funny steering issues

lewis1641 · Jun 13, 2009

need your help guys.

as some of you may know i have just finished my khs single speed project. took it out last night for a shakedown run and i'm having steering issues.

the headset feels fine, not too tight, not too loose. it feels spot on to me. as soon as i am on the bike the bars feel like there it a lot of resistance. it feels worse the faster you go. its not like the bars refusing to turn, there's just a bit of a wierd, slightly stiff feeling.

the bike is a 93 khs montana pro with rockshox mag 21's. is it possible the forks have destroyed the geometry? it the 80mm stem too short - would that make a difference?

any help would be greatfully received

Mr Panda · Jun 13, 2009

Is the stiffness just noticeable when your riding along? I mean if you're astride the bike and leaning heavily on the bars, does it feel odd then too, or only when moving?

lewis1641 · Jun 13, 2009

only when moving

OldFatTi · Jun 13, 2009

If you are used to longer stems and wider bars, going short and narrower will feel stiffer, but quicker.

Or if the forks give more caster than you are used to it will feel stiffer, but will add stability.

That's about all it could be if the headset is OK as you say.

You probably just need to get used to it? I know I always feel a bit weird initially on anything I haven't ridden for a while or if any of the control area is changed.

lewis1641 · Jun 13, 2009

it more feels wrong than wierd. corners feel very iffy. bars are fairly wide.

i guess its one of those situations where you need to experience it

i remember cdhanging a stem on my fire mountain many years ago and had a similar feeling but not to the same degree.

i think i'll pull the headset and make sure everything is ok in there again and try a longer stem.

cheers for input

Mr Panda · Jun 13, 2009

WHAT STYLE OF HEADSET IS IT?

lewis1641 · Jun 13, 2009

threaded. the locknut has 2 allen keys to tighten it down. the only thing that is odd is the previoius owner has fitted a spacer between top race and locknut.

that could be it. there's no reason for that to be there at all. i'll remove that and retighten headset before anything else.

barry2017 · Jun 13, 2009

IME, headsets can be wrong even when they feel OK.

Sithlord · Jun 14, 2009

Its not the cable's are tight when you turn the bars is it ?

is there a rogue bearing in the race's , sometimes if there is when you apply pressure to the bars it just compounds the problem ..

Buy a CK... problem solved..

Jones · Jun 14, 2009

I know it sounds daft

but you haven't gone from very light tyres to very heavy tyres have you :?:

I remember changing from very light semi slicks to something a lot heavier and the first few rides felt really strange :shock: I remember riding along my road and stopping after the first corner to check what was wrong as it felt so strange :?

funny steering issues

lewis1641

Mr Panda

lewis1641

OldFatTi

Senior Retro Guru

lewis1641

Mr Panda

lewis1641

barry2017

Old School Grand Master

Sithlord

Old School Grand Master

Jones

Senior Retro Guru

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