Bad handling Skorpion

[Ian]

Am I right in thinking that it's the head bearings that needed replacing ?

Or have I just wasted £12.00 and my only free day this week ?

When I last rode it I very nearly put it into a ditch in the middle of Wales.
Fortunately I was going very slowly around a bend and it only caused cosmetic damage , but all the way home the front wheel felt as if it would flip out from underneath the bike.

This probably wasn't helped with me hitting a pot hole earlier in the year and putting a 3" crack in the old front wheel.

The bike has 28000 Km on the clock ,Is there anything else I should be looking at replacing ?

[andy230]

The bike has 28000 Km on the clock ,Is there anything else I should be looking at replacing ?

Bak shocks are crap
Linkages and associated bearings are also a bit of a bigbear.  Every old one is shot!
wheel bearings?

How do the head bearings feel (stationary), when pushed/pulled like the mot man does?  May get away with just nipping them up...

a

[Ian]

How do the head bearings feel (stationary), when pushed/pulled like the mot man does?  May get away with just nipping them up...

a

Hi Andy,

The bearings felt OK to me ,but something was not right when I was riding it.
If I'd nipped them up anymore , I think I'd of striped the thread !
I fitted new front wheel bearings when I swapped the front wheel ,so they should be OK.

How easy is it to change the linkage bearings ?

[bullet350]

ahoy!

swingarm bearings are another favourite for buggering up the handling.

put the bike on the centre stand and with the back wheel clear of the ground, pull the swing arm from the side of the bike. there should be a bit of 'flex' but any 'clicking' feelings or play is not good.

also if the bike has always felt like this check the rear shock. they're adjustable and on sportsbikes (like the skorpion) people tend to play with the settings- this normally results in the handling going to pot ;-)

check the fork oil as well. a very minor weep can empty a fork leg quite quickly.  the two forks are then trying to react differently making the bike handle like a dog.

i used to have a skorpion sport and when all is well it can handle with the best.
i've ridden a fireblade, an R1 and currently ride a cbr600. The skorpion handled as well as these bikes and with far less effort.
there is no substitute for light weight, and all that weight being in the centre (a la single) not hanging out the sides (a la four).

bullet350

[Ian]

Hi bullet350,

It used run like it was on rails ,but it has had a hard year !
I'll look into the swing arm bearings and check the fork oil ,I hadn't thought of the fork oil.

I was going to put a link to a photo of it as it was at the start of the year.
But I can't view it full size in the Gallery to get the link ( Membership renewal time ! )


Gallery 6 ,Next to the snowman card .

[andy230]

How easy is it to change the linkage bearings ?

Its a c*nt!!

theres a spherical bearing in the "rocker", and I bought mine from MZ (BSA-Regal) who are now no longer impoters. I spose you can get it from a bearing supplier, but they're not very cheap (about £37 or something daft like that).

Also, if you've just changed the front wheel (and bearings) I had a funny thing once at a trackday at Cadwell.  There was scrutineering    and he said wheel the front bearings were gone.  I knew they were fine, but the pinchbolts and the spindle were loose.  We had a laugh, but it makes a couple of points:

1. Scruteering is not a bad thing!
2. I'm not a great meachanic
3. Check the front spindle!

Is the rear wheel aligned ok?  I had a bad off after a big tankslapper on my skorpion.  I subsequently checked it over and the head bearings were gone, also the front wheel bearings.  Wasn't long before I did the rear bearings (wheel, sprocket carrier, linkages, shock bearings).  The swingarm bearings were ok on mine (then, probably knackered now!!)

[Ian]

Its a c*nt!!

theres a spherical bearing in the "rocker", and I bought mine from MZ (BSA-Regal) who are now no longer impoters. I spose you can get it from a bearing supplier, but they're not very cheap (about £37 or something daft like that).

Is the rear wheel aligned ok?  I had a bad off after a big tankslapper on my skorpion.  I subsequently checked it over and the head bearings were gone, also the front wheel bearings.  Wasn't long before I did the rear bearings (wheel, sprocket carrier, linkages, shock bearings).  The swingarm bearings were ok on mine (then, probably knackered now!!)

Hi Andy,
It sounds like I might as well replace all the bearings   
It's a good job I have a bearing supplier just up the road..
Although if there £37.00 each , I might have to sell one of my kids

[002]

First things first....Tyres !

Are they worn......if so,how bad ?
Pressures...are they correct ?

Then start your way around the bike checking bearings,seals,fork damping etc.,etc..

Jethro

[Ian]

Hi Jethro,

Worn tyres .......Not on one of my bikes I always get them changed if in doubt ...

Not so sure about the tyre pressures though .
I'm not using the bike much at all and routine maintenance has slipped.
I did pack it away for the winter ,but I couldn't resist a ride out when I had some child free time..

[guest288]

Good to see you out and about again xbrmz 

[Steffan]

Here's my 2p worth. I think if the headstock doesn't move and there is no grating then leave the head bearings be. If you have changed the wheel bearing then leave them be too. If it happened after you spill on the lane then I suggest you look to your handlebars and check that the forks haven't twisted around slightly. I rode to Scotland on mine with offline bars and it was scarey, it felt like I was going to fall off the bike and into a headwind she was a dog. I suppose it is not inconceivable that the suspension front and or rear is packed up. I had a Zephyr that had 1200 bandit syndrom,  springs give up and the bike sags through the front suspension - wonderful on white lines. That said I have never heard of it on a Skorpion. The linkages are easy to remove and all the bearings are available from a factors with the possible exception of spherical one which from memory is a yamaha part. It shouldn't be mega bucks to have an engineer press them out and back in again.

keep us informed

Steffan

[Ian]

Hi dave500,

Yep I'm popping in when I get the spare time ,Do you still want those clipons ?

Hi Steffan,

It helps if both wheels are in line , Doh !
I must of knocked the back wheel out of line on the pot hole.

[guest288]

Hi xbrmz, yes please if they're still going!