patspiercing Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 Hi, I have recently brought my wife a 1990 Virago 535. It is fitted with flat handlebars. She is very happy with the bike but complains that the steering is heavy at low speed. I have ridden the bike and tend to agree with her but my main experience is with sports bikes. I have checked the tyre pressures and the headstock bearings and all seems to be ok. Has anybody else noticed this or got any suggestions to eliviate the problem. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neversaydie Posted August 18, 2018 Share Posted August 18, 2018 Pop it on the centre stand, get the front wheel in the air. The bars should turn nicely with a light touch. If the bars are not stock, check the cable routes and make sure none are binding when the bars are turned Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patspiercing Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Hi, I have not got a centre stand fitted on this bike but I have suspended it from the garage roof so as to raise the front wheel. The bars turn easily with no notchyness and all the cable routes are free. I am wondering whether these bikes are normally heavy steering at low speed due to frame geometry. I am not sure whether the bars are stock or not as I believe Yamaha did make a model of the Virago with flat bars. All of the cables and wiring looms seem to be the right size for the bars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 What profile of tyre is on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neversaydie Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Have a look at the forks just to make sure they look straight and parallel to each other. At the end of the day, its not going to drop into the corners like a sporty, but if the front end all checks out, then it is what it is, a cruiser, made for going in straight lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patspiercing Posted August 20, 2018 Author Share Posted August 20, 2018 The front tyre is a Michelin 300-19. I have checked the forks and they look straight and parallel with free and easy movement. I suspect that it is what it is but if I can make it a little easier for her it would be good. I was just wondering if other owners of these bikes had the same experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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