General topics » Steering head adjustment

Hi all

I have a looseness in the steering head, which is noticeable at low speed breaking or hitting bumps in the road (also low speed).

I don´t know how to describe it very well but you can feel it through the bars when it happens.

I have had it on a few bikes so no big deal, took it to BMW .

They say that there is no tightness adjustment that can be made.....WHAAAAAT! This has left me confused and annoyed. I can´t be doing with this for the rest of the time I have the bike. It´s annoying and unnerving.

Does anyone have any ideas?

All headstcok bearings can be loose, taper ones obviously but even those 'level, captive ones' need to be held vertically within a tolerance otherwise the forks, handlebars move unchecked.
Would question any garage who states they are unadjustable rather than neeed to be checked for free play.
Would need to get my old laptop with disk drive but I have seen on more than one bmw service sheet that both mt RS's 2015 and 2017 had a headstock bearing check.
It was part of the 600. 6000 and 12000 mile services
According to my haynes manual (I am a reader of procedure, never needed to apply information!) confirms the two locknuts ( C spanner type) and procedure to tighten.
Most of it is logical - if you have ever replaced bicycle bearings it just the same but bigger!
Lots of advice to tighten a little,rotate handlebars (steering damper disconnected) and re-check, getting them "almost too tight, them releasing until free movement"
BMW tools No 313721 and 3137223 but any C spanner, even a piece of wooden dowel to move part without damage.
Only hand tight would be my advice - if you over tighten it can cause damage which will not be undone when you loosen these collars.
You have to remove the handlebar unit, top nut and bmw badge (pushes out from underneath, then release the locking tab, use plenty of cloth (duvets work for me! don't tell the wife!) to cover the tank.

This is what I thought too. Those two disks underneath the steering are used to adjust the tightness. However this is BMW telling me that it is not adjustable.

I have to go see them later so that they can ride with me as they don´t seem to understand what I am talking about. INSANE.

Those two castle disks work as one unit, bottom one allows the steering axis to be just tight enough to restrict slack between the top and bottom bearings and the second higher one is the one that is tightened down to stop the collar moving. Once adjusted the tab washer completes the location security before refitting the handlebar assembly.

Zitat von spainy im Beitrag #1

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Hi all

I have a looseness in the steering head, which is noticeable at low speed breaking or hitting bumps in the road (also low speed).

I don´t know how to describe it very well but you can feel it through the bars when it happens.

I have had it on a few bikes so no big deal, took it to BMW .

They say that there is no tightness adjustment that can be made.....WHAAAAAT! This has left me confused and annoyed. I can´t be doing with this for the rest of the time I have the bike. It´s annoying and unnerving.

Does anyone have any ideas?

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I have just been back to BMW to have them ride the bike.

They say that they think that there is an issue with the front suspension, and it is not the steering head as this is as tight as it goes.

This bike is becoming a bit of a nightmare.

It's not free play in your front brake pad / pins is it ?

Zitat von L2RKE im Beitrag #7

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It's not free play in your front brake pad / pins is it ?

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Can we start a guessing thread ?
1 - one forkleg had a leak - low oil hidden by seller?
2 - Poor adjustment after wheel refit, legs not parallel ?
3- Bottom clamps not tightened 3x3x3x as per owners manual?
4 - Top /and/or lower clamp retaing bolt not tightened against fork legs?
5 - Brake caliper not secure against fork leg casting
6 - Check the mudguard as if it is loose it can slap against the wheel

Zitat von Dave H im Beitrag #9

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Can we start a guessing thread ?
1 - one forkleg had a leak - low oil hidden by seller?
2 - Poor adjustment after wheel refit, legs not parallel ?
3- Bottom clamps not tightened 3x3x3x as per owners manual?
4 - Top /and/or lower clamp retaing bolt not tightened against fork legs?
5 - Brake caliper not secure against fork leg casting
6 - Check the mudguard as if it is loose it can slap against the wheel

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Zitat von spainy im Beitrag #6

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I have just been back to BMW to have them ride the bike.

They say that they think that there is an issue with the front suspension, and it is not the steering head as this is as tight as it goes.

This bike is becoming a bit of a nightmare.

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Zitat von andygriff im Beitrag #12

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Zitat von spainy im Beitrag #6

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I have just been back to BMW to have them ride the bike.

They say that they think that there is an issue with the front suspension, and it is not the steering head as this is as tight as it goes.

This bike is becoming a bit of a nightmare.

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Spainy - hope this is nothing serious - but if your bike has a dodgy front end and fuelling issue surely you have recourse to the seller, you've inly had it a few weeks .

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Do you have the UK registration number? You should be able to check whether it has ever been an insurance write off.