1977 KZ1000 Speed Wobble Crash
#11
01-23-2011, 12:50 PM
Nice Dirtydog, I can only imagine 300 hp.
jeffzx9 
Senior Member
1st Gear Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Clarksville, OH
Posts: 1,880
RE: 1977 KZ1000 Speed Wobble Crash
Get an aftermarket steering damper, and also a fork stabilizer (kinda looks like a very big double end closed box wrench.) This goes about midway down on your fork tubes and will help lessen/diminish the quasi-harmonic vibration when you let off the gas and the rotating tire begins to transmit the slightest balance issues through your forks. The older bikes are notorious for this kind of speed wobble due to the lighter/smaller forks.
A friend of mine is doing this on his V-Rod right now, not because of the wobble, but because of the scalloped tire prevention issues.
jeffzx9 Senior Member
1st Gear Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Clarksville, OH
Posts: 1,880
RE: 1977 KZ1000 Speed Wobble Crash Get an aftermarket steering damper, and also a fork stabilizer (kinda looks like a very big double end closed box wrench.) This goes about midway down on your fork tubes and will help lessen/diminish the quasi-harmonic vibration when you let off the gas and the rotating tire begins to transmit the slightest balance issues through your forks. The older bikes are notorious for this kind of speed wobble due to the lighter/smaller forks.
#12
03-08-2024, 01:05 AM
1977 kz 1000
[QUOTE=motorman224;161711]As of Saturday evening, 07/21/07, I am currentlyhandicapped do to a motorcycle crash. I was on a bone stock 1977 KZ1000. I hit about 120 mphthe highway. WhenI let off thegas, I started getting speed wobble. The first couple seconds were minor wobble,as my speedslowedthe wobble becameworse, seconds later the bike was skipping side to side at about 90 mph.At this point, I wasbarley hanging on the bike andthen was thrown off the bike.I was originally in the left lane, and was thrown to the left. Now I'm sliding on the grass going 90 mph.After a 100ft + I finally came to a stop laying on my back. Soon enough people pulled over and helped.I'm glad I was wearing a helmet, for it was verybanged up. Had a synthetic type jacket and gloves. All this helped allot. The jacket and gloves are verychewed up, but sparing my body. So as of now, I have minor road rash on my arms, hip and legs. My wrist,knee an ankle are swollen.
Speed Wobble
My KZ is not to banged upand I plan on riding it again after I fix a few things, but as far as the speed wobble... Is there ways toconquer this problem? Firmer suspension, different suspension, thicker fork tubes to minimize shake, more dampening, smooth tires... These are all ideas going through my mind, but I haveno clue if any of this will work and don't want to find out the HARD WAY...
If anyone has some ideas to shoot or knows from experience that certain things do work, I'd love to here from you.
Hi, I had this same bike and am convinced it was a manufacture defect. I cured the problem by adding an adjustable steering damper. Hope this helps.
Speed Wobble
My KZ is not to banged upand I plan on riding it again after I fix a few things, but as far as the speed wobble... Is there ways toconquer this problem? Firmer suspension, different suspension, thicker fork tubes to minimize shake, more dampening, smooth tires... These are all ideas going through my mind, but I haveno clue if any of this will work and don't want to find out the HARD WAY...
If anyone has some ideas to shoot or knows from experience that certain things do work, I'd love to here from you.
Hi, I had this same bike and am convinced it was a manufacture defect. I cured the problem by adding an adjustable steering damper. Hope this helps.
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