Hi, I am new to the site so if I don't quite get things right, just let it go, lifes too short .. lol.. I have joined the forum for a reason that someone on here may be able to help me with. I have a 2023 T120 Bonneville, very low mileage, and in good nick. Anyway, I recently went for a night camping with one of my mates. The bike was reasonably well loaded, but with just me on the front definately not as much weight on the back than a pillion passenger. The rear tire does need changing as it has a flat band on the middle of the tread, but it isn't illegal, it's almost like someone has done a few burnouts on it before I got it.. So as I was going on my way to meet my mate, I happened to take one of my hands off of the bars and noticed that the bars where going from side to side( I was deaccelerating at the time), I was quite taken aback, so I started experimenting, I took both hands off for a millisecond and nearly shat myself, as the bars where violently nodding from side to side. It does it when deaccelerating, I should have tried with the cruise control on to see if did it then, but to be honest I was hanging on tight after the big wobble.. I can ride the bike still, but it is on my mind when I'm riding it.. I also have other bikes that you can take your hands off with no problems at all.. (Bigger Harleys) Has anyone else had these sort of problems, and if so how have they gone about solving it. Many thanks Guys, keep it the right way up.. Chris..
Hi and welcome. Check the fork bearings to see if there is any movement, if there is replace them. Also swap the old tyres for new for starters and see if that fixes it.
Hi and welcome, I'd be inclined to start with the tyres if they're flat enough in the centre to make it look like someone has done burnouts.
Hi there! Welcome to the forum! You should follow all recommendations. I was able to ride my 2022 Bonnie complete hands off only by changing weight from one side to the other without any issues! You really need new tyres!
I would check tyre pressures and wheel alignment and I agree a matched set of new tyres are in order and should transform the handling.
Had this issue with both my VFRs, my ZZR1200, to a lesser extent my 1050 Sprint. Head bearings were fine, but that's your first check. A shagged tyre will make it worse. With any of these bikes unladen and no panniers on, no problem. As you rightly point out the weight itself is pretty average, my suspicion is that the position of the weight may contribute. You've probably got a lot of baggage high up and close to, or behind, the rear axle line. I lowered the yokes on a couple of my bikes to sharpen turn in, and that seemed to help. But in my experience, not completely abnormal.
As well as the above check the preload on your rear shocks is correct. Good luck and ket us know what the problem was
Hi Chris As above an easy win would be to change the tyres as they are due anyway then see how it handles, have you checked to see if it does it unladen?
I have a 2023 T120 too, and I can take both hands off the bars without a problem. I'd definitely start by replacing the tyres, especially given your comments about possible burnouts in the past.
That was my first thought, load distribution moving to the rear unloading the front tyre to a critical point. More rear preload sounds like it's needed so lifting the rear ride height. A tyre can be scrap for multiple reasons and not just depth of tread. A loss of shape or profile is a definite reason to change it.