

If you don't mind, how much did you get the F3 for? Miles?

 

$2600, 20k miles.

 

Good deal! Congrats on the bike.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">$2600, 20k miles.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good deal, cool bike Ryan. What shop are you using? Coleman's or Fairfax? I dont know any other shops around here, lol.

 

Killer bike! Always have been a fan of the F3!!

Like Mr. Marmalade Said, Its sounds like a out of balance tire and or bad tire!

I did have the same sounding problem on a 600RR But that was because the Rim was slightly bent!

Eric

 

dcsb?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nihonjin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Good deal, cool bike Ryan. What shop are you using? Coleman's or Fairfax? I dont know any other shops around here, lol.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Fastlane in Chantilly - really nice guys.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EGlovr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dcsb?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I havent posted there yet.

 

When will you learn not to buy old things.

That tire looks to be fairly squared off... perhaps the shake is from the wear.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Apocalypse &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When will you learn not to buy old things.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If all my vehicles were new and under warranty, and my dad worked on my racecar for me I'd be so bored I wouldnt know what to do with myself.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If all my vehicles were new and under warranty, and my dad worked on my racecar for me I'd be so bored I wouldnt know what to do with myself.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Watch ****.... duh.

There are many hobbies to occupy one's time. Learning to take pictures that aren't blurry as ****, for example.