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]