Front wheel shimmy

Hello, I have a 1980 kz 1000, I have a shimmy, side to side movement of the handle bars/front end at approx. 35mph or less when my hands are taken off the handle bars. I'm thinking wheel balance, but I think that would be up and down movement of the wheel. Any input or advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Tom.

I would check the steering stem bearings. Then put tapered roller bearings in. Also check front and rear wheel bearings and the swingarm bearings.

I had this problem, so I made sure the tires were well balanced. This helped a little, but did not cure the problem. I found that the front tire was out of round by less than 1/16". The rear by about 1/8". The wheels ran very true.

Then I bought a second set of wheels and some new tires. The new tires were perfectly round, and I got them balanced to within a few grams. PROBLEM SOLVED. No more shimmy and velvety smooth.

The old tires still have some wear left in them, so I put the front one back on, just to putter around town with, and to save my new tires. Amazingly the front remained fairly well behaved. Then I also put the old rear tire back on, and the shimmey came back! So the rear tire was causing the shimmy. Weird, but go figure.

Anyway, check for balance. Check for out of round. Also, I am convinced that my old tires were not very uniformly made - hard spots here and there. Food for thought.

All good posts, however, most common "shimmy" on de-cell is caused by un-even wear at ft tire. additional notes. loose or burnelled stem bearings are exibiteted by a feel at bars..ie notchy steering,"hunting for center"...2, wallowing when tipped over in long constant radius turns,under load, worn swing arm bushings/bearings. Stem bearings are prevelant prob. and once damaged are more cheaply remidied w/tapered timpkin bearings. I'll not say they're better, simply cheeper and easier to adjust and live longer. end results are cumulitive. just replacing a cupped front tire may end goofy handling, for now, worn/goop loaded bearings will return. it's really not that big a chore, hav a look G

Thanks for your help, I will check my wheel runout and balance. I'm not quite sure how to check the steering head bearings for wear, but i will check into that. Thanks, Tom

I had a problem with my tire. I had new Kendas on it when I got it and switched to Dunlop GT501s. I wouldn't put Kendas on my garbage can.

I had a 1975Z1B that developed a shimmy and shake in the front end. I found my Brake Calipher bolts were loose.

Calhoun:

Funniest thing - My old tires were Kendas. Are we seeing a pattern here? They got reasonable traction, and ran for high miles, but they just aren't manufactured to much precision,in my opinion. Handle bars shake; cornering is uncertain because it is not smooth; the shocks are being worked constantly, even when the tires are balanced; the tires were out of round; etc. etc.