Poor Handling - Honda CRF450X 2005 Service Manual

TROUBLESHOOTING
POOR HANDLING
Steering is heavy
• Steering stem adjusting nut adjusted too tight
• Damaged steering head bearings
• Low tire pressure
• After '07: Faulty steering damper
Either w heel is wobbling
• Excessive wheel bearing play
• Bent rim
• Im properly installed wheel hub
• Excessively worn swingarm pivot bearings
• 8ent frame
The motorcycle pulls to one side
• Front and rear wheels not aligned
• Bent fork
• Bent swingarm
• Bent axle
• Bent frame
NOTE :
• For the following recommendations to be useful, the motorcycle must be adjusted as follows:
- Fork: compression damping at standard position, at standard f ork oi l quantity and viscosity, and air
pressure zero.
- Shock: nitrogen pressure 142 pSi, compression and rebound damping standard position, and
spring preload adjusted so t he bikes sags with rider seated· see Owner's manual for spring pre·
load adjustment
• The follow ing recommendations are given in the preferred sequence of adjustment
Front End Oversteers; It Cuts Too Sharply (such as in send)
• Increase the f ork oil capacity
• Use stiffe r fork spring
Front End Understeers; It Washes Out Or Pushes (such as on at tight track with hard ground)
• Lower fork oil capacity
• Use softer fork spring
Front End Hunts At High Speed; It Wanders Under Power
• Increase the fork oil capacity
• Increase the shock preload
Front End Shakes Under Heavy Braking
• Decrease shock preload
• Increase shock rebound damping
• Increase the f ork oi l capacity
Front End Hops Over Bumps In Smooth Turn s
• Ch ange to lighte r fork oil
• Decrease the f ork oil capacity
• Decrease fork compression damping
• Use softer fork spring
Rear End Hops Over Bumps While Accelerating
• Decrease shock preload
• Decrease shock compression damping
Rear End Gets Poor Traction White Accelerating Away From A Corner
• Decrease shock preload
• Decrease shock compression damping
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