My front head set seems to be kinda sticky, not necessarily in the straight.
When going straight is seems to want to stay straight and minor corrections to direction seem to use more changing balance than any headset movement.
When in a corner where the headset was moved, it seems to take a set and resist minor flow of movement.
This is on my bmw supermoto, not the kawa, on the road.
I'm thinking the headset is too tight. If the bearings were notched, I would think it would just hang up on the straight, but it is taking a set even when turned. I had this problem before in canada and had the dealer adj it, but I'm home now and think I'll take a shot at it. It was better after they worked on it, but I don't know what they did.
Any thoughts?

 

Sounds like a notch/set. Anytime you get a hangup in the swing, it's a bearing problem, either a notch or debris in the bearing. If it was too tight it would be tight everywhere, unless it was damaged from a big jump/etc.

I have worked on many headsets and this has always been the case. It's worth a shot to remove the bearings and clean them out/degrease and see if that helps, but I'd bet you just need new bearings/races sorry.

You need to get it up on a stand. Can't really check it well with weight on it, it will be very obvious where it is notched. Loosening the headset may "help", but your underlying problem is still there, and being too loose can cause even more problems down the road. Best to set it where the shop manual says to, if it still hangs up, it's bearing time

 

OK, but it doesn't feel knotchy, just stiff.

There is a bath tub under the hoist, so I'll need to get that out first, and I'm in Santa Fe for a week. So it will be a while.