Head Shake/Bike pulling to the right

Just bought a 2000 VFR800 and on the ride to work this morning I noticed when I take my hands off the bars they start to wobble back and forth and the bike pulls to the right. When I got to work I looked at the front tire and I didn't see any weights on it. Could this be the problem, and if not, what can I do to fix this. My GSX-R had a damper so the bars didn't move at all when I lifted my hands from the bars.

 

It could be lots of things but start with the most likey first.

Are your tyre pressures correct?
Is the front tyre cupped?
Do you have too much or too little preload on the front end?
Do you have enough preload on the rear for your weight and any luggage?
Do you have a top box fitted?
Are the front steering head bearings notched?
Are the fork legs the same height through the top yolk (Tripple Clamp)?
Is the rear shock knackered?


Any of these could cause the symptoms you describe.

 

I have a similar issue. It doesn't pull to one side, but it does wobble when I let my hands off the bars. I just discovered 2 days ago that I have a bent brake rotor on the left side. Just another suggestion on places to look.

Dee

 

Oh My the dreaded head shake strikes again. LOL No this is a built in extra that come with all/most VFR's, it's more to do with tire and wear plus air pressure, but yes it could be that your tire is out of balance too, check that first, then look into it further if it still does it.
But this is my story on this subject. All VFRs that I had of past did it, talked with Honda and they couldn't put their hand on just what was going on, some installed the Timken tapered rollers as that puts more friction in the steering head. I have a set ready to be installed never got around to it. It's interesting to see just how little dampening is needed to make this go away but, IMO it shouldn't be there in the first place. It wasn't till my current VFR I found a way around this. All my previous VFRs ran on Bridgestones BT56rs they worked for me, did what they were asked of, so never looked into the tire being the issue. besides the only time this becomes an issue is hands off decelerating at above 70 going down thru 40mph, just how many time do you do that? LOL, Now on my current VFR I needed new tires but at first yes I checked just for the H of it, it did the shake but it also had very square Dunlops that needed replace ASAP, so after a bit of looking into what tire to get, as the 56r's where not made anymore, I tripped over a sale on a set of Pirelli Diablo Corsa's that where at a why not great price. Wa la to my surprise the shake is gone. Go figure, never looked at another tire since, in fact I'm just now off to buy another front.

 

Headshake is one thing...but the "pulling" deal indicates something wrong. It could be the tires...or as Sye mentions a notched or too tight steering head. Maybe somebody overtightened the steering preload trying to fix the headshake. Since you just bought it used...I would take a close look at the front end in terms of bent or unevenly installed fork tubes.

Annoying headshake is a whole topic in itself. Complete neutral deceleration with hands off is a high standard, especially if you've got bumpy roads...not a good practice as it's really surprising how quick a "tankslapper" can occur. It can usually be made to go away or made better. I've had luck in many cases by snugging the stock head bearing preload. I've seen the timkens fix it...and not fix it both. Usually it seems like it's in the tires...more often front but on rare occasions the rear as well. I noticed on my 91 VFR that riding with the Givi bags prompted a headshake that wasn't there without them. My 07 is really neutral with or without them.

 

The pulling thing might have to do with weight loading. When I have a lot of weight in one saddlebag and the other is empty, I have to lean way to the unloaded side for the bike to go straight. Just another factor to consider. :unsure:

~Azamat

 

Took a better look at it this weekend and the front tire doesn’t have any weights on it. Ran my hand along the tire and it kinda sorta feels like the right side of the tire is raised more than the left. Could be my imagination, but if it is raised wouldn’t the bike be pulling to the left? With my hands on the bars there is no shake or pulling issues so I’m not terribly worried about it this second. It’s just a nagging thing in the back of my head. Can’t remember off the top of my head what tire is on the front but I know the back is a Shinko….crap.