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What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

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  • #1

    What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

    REQUEST TO MODS: Please don't merge this with the Ownership experience thread. It will get buried under many posts. I need this issue solved ASAP as it is dangerous to ride like this...

    This problem started happening 6 months before, all of a sudden. While riding in a straight line, all of a sudden, for no apparant reason, the bike began to sway left and right. I was creeped out. It started to move like this:

    \
    /
    \
    /
    \
    /

    This thing happens randomly, and all of a sudden. The bike will run for weeks, months even without any issues and then all of a sudden it will start swaying to and fro like this.

    I first thought it was because of low pressure in the front tyre, but that's not the reason as the pressure is 32psi.


    What could be the reason?

    The bike in question is a 2013 Honda Unicorn, 13K kilometers on the odometer.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

    Query Approved​
    Biking is not about what you have between your legs, its all about how well you use it!!!!!!!

    Give your details here if you want to help your fellow xBhpian stranded in your city

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    • #3
      Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

      If your front wheel is wobbling then check the nuts holding the front axle. They might be loose. Other than that there isnt any other way your bike could be swerving like

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      • #4
        Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

        This is largely known as death wobble or speed man's wobble- no it does not mean it happens only at high speed.
        It happnes when small little vibrations compound and feed energy to next cycle . next cycle of wave becomes stronger and stronger feeding on previous cycle. Something like resonances .
        That's is why when the wobble starts , first handle bar movement is small , but it gains displacement as long as the wobble continue , and within 2 or 3 cycles it is completely out of control.
        There can be a lot of reasons for it to happen , but for a start get your rear wheel bearings inspected/ changed . check both tyre for uneven wear . steering stem inspection ( by the way do you sometimes hear tic noise from front end while braking or on bad road?) , bent front fork.


        Sent from my XT1068 using xBhp Connect mobile app
        You're never lost if ya don't care where the road is headed

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        • #5
          Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

          dustom_99: You are right that it doesn't happen only at high speeds. I will get those things inspected at the service center.

          by the way do you sometimes hear tic noise from front end while braking or on bad road?
          Yes, when I gave my bike for servicing 2 months back, they loosened the steering, after which I started getting a "khat" sound on applying the front brake. I went to the workshop and a mechanic said that the bearings were broken. His exact words were: "इसके छर्रे-कटोरी कट गए हैं"

          He said that it was making that sound as the handle had been loosened and the bearings were readjusting to the new play. He said that he'd tighten the steering back and it will go away. He was right!

          He said that driving the bike on broken bearings would not cause any permanent damage. So i didn't get them replaced as I wasn't prepared to leave the bike with them for a day or two.

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          • #6
            Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

            "इसके छर्रे-कटोरी कट गए हैं"..

            छर्रे-कटोरी replace karva Len Fir..
            Also replace wheel bearings ( splly rear)

            Sent from my XT1068 using xBhp Connect mobile app
            You're never lost if ya don't care where the road is headed

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            • #7
              Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

              Originally posted by dustom_99 View Post
              "इसके छर्रे-कटोरी कट गए हैं"..

              छर्रे-कटोरी replace karva Len Fir..
              Also replace wheel bearings ( splly rear)
              Here's the thing. Are you sure that's reason for the death wobble? I mean, what if replacing the ball bearings doesn't work. It would mean an expense for nothing.

              Also, why doesn't this problem happen continually. How am I ever going to explain to the mechanic what the problem is, if I can't reproduce it front of him? The problem happens extremely randomly. The bike will run fine for a long time, 2 months at times, and then all of a sudden one day it will happen. Shake the handle and it goes away.

              If its because of the broken bearings(छर्रे-कटोरी), it should happen continuously, right?

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              • #8
                Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

                Originally posted by metallica84 View Post
                Here's the thing. Are you sure that's reason for the death wobble? I mean, what if replacing the ball bearings doesn't work. It would mean an expense for nothing.
                It's not like, you're never going to replace steering-cone-set (ball-racers, balls); if not now you'll soon!

                Originally posted by metallica84 View Post
                If its because of the broken bearings(छर्रे-कटोरी), it should happen continuously, right?
                Totally depends on the wearing-pattern of ball-racers and balls' condition.
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                • #9
                  Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

                  Guys, can someone tell me a list of possible factors that could cause this, so I can ask the mechanic to perform a complete check-up before replacing any part?

                  Originally posted by Freak inExile View Post
                  Totally depends on the wearing-pattern of ball-racers and balls' condition.
                  Please elaborate

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                  • #10
                    Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

                    Originally posted by metallica84 View Post
                    Here's the thing. Are you sure that's reason for the death wobble? I mean, what if replacing the ball bearings doesn't work. It would mean an expense for nothing?
                    So you want me to provide some kind of guarantee for free ki advice.
                    I already told you it could be caused by a lot of things, wouldn't it be wise to at least eliminate the possibility (part)you already know isn't in good shape.
                    Think about why is it called Death wobble.



                    Sent from my XT1068 using xBhp Connect mobile app
                    You're never lost if ya don't care where the road is headed

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                    • #11
                      Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

                      You may have had a tank slapper. But the bike may have other issues too, it's hard to determine just from an online post, if I were you, I would check sprocket/wheel bearings, axles, steering stem bearings and the throttle cable.
                      I am back!

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                      • #12
                        Re: What could cause my motorcycle to start swaying left and right all of a sudden?

                        Hi Metallica24,

                        I am facing this exact issue with Honda Unicorn 2008 magwheel model, and I am sad because of it. Could you please share your experience, were to able to rectify this issue, if yes then please share the resolution.

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