Steering is all over the place.....common?

[ericmreimer]

So since I've got my 84 200es running, I've been riding around for the last week or so I've noticed that the front is ok in the dirt/grass but on the road it's pretty bad. It pulls to the right pretty badly. If i were to let go id probably flip and have a movie style explosion.......well maybe not and explosion.I have to hold it straight at speed. So I'm sure it's due to the suspension but is this common or just a bad front end?

[GunsShooting]

On a paved road you mean? It won't do well on pavement... The solid rear axle makes the machine resist turning. Pulling to one side may be a result of different-size rear tires.. Mine has different brand tires in the rear and one is a little smaller, so it sits funky. If inflation is very different between them that may be a problem also.

Russ

[Ghostv2]

Happens to my 200x all the time because the tires leak and one of the tires is over inflated. Unequal tire pressure causes mine. Like you said, you wouldnt know it unless you take it on the street.

[tripledog]

I noticed the same handling characteristics when ripping my 200es down the road. I thought it was just the nut behind the bars :crazy:, but I now think the info provided in the previous replies to this thread are more likely the culprit. My trike is quite squirrely on the tarmac.

[Ghostv2]

I noticed the same handling characteristics when ripping my 200es down the road. I thought it was just the nut behind the bars :crazy:, but I now think the info provided in the previous replies to this thread are more likely the culprit. My trike is quite squirrely on the tarmac.
Its a simple fix, i wouldnt worry too much about it. I dont really since i only ride on the road up the street to get to the trails.
It could be something else, check it out, see if the tire problem fixes or improves the handling.

[kb0nly]

Mine will drive straight as an arrow on pavement, it will coast to one side or the other but it doesnt pull. You could take your hands off the bars and it will coast straight for a while. My guess is your rear tires are not the same pressure. I know when i first got mine it pulled to the left all the time, so much that i thought something was bent. I checked the tires and the right had 10lbs in it and the left had 4lbs in it. I set both of them to the correct pressure and wala no pull!

Most of my driving is on pavement or gravel roads.

[dougspcs]

Crap tires or improper tire pressure is 1st on the list for sure!

Invest in a low pressure gauge..2psi in the left and 4 psi in the right won't look like much. Auto pressure gauges usually start at 10psi and are NFG for these tires!

But sure will handle like shlt..down right scary on flat surface at speed too!

[JasonB]

the forks could be twisted a little, my gf's 87 250SX pulls to the right hard and its because the bike is a little tweaked. not a big concern because on the trails it feels like it should.

I second the low pressure gauge, there are some cool low pressure tire gauges from 'tire slime' company online for like 17$ shipped. and they look cool as hell. I need one; i know for a fact that none of the 10 atv tires on my machines in the garage (yes do the math, theres a QUAD IN THERE!!!!) are the same pressure like they should be.

[ericmreimer]

You know thats hopefully it. Dumb but I never thought about that being an issue. Come to think about it, when I filled them I did the old "knee on top....seems full" scientific method of filling them up. lol I have a pretty good digital gauge at home that I'll put on it.

[dougspcs]

You know thats hopefully it. Dumb but I never thought about that being an issue. Come to think about it, when I filled them I did the old "knee on top....seems full" scientific method of filling them up. lol I have a pretty good digital gauge at home that I'll put on it.

If it's for car it won't be..they don't discriminate enough at the low pressures these tires operate. (1-5psi)

The right tool for the job will set you back about $4..I have several of them bouncing around in various tool boxes and kits.

[ericmreimer]

I'll see if one of my buddies have something more accurate while I wait for one to come in the mail.

Thanks guys!

[Ghostv2]

You know thats hopefully it. Dumb but I never thought about that being an issue. Come to think about it, when I filled them I did the old "knee on top....seems full" scientific method of filling them up. lol I have a pretty good digital gauge at home that I'll put on it.
I still do that, usually i can get them pretty close. But since im only on paved road for like 2 minutes its no big deal if its off a little.
Kinda limited to that actually, digital one is dead, and for some reason my regular $3 low pressure one took a crap on me.

[kb0nly]

I bought a low pressure one from my local farm supply store, 1-10 psi is its total range. Its a dial gauge too, i do have a couple low pressure stick gauges around as well. A good low pressure gauge is definitely something to have with you. I put one low pressure stick gauge in the tool kit on my 200ES, so i always have one with just in case.

[just ben]

(yes do the math, theres a QUAD IN THERE!!!!) And to think I used to like you. I thought you were pure LOL.