Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Driveability, honda nighthawk 650, 1983 honda nighthawk 650

Question
Hello Pat, I have a 1983 honda nighthawk 650, when I drive down the street intown I have a wiggle in the front end I'm pretty shure all is tight I have just replaced the front fork seals and brass bushings. The wobble occurs about 25-35mph It's very slight but noticeable, if I shift my weight to the rear of the bike it gets better and shifting weight to the front it is a little worse. I know this bike has been laid down on both sides but I see no visible bent parts of the frame. The wobble isn't as noticeable when the speed increases to say 60 mph sorta comes and goes, is this in my imagination? Do you have any advise, I really enjoy this bike and would like to keep it. I haven't balanced the front tire, and don't know how old they are plenty of grip. By the way the tires are a bias ply is it possible the tire is bad. One more note this bike is shaft driven.

Answer
First take a look at the wheels. One of them could be bent, particularly the front. Also take a look at the brake discs for bending.

If it's neither of those, make sure the forks are in alignment: they're both at the same height in the triple clamp, and they're parallel. You can use a piece of glass for this: lay it flat on one fork, and it should rest flat on the other. If the forks are tweaked, one area of the glass will not touch, like what would happen if you tried to lay the glass flat on the ground but there was a tiny pebble not letting it rest flat.

If it's none of those things, it's probably just old out of round or tread-separated tires. Get some fresh rubber. In fact, get some fresh rubber anyway. Nobody should be running old bias-plys in 2007.

Pat