New Rider, new bike - handling

Hi All,

Already asked this question on another forum, but wanted to get another set of eyes on it.

I passed my full licence last week and bought a nice Yamaha FZS600 at the weekend. My bike history is very limited (as I only passed last week) and consists of a moped when I was 16, a KMX125 when I was 17, a Honda CB125F to do my CBT on last month and a brand new SV650 to train for the full licence. I therefore don't really have enough experience to know whether the slow speed wobbling/snaking is to do with my lack of experience or the way the Fazer is supposed to handle or if there's something wrong with the bike. On all of the other bikes (which were probably lighter) I never felt out of control at slow speeds or slow speed cornering. On the Yamaha I do. I've also read about that there is a difference in handling between the inline 4 of the fazer and a v-twin (SV650).

The guy I bought the bike off seemed very genuine, had a couple of other nice bikes himself and is a member of the IAM, so trust that he wouldn't have sold me a lemon.

My question is this: Should my bike feel a little unsteady / snakey at slower speeds (5-15 mph)? Would a more experienced rider even notice? Is there some alignment problem with the bike?

I realise most of these questions are almost impossible to answer without seeing/riding the bike, but maybe someone has ridden both the SV650 and a Fazer and has noticed the same?

Cheers,

Ben

welcome -

worn tyres, misaligned rear wheel, worn headstock bearing, worn chain/sprockets ... those would be my first points to check.

I've ridden both an older SV650 and a Diversion 600 (XJ600 - inline 4 but less power than the fazer) and felt the opposite of what you are getting. I felt like I was always fighting the SV650 at low speeds, where as the XJ600 just went where I wanted to and was really easy to balance at slow speed. I put it down to the different handle bars and the weight of the XJ being a bit further back than the SV.

I'd check what Joe suggested, but it could also be simply that you are sitting in a slightly different position and need to adjust to it.

Edit: Sorry got Stu and Joe mixed up!

Thanks guys.

The bike was only MOT'ed two weeks ago, so I'd hope it wouldn't be worn headstock or chain/sprockets, but the rear wheel alignment could be it.

It may very well be just a different feel and It may be all in my head.

I've got it booked in to the garage tomorrow who have said they'll take a look and put my mind at rest. If there turns out to be nothing wrong with it and it's simply me just needing to adjust I'll be more confident when it feels a bit snakey. At the moment I'm a bit hesitant as I don't know for sure if it's ok or not.

Have you checked the tyre pressures?

Have you checked the tyre pressures?

I haven't, but that seems to be a popular suggestion of where to start. I'll give that a go tonight.

Have you checked the tyre pressures?

 

I haven't, but that seems to be a popular suggestion of where to start. I'll give that a go tonight.

Some bikes are worse than others for it!

I have to fight with mine at low speed and it's a known problem coincidentally it's a Yamaha too

Have you checked the tyre pressures?

 

I haven't, but that seems to be a popular suggestion of where to start. I'll give that a go tonight.

 

Some bikes are worse than others for it!

I have to fight with mine at low speed and it's a known problem coincidentally it's a Yamaha too

Thanks Stu - nice to know that it's not just me! I'm very intrigued to check my tyre pressures now as that seems to be the most common suggestion. I still want to get the alignment checked though.