Heavy Steering?

[muaymendez1]

Hey Guys. I have just came back to the royal star world. in the driveway right now is a kawasaki concours. A sport touring light bike.

Just getting back on to riding the royal star venture and the steering felt very heavy:pushups:

At first I was low on air pressure so I pumped it up to 36 but it still feels heavy.

 

At slow speeds turning the hweel for a parking lot turn it feels like it wants to turn in. very similar to a flat tire.

The tire has about 2 seasons on it and it doesnt show bad wear. I know steering head bearings usually go loose and have a lighter feel.

Any idea what I could be facing here?

 

Is it just something new to me at this point and just take some getting used to. My last royal star was 4 years ago and in between I had a gl1500 goldwing and my current Kawasaki Concours.

[Pegasus1300]

This is pretty normal for a Royal Star venture. I would suggest you run your pressure up to 40lbs and at your earliest convenience change the front tire from a 150x16 to a 130x16

The narrower tire will give you a lighter steering front end,

[GeorgeS]

Is your front tire a Bridgestone ???

 

If so, get a Dunlop, Avon, or Michelen . Trash the bridgestone.

[beltfed50]

I tried the 130 width tire on a TD, and hated it because it wouldn't hold a line on the highway; it was squirrely as hell. Leveling links from DiamondR & higher front tire pressure did the trick on my RSV, and after 20,000 miles it is becoming much easier to manage.

[MikeWa]

Second on 40 psi. Yes the steering is a little heavy and takes some getting used to.

 

Mike

[dacheedah]

Third the pressure up, friction zone helps, E3's help ( or anything but 404"s) raising the rear an inch helps a ton, rstd or flanders bars are an improvement also.

[darthandy]

I went with leveling links (Had some made based on a thread in this forum) on mine and it made a noticeable and worthwhile difference in the handling on the bike. I raised the rear an inch and am now contemplating raising it another half inch as I can still touch both feet down and I think this would further improve handling.

 

Andy

[StarFan]

Third the pressure up, friction zone helps, E3's help ( or anything but 404"s) raising the rear an inch helps a ton, rstd or flanders bars are an improvement also.

 

I have used the 404´s white wall on all my Royal Stars and have to say I like these tires very much. But that is just my opinion and experience.

[muaymendez1]

So what I'm getting from here is it us not a mechanical issue. Ill get used to it until I need a.New tire

[ACE50]

The best improvement in handling was when I put on a Stratoliner front wheel/tire. (18 vs 16" wheel and lower profile tire)

On the hyway, I can comfortably ride with out touching the handlebars. Couldn't do that with the stock setup or any tire combo. Turns are much better all-around. Love it!

I have the leveling links too but didn't notice as much improvement as the new wheel!

[muaymendez1]

So changing the front tire pressure to 40 or 41 should help? I know it felt better from 27 to 36. But I insiste inflated it according to manufacturer specifications. I will go up in pressure and see if that helps.

[BratmanXj]

If your a taller guy I'd look into the Leveling Links, it raises the back end 1" which reduces the rake & trail of the front end geometry, thus the steering feels a bit "quicker"

 

http://www.venturerider.org/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=4858&title=butler-built-leveling-links&cat=7

[muaymendez1]

I will have to see if they are on here already. I was told to check due to my bikes parkingv leaning angle is great. Someone said I may have them on there already

[VentureFar]

I was upset about how heavy the steering was, I was arm tired and "used" to love twisties.

Rick Butler told me about the leveling links he designed ( and is now selling for 1/2 price of diamond) and what the improvement in steering was. I put on the leveling links and was pleasantly surprised that I wasn't arm weary after 10 miles on tight twisties. I decided to go with the narrower front tire and my "tires only" shop told me that every Venture he services opts for the narrower front tire. IT DOES NOT HOLD AS WELL in heavy cross winds but doesn't blow all over the road either. Just need to put 2 hands on the bars instead of 1 and cruise control in heavy ( truck warning) cross winds. The leveling links are easy to install and give you additional ground clearance on the deep leans. That keeps the finger nails out of my ribs- no scraping.

If you are only going to do 1, do the leveling links. If that isn't enough then go with narrower front tire and if that isn't light enough ( meaning power steering feel) then go with the stratoliner front wheel.

