Author Topic: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me  (Read 4279 times)

Offline ForkedUp

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Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« on: August 03, 2014, 09:59:07 PM »
Coming to the realization that I could have died on my Connie today..

So I woke up this morning in Parkersburg WV, rode some of the well known twisties in South East Ohio, then started making my way east on the slab as part of my trip from Alberta to NYC. Both bags full of clothes/gear with a soft case on the luggage rack.

The morning was great (I can't believe how hilly and curvy the highways are there, pretty country), got rained on in the afternoon in PA, what else is new.

Pulling into my room in Hagerstown, Maryland tonight, there's a little right turn into the Lobby area. I take the right at a slow, normal speed (5mph? 10?) and I lowside immediately. Bike turns itself off, I stand it back up, put it on the kickstand and I notice that the fork/bars won't turn right. It won't go past a quarter of the way to full right turn. It feels like a sharp cutoff, not one with any give. It was dark out and I need to sleep so I'll go take a thorough look in the morning, but have any of you ever experienced this?

I didn't notice anything unusual beforehand. Had turned it off maybe 10 minutes before that, but I had taken right turns between then and when it locked up, so something happened when I was riding. Turns all the way to the left, the fork lock turns on and off normally, and it doesn't feel like any cables caught (I'll look) but son of a b*tch that could have been disastrous if it happened at 70mph on the 536 and not 7mph at the inn.

Things to look for tomorrow morning? Similar experiences?

Offline cmoore

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Re: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2014, 04:57:24 AM »
Just a thought. Once I had a brake hose that got around a lip on the front fairing and interfered with my steering. Let us know what you see when you get some light on the front end. Good luck.
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2014, 05:03:06 AM »
I don't remember the details but someone reported something like this happening here before. Turns out that a bolt had worked lose and this bolt was interfering with the turning of the forks.   
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2014, 05:52:32 AM »
Mr. C is correct.  There is a center fairing brace that attaches to the steering stem front frame area.  Those bolts can work loose.  There's two of them.  Bolts are part number 92154-1348 8x50.  Nuts are 92210-0325 8mm cap nuts.  Also check and make sure that the steering stem cap nut is still in place.  That can fall off as well.  Not much you can do about the stem nut as that's pretty specialized and I don't think it will cause immediate harm like what you experienced.

http://www.kawasakipartshouse.com/oemparts/a/kaw/500b58b7f8700223e4796bbc/cowling-upper
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Offline Rhino

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Re: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2014, 07:49:01 AM »
Mr. C is correct.  There is a center fairing brace that attaches to the steering stem front frame area.  Those bolts can work loose.  There's two of them.  Bolts are part number 92154-1348 8x50.  Nuts are 92210-0325 8mm cap nuts.  Also check and make sure that the steering stem cap nut is still in place.  That can fall off as well.  Not much you can do about the stem nut as that's pretty specialized and I don't think it will cause immediate harm like what you experienced.

http://www.kawasakipartshouse.com/oemparts/a/kaw/500b58b7f8700223e4796bbc/cowling-upper

I remember that thread but still not sure where to look to make sure the bolt isn't coming out. Would love to see some pics.

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Re: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2014, 07:54:55 AM »
FWIW, if you are turning the bars at 70 MPH, well, 'nuff said.  Bummer on the tip over and I'd put good money on the tin man and "C" being correct.

Offline ForkedUp

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Re: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2014, 08:32:29 AM »
FWIW, if you are turning the bars at 70 MPH, well, 'nuff said.  Bummer on the tip over and I'd put good money on the tin man and "C" being correct.

Yeah yeah. Even at low speeds on a busy street at night would be a lot worse than the parking lot.

It was the lower bolt on the fairing brace. The nut is gone, the bolt had worked itself out 90% and was sticking out an inch and a half.

I doubt anyone stocks that nut anywhere in Hagerstown MD, so just get a hardware store one and some threadlocker? I put it back in but I'm not highway riding till its got a nut.

Offline gPink

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Re: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2014, 08:43:31 AM »
8mm nylock should do the trick. Be sure you check the other bolt.

Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2014, 08:50:40 AM »
There's a Kwak dealer in Hagerstown...Twigg Cycle.  Unfortunately, they are closed on Mondays and the chances of them stocking that nut are nil.  Any good hw store should have a nut that you can use temporarily until you can get a new one.  I don't know if you're bike is still under warranty or extended warranty but if it is, I'd go the dealer route and make them replace it.  I would also report the incident to NHTSA and call Kawasaki customer service (949)-770-0400.

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/index.xhtml
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Offline ForkedUp

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Re: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2014, 09:09:48 AM »
Yeah that shouldn't be like that...
http://imgur.com/qQ1DTCA
And here, with the scrapes...
http://imgur.com/WFwszus

I'll get an 8mm Nylock, that's a good idea. The other one seems nice n tight.

Offline jwh20

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Re: Steering Issue, bike tries to kill me
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2014, 09:36:21 AM »
I looked on my 08 and there are two cap nuts there and they are tight as far as my fingers are concerned.  I think some "nylock" nuts would be a better choice as they don't work their way loose. I'm going to take the two off of my bike, apply some blue loctite and retorque.

Glad you were not injured and hope the rest of your trip is safe.  Good thing to check proactively.  There are enough dangers outside of our control to let something simple and easy to check/fix like this be the cause of an accident!