I just bought a 1991 Vmax and did not realy had the chance to test ride it when bought only to realized later that the bike is very erratic when reaching about 70MPH. I guess its due to the old tyres, got them changed and still the problem persists. Could it be the shock absorber? Anybody having the same problem? please help. Aziz Malaysia

You have to do the furber fix will cure it. I can remember my 91 jumping from ditchtoditch at 110 scared the shit out of me.
rmsportmax.com

Lets hope that's all it is, & not bent fork or wheel.

The Furber thing works for some. I have it on my Gen 1 and had the the same prob you have now, at 120 and 135. At 135, it'll really make you think. If it ever happens again... I let off the fuel and lightly hit the rear brake around 90 or less. Just don't stiffen the arms. Easy to say. The head bearings could also be the prob, not torqued right, worn, or corrosion. These bearing don't spin around as in a wheel hub. They, as in my case once, wore grooves in a small area, and once I had corrosion. The bearings could be too tight or too loose.
Had an 1100 Midnight Special do this to me at 120, and only once. I literally had to get off and p after that. Had way too many suds that night. Hope you find the problem.

furbor fix, tire wear, tire balance, tire pressure, steering stabilizer, frame and fork stiffeners,.. very common to the gen 1, big engine put in an older style frame.


dan

My opinion of the Gen1 Vmax is that they are unstable at certain speeds due to design. I demanded when I bought my new 02 that they readjust the steering head due to wheel wobble at about 45 MPH when I left go of the handlebar. They said I shouldn't be leaving go of the handlebar, I said the front end should'nt be wobbling either. I won! They readjusted the steering head and I have not had the problem reoccur.

Back in the late 80's I spend ten days in the hospital on morphine from speed wobble gone wild, so I can tell you it's nothing to fool with.

Steering head bearings are the most likely problem.

tukubarang55 wrote:


More than likely the head bearings need adjusting. This subject was covered before with pictures of how to adjust them easily. Perhaps someone can find the post.

Just for your information:

a) Place the bike on the main stand and block the engine so the front wheel is off the ground.

b) Loosen the top steering nut (chrome) two turns.

c) Get a wood dowel and hammer and move both adjusting nuts in the clockwise direction (looking from the top) about an inch on the radius and re tighten top nut. You may want to mark the position of the nuts in relation to the stem just so you can always come back to the original setting, if needed.

d) take bike for test ride and if needed, tighten bearings a bit more (1/4 to 1/2 inch) per tightening.

Remember, the Furbur Fix does NOTHING, it's the looseness of the bearings that needs attention.

Tighten head bearings...run about 36 lbs of air in both tires, and at least 10 in the forks, and stiffen up the rear shocks.

If this don't get you to 115 mph your in trouble

Chris

Yep, same thing here once I hit 115 - 120. I just make sure I don't go that fast but now since I have my Gen 2 I rarely ride my Gen 1.