My 2 cents -

Oh - and where I was uncomfortable with tight u turns and parking lot tight turns before the mods, after the mods I amaze myself how tight I can U turn this RSV now.

[VentureFar]

I will have to see if they are on here already. I was told to check due to my bikes parkingv leaning angle is great. Someone said I may have them on there already

 

Just measured the stock ones at 8 inches tip to tip.

If yours are longer you already have them.

VentureFar...

[muaymendez1]

I didn't realize you measure tip to tip. I measured mine bolt hole to hole at 7 inches. I guess mine are stock,.

I was able to lighten the steering up a bit by increasing front tire pressure to 41psi.

30 miles yesterday and shes feeling a whole lot better.

[VentureFar]

If you are now comfortable then you saved time and money.

Personally it took links and tire.

Good on ya

 

VentureFar...

[samklr650]

I just rode my Buddies Harley Street Glide and was amazed at how well that bikes handles compared to the RSV.

 

So I decided to get on here and look at what will improve the RSV handling. There's allot of good advice and I think I'm going to install leveling links and start looking for a Stratoliner front wheel.

 

Thanks' for the advice folks!!

[eusa1]

Just measured the stock ones at 8 inches tip to tip.

If yours are longer you already have them.

VentureFar...

the leveling links are shorter than the stock links, it works the opposite of what you would think.

I put them on about 10 years ago and they help a ton!

[IronMike]

Well. I'm about to put a REAR 130 90 M comander on the front. I'll let ya know. I have a skinny Metz on the front now. It's bald. It didn't last 9k miles. Going with the rear up front because as soon as I get this new test wore out a darkside tire is waiting.

 

But dealer told me a 130 is usually the cure. When I went from stock tire to skinny metz. Marked improvement. By skinny metz I mean mine is one inch less wide than others I have seen of the same size.

[Sylvester]

I have used the 404´s white wall on all my Royal Stars and have to say I like these tires very much. But that is just my opinion and experience.

 

Yes the 404's are my choice also. I have been running them fo at least 160,000 miles and will continue. I also run the wide white walls.

 

[samklr650]

Yes the 404's are my choice also. I have been running them fo at least 160,000 miles and will continue. I also run the wide white walls.

 

 

I ran 404's on my classic Honda VF700S "Sabre" and really liked them. So to hear they work well on a RSV is awesome! Great tire with excellent tire wear. I would get about 10k out of a set. What kind of mileage does the RSV get out of them?

[samklr650]

I had a local fabricator make some "Leveling Links" for my RSV. It only cost me a case of Pepsi. I just installed them Saturday evening and spent Sunday riding all day(162 miles) Wow! what a difference that made!! The bike handles so much better. I have no idea why Yamaha didn't do this when they built the bike. Now I'm going to get a 130 front tire and see how that helps. I have been looking at other touring bikes and just about all of them run 130 front tires.

[VentureFar]

I had a local fabricator make some "Leveling Links" for my RSV. It only cost me a case of Pepsi. I just installed them Saturday evening and spent Sunday riding all day(162 miles) Wow! what a difference that made!! The bike handles so much better. I have no idea why Yamaha didn't do this when they built the bike. Now I'm going to get a 130 front tire and see how that helps. I have been looking at other touring bikes and just about all of them run 130 front tires.

 

You will lose lateral stability in heavy cross winds but that is the only negative I have found with the narrow front tire.

The positive is you will now have "power steering".

You went from a non assisted truck steering to non assisted vw steering. With the narrow front tire you now get the equivalent of power steering. That's my analogy. Tell me how close it is when you get that front tire.

Enjoy the easy steering which also allows for easier tight uturns. My uturns went from whole two lanes to about 1.25 lanes or less.

VentureFar...

[djh3]

With your leveling links did you relocate the rear brake caliper? I remember reading something about relocating it for some reason.

Also for me being a bit shorter I let the front forks down in the triple tree about 3/4". then when I did change tires I went with the 130 Michelin Commander 2 in front. I really didnt notice any worse stability on the highways or any of that jazz. But I also only got to put about 3k on the OEM front tire as the PO had run the pressure to low and it was about gone.