My bike is a 1993 RM-250. I just had the seals replaced and new heavier springs installed on my forks. I haven't riden the bike yet due to the cold here in Maryland. I was putting the bike on the stand and felt a vibration in the handlebars. It felt similar to loose steering head bearings.
I chased the vibration down. It seems like it's coming from the lower tubes. They are to be moving in the upper tubes. I removed the front tire to isolate each fork tube. I can grab each lower fork tube and move it from the front to the rear and left to right. Although the side to side movement is less that the front to rear. The movement is noticeable and can be felt. I measured the movement, front to rear, and it's about a 1/32 of an inch.
Unfortunately, I didn't notice this before I put the bike in for service. So I don’t know if it is a pre-existing problem.
Is this sort of fork tube movement normal for an old bike? Are my tubes worn? Will it go away as the new springs sag? Or, my worse fear, was something installed wrong during service? I’d hate to see my front wheel fly off in mid-air during a jump. Might make for an interesting landing.
Thanks, Steve.
I chased the vibration down. It seems like it's coming from the lower tubes. They are to be moving in the upper tubes. I removed the front tire to isolate each fork tube. I can grab each lower fork tube and move it from the front to the rear and left to right. Although the side to side movement is less that the front to rear. The movement is noticeable and can be felt. I measured the movement, front to rear, and it's about a 1/32 of an inch.
Unfortunately, I didn't notice this before I put the bike in for service. So I don’t know if it is a pre-existing problem.
Is this sort of fork tube movement normal for an old bike? Are my tubes worn? Will it go away as the new springs sag? Or, my worse fear, was something installed wrong during service? I’d hate to see my front wheel fly off in mid-air during a jump. Might make for an interesting landing.
Thanks, Steve.