Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 999 / 749 > bike stability deteriorating after use??

[chillo]

a bit of a general question this so bare with me

When i had a Fireblade and Gix1000 a few years back i found that everything felt nice a tight in respect of the geometry and suspension when brand new. But after a while with some hard riding the bike start to feel little loose, when the bike got serviced it would come back feeling like it did when brand new. This was because as part of the service the headstock was usually 'nipped' up a bit.
I ended up doing this myself(re-pack and regrease the head bearings and an extra 1/8th or 1/4 turn on the headstock)
On my old gix1000 i started to get a regular weeve when wheelying above 120-130mph (my mates did say it looked a little scary! ), but i never got this when it was new-ish. I just put it down to a soft carcass tyre flexing under the load.

Now with just over 5k on the clock in the last month or 2 my 999 is doing the same thing, i.e. weeve when wheelying.
When riding at speed, If i give the bars a good 'waggle' there is a lot more movement throughout the bike. Result it generally feels less stable.
My question is why? is it down to the swingarm pivot bearings having a bit more play in them due to wear and tear?? Can you just 'nip' up the main swing arm bolt like you would the head stock??

any thoughts?

[Edited on 21-7-2005 by chillo]

[andyb]

Are you for real?

[Edited on 21-7-2005 by andyb]

[dickieducati]

andy, still havnt done enough on yours to run it in have you ??

[JPM]

Mine felt like that from day one!

Originally posted by JPM
Mine felt like that from day one!

you forgot the smiley JPM .....

did you want this or this

[Steve M]

I usually find it's when the tyres have gone off profile - new tyres and problem goes. 130 mph wheelies - 'kin ell, just think of the impact on the head bearings when it lands! It could be that if you're riding it that hard then you need shorter service intervals.

So you've fixed your exhaust and will be out at TA4 - I'm geting nervous again

[chillo]

Originally posted by andyb
Are you for real?

i'm no Gary Rothwell!
my one wheel wheely record stands at just over 150mph on my gix. Standing up its about 140mph.

At those speeds the whole bike starts to act like a sail! you really can feel the wind
Don't go quite so fast on one wheel on the duke, to be honest i usually let it rev out in 3rd
sometimes get 4th.
You dont land it too hard at that speed everything happens a lot slower the faster you go! Get a nice puff of smoke! (known as a boeing! )

Seriously though,
good point Steve it could be the tyres been a little 'used'
Will find out at the weekend when i get these Racetec's on.
First time with these, heard good reports about them so looking forward to trying them.
i've gone for 190 instead of 180!
the wsbk boys are now using 200's regularly


[Edited on 21-7-2005 by chillo]

[andyb]

I think id feel the wind doing that at that speed..........closely followed by the ground!

[Edited on 21-7-2005 by andyb]

[NBs996]

Chillo, you blown the c**p out of my record... only managed 120, but that was 2-up - you da man!

You'll like the racetec's on the track but they've made my 996 feel a little 'loose' up on the back wheel. Probably cos the pressures are a bit low but I've not had chance to play with pressures yet.

[andyb]

Originally posted by dickieducati
andy, still havnt done enough on yours to run it in have you ??

Youve got the cheek to go at me when you the one banging on about cricket............