twitchy front end

[Cwidova]

hey all, i have a 2006 zx6r and it's very twitchy on the front end......is there anyway to make it a bit more stable apart from a steering damper?

[MrWasabi]

what do you mean by twichy?
going straight or around bends?

ive had a problem where the front end would wobble if i took my hands off the bars, figured it came down to triangulated tyre on the front.

[Cwidova]

mainly coming outta corners it gets a bit of a wobble....probab;y 3 1/4 to full throttle.....even if it wound on slowly

[MrWasabi]

i havent got much experience in this, but from what i know.
Check the head bearings and make sure they are ok. lock in the front brake and push the bike back and forward, listen for any knocking or movement in the bars

have you played at all with the suspension settings at the front?
what about changing the chain tension or playing around with the rear tyre?

[Cwidova]

yeah all that is good i bought the bike new last year and it has been regulary checked and serviced.....i haven't changed anything with the suspension i don't really want to change anything like that until i do some more research incase i stuff it up completely!! i forgot to say i did have a damper on it but took it off some some unknown reason and lost it......have to stop being forgetfull when putting things in safe places

[Gosling1]

Did it do the same thing when the steering damper was fitted ??

From the description, I reckon you need to spend some $$$ getting the suspension sorted out......that description sounds to me like the rebound damping is too soft for starters...

[Cwidova]

it didn't do it as much but it still did it......i was just speaking to a friend he also suggested that the forks need to be higher in the triples.....i noticed on my dirt bike it made a big differance but being like that since new the dealer would have set it up to kawasaki specs???

[Gosling1]

if the forks are pushed up *higher* through the triple clamps......this will make the steering even quicker and more prone to 'twitchiness'.......if anything, perhaps the forks should be pushed down.

all these middle-weight sports bikes have quick steering, so can feel a bit twitchy even when they are set up properly.

If you haven't had the suspension set for your weight and riding style, you need to get this done first.

[Cwidova]

lol i did mean lower just said it wrong is there a site or somewhere i can look at to set it up to my weight or should i just send it off and get it done....mind you i would prefer to do it myself so as i can learn more about it all

[zenodamper]

Check your preloads - if the front unloads on the C1/6, it will waggle from extension....

Adjusting preload on shock is easiest with shock out of the bike - shock length changes with preload (like 10Rs); so set preload by spring compressed state (something like 177mm for EG). Can take shock out by yaself with just a bottle-jack in groove at back of zorst... (blow-clean the threads before moving the preload rings, or they can seize)

Good luck

[Cwidova]

thanks i will have a look at it when i can