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Poor Handling

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Poor Handling

I have a 1983 Venture i installed a new Progressive rear shock . I am now installing taper steering bearings. My question is, I think this bike could use a steering damper Any one no of one that would fit?.............. Mike in Tx

Answers

Don't know why he would need a damper. Only time they handle poorly is due mainly to tires and/or head bearings. If he goes progressive front/rear and has good tires (i use elite 11's)everything should be fine. As to a knowing of a source, NO. ..........Hank

Good choice for suspension components. A good idea would be to upgrade your front end as well. The variable rate springs offered by Progressive Suspension are top notch stuff. Never seen a steering damper for a Venture. Make sure that your steering head is torqued to EXACTLY factory specs. after changing your steering head bearings. No more no less.
Also try varying your front tire pressure SLIGHTLY. I found this can take a bit of the shakes out. As well change your rubber. My experience has been that the Bridgestone Dual Comp. tires will eliminate the shakes. The Dunlops of old were horrible. The new ones are much better. I am on a new pair of K491's and no problems at all with instability. Hope this helps.
..............Dave Leonty XVZ12 Royale

Hi, I got your letter referred to me from several friends. I also drive a Venture, which is sort of high mileage now that I have had it so many years. The 1983 Venture handling was considered SO superior to the 1983 Honda Goldwing that Honda had to completely redesign their machine for 1984. A 1983 road test showed the bike two up grinding the pegs on a turn (on a race track where the 1983 Yamaha model line was being shown). Perhaps the handling on your Venture has deteriorated a bit over time; I have noticed that mine is not quite as crisp as it once was...
However, if the Venture is not handling properly, I would more likely blame the tires. I have tried many brands of tires for the 84 Venture that I own, and have always moved back to Dunlop ( I have run the Elite II tires since about 1991). (Ed. These tires worked for me also!) The Venture did not behave "neutrally" with the other brands of tires that I tried, and I replaced all of those other tires long before they wore out
I would suggest that the front steering head bearings be checked (excellent that you are doing this), and check the rear bearings, and also upgrade the existing fork brace with an aftermarket product. I am sorry that I do not know a current manufacturer of the fork brace aftermarket part (Ed. Check out JC Whitney in the Aftermarket section). However, a number of Venture owners who have written to me have stated that the fork brace makes a big improvement.
I note that you have replaced the rear shock. If the ride is "harsh", it may be that the central bolt (that holds the lower shock to the suspension linkages) is binding up the linkage when the central bolt is tightened. This "binding up" problem was true on some 83 and 84 bikes (mine included). If you discover that this is a problem with your bike, you can solve the problem by fastening that particular bolt a little loose. You can keep this bolt from undoing itself with a little drop of threadlock. The suspension will then move freely, and the bike's handling will improve dramatically.
If you are running higher speeds, and find the bike "wallows" on sweeping turns, I find a surprising improvement in handling if the rear top box is removed and left in the garage. This is what I do when I am staying near the city, but wish to ride aggressively........
I have not heard of a steering damper sold for the Venture. Sorry. .........Scott McMartin

Handling complaints

Hi there,
My name is Roy Richards and I am the Florida director for the V-max owners association. I was checking out your page as I am considering buying one of Maxes close cousins, the Venture as my touring bike. I saw several complaints about "wobble" in the Q&A section and thought I would pass along a little trick we call the 'Furbur Fix" in V-max circles. It was named this after the guy who popularized it among us V-max fanatics and I understand it works wonders on ventures too.
Maxes are very prone to wobble and headshake at the worst times and one of the major causes can be traced to the little rubber washer between the two special nuts under the top triple clamp. The washer does not allow an accurate adjustment of the steering bearing tension and prevents the botttom nut from being held tightly.
In order to "fix" it remove the top triple clamp,the top nut, and the rubber washer. Adjust the lower nut a little on the tight side and then reinstall the 2nd nut torquing it down tightly onto the bottom nut. Place the rubber washer on top of the two nuts (not in between them as it was before) and reinstall the top triple clamp. Now that lower nut will not lose its adjustment and the triple trees cannot vibrate slightly within the thread tolerance. Go for a ride and you will be amazed at the difference this little change will make in the feel of your bike.
Just thought I would pass it along. ..........Roy Richards Florida VMOA director lrichard@n-jcenter.com

Last update: 03:26 PM Sunday, September 26, 2004

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