Steering wobble

[Gnasher]

There's quite a few Fazers do this, and There's a few threads on here about it.

2 out of 3 of my Fazers have done it, regardless of tyre wear, bearings, and balancing. I couldn't find the cause.

I solved it by just not letting go of the bars and living with it as mine was slowly progressive, and not immediately violent. Didn't effect the bike normally though, and I did a lot of mileage like this.

Yep they do.  I my experience it's nearly always knackered standard rear shocks even cheap, worn or poorly set up after market types will give you the same result.  The standard unit fitted is total crap most are shot from about 8k I had one bike in with only 2k and it had given up the ghost!

Its the damping that fails mainly the gas side, owners then start racking up the spring to overcome the lack of damping.  This effects the steering angle which is already steep, if memory serves me right it's the same as a 916 Ducati the end result they get very skittish.  Its also possible that the standard shock is just not adjustable enough to suit riders weight or kit/pillions they carry. One of the biggest improvements you can make to the early Fazer, or just about most bikes to be honest is fit a good quality after market shock. 

As it happens I've just sorted a blokes 13 plate, 5k Bandit 650 out, he was complaining of the bike feeling unstable, very vague feed back on the brakes and felt as if the front end was going to let go.  He'd taken it back to the stealers who told him its just the way it is the only cure was to buy a bigger bike, he was at the point of doing just that when he spoke to me.  He's about 14 - 15st, and carries his Mrs I recommended a quality shock with the correct weight front/rear springs and I set it up for him, immediately he said there was a massive improvement the issues he'd had had all gone, he tells me it's a different bike! 

The whole lot cost less than £600, somewhat cheaper than a new bike!