Front End Shimmy
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 5
Front End Shimmy
I purchased a 2019 KLX 250 CAMO over the winter and finally got out for a quick ride the other day.
For the first several kilometers everything felt great and then all of a sudden it was like riding a snake.
The front wheel has a constant little left/right move going on. Manageable on the city streets but I'm not excited about getting up to highway speed.
There is 900 km on the bike. I'm thinking that maybe the knobby (factory) tires warmed up a little bit causing this "instability."
Any thoughts????
Thanks
For the first several kilometers everything felt great and then all of a sudden it was like riding a snake.
The front wheel has a constant little left/right move going on. Manageable on the city streets but I'm not excited about getting up to highway speed.
There is 900 km on the bike. I'm thinking that maybe the knobby (factory) tires warmed up a little bit causing this "instability."
Any thoughts????
Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 477
From: Rural Unincorporated Los Angeles County
1st Gear Member
First check your tire pressure because that's the easiest thing to check 
Then raise the front wheel off the ground with some wood blocks under the frame
so you can rotate it freely and check to see if the rim is straight and there is no play in the wheel bearings..
While it's up, you can also check the front tire to see if it is running true on the rim.
I'm interested, so let me know what you find.
Then raise the front wheel off the ground with some wood blocks under the frame
so you can rotate it freely and check to see if the rim is straight and there is no play in the wheel bearings..
While it's up, you can also check the front tire to see if it is running true on the rim.
I'm interested, so let me know what you find.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,728
From: Cottonwood, AZ USA
1st Gear Member
Those would be knobby tires. You might want to play with the PSI in the tire. I would go down in 3psi increments. ...but, you have knobby tires, not going to be smooth running on pavement, ever.
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 5
I took the bike out again yesterday, never touched a thing. Riding the same streets at that same speeds and it was totally fine.
The only change. On the last ride it was 12 degrees Celsius (54 F) and yesterday it was 30 degrees Celsius (86 F). Yesterday's ride the bike felt fine. No shimmy.
I played around with my seating position as I thought that sitting too far back might make the front end very light
The only change. On the last ride it was 12 degrees Celsius (54 F) and yesterday it was 30 degrees Celsius (86 F). Yesterday's ride the bike felt fine. No shimmy.
I played around with my seating position as I thought that sitting too far back might make the front end very light
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 805
From: Rome, NY
1st Gear Member
check the head bearing lock nut under the top triple tree. When i rebuilt my bike i left it pretty loose and i got some head shake at higher speeds. Once I tightened it down bout 1/4 turn at a time, its rock solid with no head shakes at higher speeds
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 1
Front wobble
I purchased a 2019 KLX 250 CAMO over the winter and finally got out for a quick ride the other day.
For the first several kilometers everything felt great and then all of a sudden it was like riding a snake.
The front wheel has a constant little left/right move going on. Manageable on the city streets but I'm not excited about getting up to highway speed.
There is 900 km on the bike. I'm thinking that maybe the knobby (factory) tires warmed up a little bit causing this "instability."
Any thoughts????
hey did you ever figure out the problem?
just took my new to me ( same bike as yours)
out and exactly the same thing happened to me
Thanks
For the first several kilometers everything felt great and then all of a sudden it was like riding a snake.
The front wheel has a constant little left/right move going on. Manageable on the city streets but I'm not excited about getting up to highway speed.
There is 900 km on the bike. I'm thinking that maybe the knobby (factory) tires warmed up a little bit causing this "instability."
Any thoughts????
hey did you ever figure out the problem?
just took my new to me ( same bike as yours)
out and exactly the same thing happened to me
Thanks
just took my new to me ( same bike as yours)
out and exactly the same thing happened to me
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 760
From: Young Harris, GA
1st Gear Member
I'd suggest checking the basics-loose bearings, excessive runout in the wheel or tire, and tire balance.
Typically, wobble is probably caused by excessive tire runout.
Support the bike under the frame, and spin the wheel/tire.
If everything appears to be running true and you don't have a balance stand, retract the caliper pads and see if a heavy spot shows up.
Good luck
Typically, wobble is probably caused by excessive tire runout.
Support the bike under the frame, and spin the wheel/tire.
If everything appears to be running true and you don't have a balance stand, retract the caliper pads and see if a heavy spot shows up.
Good luck
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