Bad front end wobble, totally stumped… Any help would be appreciated.

[Ill_Monstruo]

Hey all.

I have tried google and the search bar here and I have had no luck trying to find an answer that helps.  So here we go..

I am a new monster owner. I purchased a 2012 1100 evo.  I took it out today for the first time since owning it and i immediately noticed a very bad front end shake. When i'm coasting at lower speeds (off the throttle) it seems to be fine but when i twist the throttle and the bike is accelerating the font end shakes bad. It shakes enough that the handlebars, master cylinder reservoirs, windscreen shake violently.

A few more details before i continue.

Its a shake, not a wobble. Does not feel like warped rotors or warped or uneven tires. Bike has 600 miles. There is a chance the tire pressure is off, i forgot to check it before i left the house. I've ridden other bikes that had improper tire pressure and i have never felt a front end shake like that. The previous owner is 6'' tall probably 200 pounds. I am 5'5, 175. Could the suspension settings be way off?? I also bought the bike used off a Harley dealer i use to work at, bike was traded in so no dealer support or warranty to bring to another dealer to try and get looked at. Unless it's out of pocket, which i'm trying to avoid.


Also Is there a chance that the forks are not evenly adjusted? I wouldn't put it past some a**hole at my old job to think it was funny to mess with the forks before i took it. (there are reasons why i don't work at this place anymore)

I tried finding suspension settings so i could tune the suspension myself to factory but i couldn't find anything. I was planning on setting the suspension and riding it again to see if that helps.

Otherwise bike runs and feels fine, runs strong after sitting all winter. Nothing looks out of place or broken. The Rear of the bike feels the way you would expect, its just that front end wobble and like i said it's when i apply the throttle. When i'm coasting it stops..

Help please! I'm somewhat handy with bikes but this one is beyond me. I am due for my 600 mile service i was planning on doing myself but after this i'm thinking about taking it somewhere to get looked at while i'm at it. If i have to. I just don't want to walk into anything blind.

Many thanks in advance.

[memper]

I'd just run through the whole front end. Check the steering head bearings, check that the forks are equally straight in the trees, change fork oil (why not), check rotors, get the front wheel checked for balance and check front air pressure.

[koko64]

Check the fork adjustments are even ie the spring preload and both damping circuits just in case someone has messed with it. More likely, if the previous owner was huge, maybe he made the front really stiff to carry his weight, so you need all the suspension set to your weight.

You need to set a bike up for you, like a tailored suit. We are all shapes, sizes and weights and the suspension must suit you personally. The best Ohlins forks in the world will be crap if they were set up for someone very different to you.

Check your tyre pressures first, the front could be rock hard at 41 pounds or sloppy as 10-15 pounds, both can wreck handling. Some people feel 2 psi difference.
If none of that helps then you need someone to help you with all the checks M mentioned and maybe more.

[SpikeC]

 Do you have the owners manual? it has the settings for the front forks in it. if you don't, download it from the ducati web site.

[koko64]

Just thought of this if you find the tyre pressures ok. Is there a new front tyre? Maybe some bolts aren't tightened properly. Get hold of a manual and check the torque settings on all the triple clamp and axel related bolts just to be sure. It's a used bike and although very new it pays to go over the bike. Also some tyre joints pump the bloody things up to the max 41 psi because that's the max often written on the sidewall. 33ish is closer to what many sports bike front tyres want.

[Ill_Monstruo]

Thanks for the help everyone. My tire pressure did end up being really low, less than 25 psi each. Setting the psi to normal helped the ride but i'm going to take it to a dealer anyway. Just not the one i use to work at lol. Have it looked at by a professional just in case.

[Scoober1103]

Does it happen accelerating from any rpm or just lower rpm (sub 4000 rpm)? As the load is off the front suspension and tyre during hard acceleration I wouldn't think it would be uneven settings and if it is not during braking I wouldn't think it would be rotors. Just my opinion and throwing some ideas out there!