Centre weighted steering...a problem??

[StHuck]

Hi

Please excuse dumbness of question but would be great to get some advice. Recently bought second hand 2007 Claude Butler Urban 200. All seems fine and in good order - very clean and seems looked after but...when you turn the handlebars the forks/front wheel seems weighted to the centre. Only slight when riding but if you lift the front wheel and turn the handlebars, the forks/front wheel when rotated through their arc will definitely centre almost with a 'bounce'.

There are no creaks or noises and movement is smooth.

Is this normal or is there a fault?

Hope someone can help / comment.

Cheers

 

[StHuck]

Hi

Please excuse dumbness of question but would be great to get some advice. Recently bought second hand 2007 Claude Butler Urban 200. All seems fine and in good order - very clean and seems looked after but...when you turn the handlebars the forks/front wheel seems weighted to the centre. Only slight when riding but if you lift the front wheel and turn the handlebars, the forks/front wheel when rotated through their arc will definitely centre almost with a 'bounce'.

There are no creaks or noises and movement is smooth.

Is this normal or is there a fault?

Hope someone can help / comment.

Cheers

 

[swee'pea99]

It's worn out. You need to replace the headset.

 

[swee'pea99]

It's worn out. You need to replace the headset.

 

[MartinC]

+1

The ball bearings in the headset have worn pits in the races in the straight ahead position and the steering will want to align with these. Change the bearings (you can on some headsets) or the headset.

Carrying the bike on a car roof rack seems to accelerate this sort of wear.

 

[MartinC]

+1

The ball bearings in the headset have worn pits in the races in the straight ahead position and the steering will want to align with these. Change the bearings (you can on some headsets) or the headset.

Carrying the bike on a car roof rack seems to accelerate this sort of wear.

 

[StHuck]

Many thanks - I will get the spanners out...

 

[StHuck]

Many thanks - I will get the spanners out...

 

[02GF74]

head set race is pitted and the bearings want to stick in the pits - inevitably with front wheel poiting straight ahead. you can alleviate it a bit by looseing the race but then it can go a bit sloppy.

had this on a road bike and it was very pronounced - I could swing the bars and you can fell them "slotting" in to the straigh ahead position.

 

[02GF74]

head set race is pitted and the bearings want to stick in the pits - inevitably with front wheel poiting straight ahead. you can alleviate it a bit by looseing the race but then it can go a bit sloppy.

had this on a road bike and it was very pronounced - I could swing the bars and you can fell them "slotting" in to the straigh ahead position.