Murray Walker talks about Wobble and Weave on Motorbikes

[@obtusemoOOose]

WOW!!! Who would have thought an old video like this could help me so much. I'm new to riding and I have been experiencing some bad wobble and weaving. I checked the tire pressure like he recommended and sure enough that was the problem. And the technique he shows of laying down to stabilize the bike was great advice. Thanks for posting this.

[@cbparker44]

9 years later and it's still the best.

[@pinkyn0se]

10 years later, I've never seen this advice anywhere before. Love it.

[@genosootaku8649]

Should be at least 40 years since this was made, and it still helps. Recently installed a top box then loaded it with 15kg of stuffs then I got light wobble at 30km/h. This old video has helped me understand the problem and how to solve it.

[@philboboggins]

The legendary Murry Walker, RIP sir.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Yeah he will be sadly missed by us all

[@sovietonion72]

I know his father raced motorcycles but when I think of Murray Walker I think of F1.

[@MrSqueakinator]

all I have to say is some of those riders have some brass balls

[@harry556b]

+Sky Walker Yep, I'd never want to experience what i experienced today(weave), but it doesn't mean i'll stop riding :D

[@IndependantMind168]

Yes. Big brass balls.

[@hermanman8235]

Yes they do... big 4cylinder on a (!!!) skinny tires are terrifying

[@freebehindbars8654]

Love watching videos like this. Reminds me of a different time, a more stable society.

[@robertwoodliff2536]

.... i know what you mean ..... but then we were in Northern Ireland ...... it ' s all relative ...

[@watsisbuttndo829]

A more stable society, but a less stable motorcycle. Ying and yang.

[@GerryPowell-r6s]

I'm still riding in 2024 those days were horrendous on a bike,the improvement is now massively better.

[@nickb3968]

I had a 85' Nighthawk 450 back in the early 90's that would develop a high speed weave at around 90mph....while leaning forward helped, relaxing my grip on the handlebars always eliminated it.

[@maak657]

I had a 1974 Kawasaki 750 H2 when I was kid. It came stock with steering a dampener on the right side of the fork. The bike had a tremendous high speed wobble with the dampener..But what a fun bike.

[@SparksBMW]

The information and techniques presented in this video ought to be included in the curriculum of every motorcycle training course out there. Knowing what’s taught here could save your life. As a pilot, I rather equate it to stall / spin training. It’s all about knowing how to prevent the problem in the first place and if that fails, knowing instinctively how to recover before it’s too late. The techniques are simple, but if you don’t know them and haven’t practiced them, they’re of no use.

[@VigilanceTech]

exactly. Whenever anyone gets a new piece of equipment they should take it out to a SAFE place and find all its limits so they know what it feels like when it starts to lose control and how to bring it back into control. As a car enthusiast I always used to take every new (to me) car out and drift it, speed run it, skid it, etc... under every different kind of road condition I could find (dry pavement, wet, first rain, ice, snow, sand, dirt, etc...). I did it because it was fun, but it also saved my life quite a few times because it made when it happened on the road in traffic just second nature to correct.

[@Chips125cc]

What a great video! I didn't know that Murray Walker was a keen motorcyclist. Thanks for posting!

[@davidmacgregor5193]

Sir Stirling Moss, and comedians Dick Emery and Norman Wisdom were also keen motorcyclists.

[@bangocat]

Love how this safety video for motorcycles uses a motorcycle with no mirrors

[@chrissmith2114]

At least he had his headlight turned on.... Something a lot of riders still do not do...

[@flflash4717]

Awesome seeing some of the classic British and Japanese bikes even if there weaving and wobbling! My first street bike was a 1974 Kawasaki H1everything he said was spot on for that bike.

[@stevest1300]

What a great piece of vintage M/C video!

[@PaulMappud]

"Of course we all can't ride a big one"... Oh, Suit You Sir. R.I.P Murray Walker

[@purebloodheretic4682]

Murray Walker & XS1100r - We all miss you mate! 🤍👍

[@GlobalAgenda]

".....good looking, sophisticated, reliable, safe and performers. Something to be really proud of", you are just soo modest about yourself about yourself Murray now whats this weave and wobble thing all about.. What a star,it was really well explained

[@queenslander954]

Total legend of a man , he could only be British , but also loved in the colony’s

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Rest in peace Murray Walker you will be sadly missed by millions of fans

[@Crooksey]

Agree, so sadly missed. His distinctive voice and incredible enthusiasm was synonymous with motorsport for decades.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Yeah

[@spigot993]

This is ahead of its time in some ways, thank you, to Murry Walker; and to Crooksey.

