95 VFR with headshake..

I am new to road riding,I noticed my bike will develop a shake when I'm coasting without my hands on the bars..(Yes I know I'm supposed to hold on at all times,I have just noticed this and it gets faster if I take my hands off the bars??)
I have changed the front tire as it was almost worn out,I checked the steer head bearings and they are tight,the wheel bearings are also snug,the bike is super smooth as long as my hands remain on the bars...The forks seem to work well and the rim is not bent...Any ideas??
Glenn Myers

 

is it a shake or a bounce? I know on a my mx bike, the rake was steeo enough that if i didn't hang off the back the front end would swap way bad back and forth. If it's a bounce, it could be a number of things. How new is the tire? Was it balanced after it was mounted? It might have a bad cord in it causing it to bounce or shake. Does the triple tree (clamps)/sterring stem have any up and down movement? I know you said they were tight, I am just confirming this. Also, you migth want to check to make sure the axle nuts are tight. Just a few ideas as someone else may have better info or experience in this area.

 

Replace your current sealed roller bearing w/ tapered bearing, this will cure the problem per past forums I've read for your vintage of VFR. If your dealer can't find them for you any indutrial bearing supply company should be able to find you a retrofit w/ your current head bearing part#. hope this helps

 

Just a note: if you decide to go w/ the tapered bearing you will have to pack them w/ grease. Depending on what kind of miles you put on you will probably have to do this annually or semi annually for best results/longevity

 

see? I knew someone would have other insight to this than me.

 

Thanks for the advise!
In answers to all your comments,It is a defininate head shake(the kind I run a steer dampener on my off road bike to prevent! side to side until I stop it with my hands..)
I did not see the prior articles on this problem but I will locate the new type bearings for the steer head and change them out...I am a little confused how this will help as the current ones have no movement,but they do have 42k on them..
I will report back to you guys after this is done.
Also the new Michelins were ballenced and they run smooth(except during headshake)
---Glenn

 

Glenn, I'll save you some time searching look @ a post from 2/16/06 titled Tapered Bearings for a 91; a post from 1/29/06 titled Wobbling Steering & a post from 3/25/04 titled Adjusting Steering Head Bearings. The S.O. is telling is time for bed, & I'm not going to argue because she said she isn't tired but I'm sure there are more posts on the subject.:bolt:

 

The Good news and bad, Did alot of research on this subject, seems it is a inheireted thing with the 4g bikes, maybe even the others. not so much a problem as just something to take note on. As in like you I too found this by doing excactly the same thing hands off coast like coming off the frreway etc, things is it will only do it when coming down thru like 40mph range not at 50 nor 30, just in the 40mph range. I looked at all aspects of what is going on tire presure liniment balnceing re dampning fork oil. finally got thru at a service tech at the factory Honda place, seems they sorta new this was a factor in the build from the get go, cure? none. yes I too ordereed up the tapered timkens, fact is they even came from Honda, thing is they are still in their wrapper, reason one is thats a lot of trouble when theres no guarenty that this will even fix ther shake then theres is the extra friction on a everyday thing I liike my streeing to be quick and light, after talking with Honda on this as all you are really doing is creating more friction contact to aid in the slow down to the vibes. best thing I actully found was going to Bridgestone battle axes BT56rr a good part oif it went away. but that was back a few years, not even sure those tires are around. Now on this bike I have a 97, I have the pirelle Corsa and to tell you the truth I don't feel it but then I don't really go there either, I have done the hands of after it leaves 40mph and no trouble. but it is in the back of my mind as if I ever do tear down the fron triple clamps I might have to add those tapered bearings just to see how it does work out. but for now I've let it go, and I mean not the grips.