[@MrErnogoldfinger]

Still spot on in 2020...

[@brenthill3241]

Excellent video. Thanks for posting. It probably saved lives.

[@elmparkdave]

Well. Thats beeen so informative from a real legend. Never realised weight made so much difference !

[@gosling999]

Murray Walker = Legend!

[@wesleyb82]

is it just me or do these riders have balls of steel?

[@taggerinc2652]

It's just you. They don't need balls of steel. They just have to be a little bit crazy or stupid. Depending on how they approach it. XD

[@mdsnds]

I've never have the weave on any of my Harley's but yes you can lay down. Great documentary, glad its available on KZbin for new riders to see.

[@VigilanceTech]

wow, that looks like a beautiful XS11 he's got there!

[@hilee1970]

Another cause, Loose spokes. If it has spokes than the rear ones are probably loose. Mine started at higher speeds and slowly started happening at lower and lower speeds. Tighten them up and bam, all is well. Don't let loose spokes kill you.

[@christopherburson2465]

Or too much weight too far back, had a weave that took up nearly a whole lane of the M1 (was in the 1980s) when at speed, heavily loaded BMW R80/7, had been seeing the gf and working on her bike, and put a load of tools inc a big socket set in the hard panniers rather than in the tank bag. Never loaded a bike like that since ! 😅

[@mac243877]

What a great video and the great mr walker as well, just bought a st1300 so have been looking at problems/ solutions about pan wobble, is it tyres, screen to high at speed etc great info here and v bravely demonstrated this video will save lives. Thanks for posting I’m telling everyone

[@Crooksey]

Glad it helped :)

[@yomamma4823]

"Use the superior performance of your machine to keep OUT of trouble instead of getting into it." Well put!

[@TiberiusStorm]

We were taught during our Motorcycle Technician theory that: wobble at speed is generally caused by worn steering head bearings. And weave is generally a worn rear tire or deterioration of the swing arm bushing.

[@SayanChakraborty58]

Correct. These factors influence it greatly.

[@jacketrussell]

This film was made with the cooperation of the Lickey Ash Motorcycle Club, Bromsgrove. The spectator shots were filmed on the embankment of the A38 @ 2:00. I know - I was one of the cast.

[@thesushifiend]

I can’t see it anywhere but it seems to have been made early to mid ‘70s. Do you remember the year accurately?

[@jacketrussell]

@@thesushifiend I think it was probably 1977/78. I was living in Stourbridge at the time and the Kawasaki Z1R had just come out. In fact, one of my club mates had just bought one and rode it during filming. Memory's not as good as it was.

[@thesushifiend]

@@jacketrussell Thanks. What a great memory to have! I was only born in 1974 and Murray Walker looked old in that video. Or at least he did to me. But he remained youthful sounding in his commentary even in my 20s and 30s. I’ll be 50 this year and I’m sure I would have looked at myself at 20 and thought I was old. And yet I still feel like I did when I was 18, a few aches and pains aside. it just goes to show that age is but a number.

[@jacketrussell]

@@thesushifiend I'm 70 now. Still feel about 20. Still riding bikes. Everyone has memories that you just can't buy. Did I ever tell you about the time I had a pint with Joey Dunlop..........LOL

[@thesushifiend]

@@jacketrussell no, but you’re about to!

[@thenite187]

Thank you for the video. This was very informative. Nothing worse than scratching your bike up trying to troubleshoot on the fly. CHEERS!!!

[@UnliRide]

Old but still gold. Thanks for this! To add based on my experience: Busted wheel bearing. On my first bike, it just starts wobbling at around 40kph until I was able to figure out that the issue was with one of the front wheel's 2 bearings. Also, a tip on adding heavy load or topboxes at the rear, if you feel any weaving at high speed, try adding some preload on your rear shock(s), little by little, until the weaving disappears at the max speed you're comfortable riding with.

[@paky8374]

Best video ever seen about wobble problem

[@airindiana]

Well done 11 and half stone Dave. Well done. Poor old lightweight John.

[@mattwainwright7179]

...just saved me a trip to the mechanic ..cheers great video

[@kdkd693]

I watched this video just last week to try to stop a high speed weave on my Victory Cross Country tour , as i wanted to do a IBA 1000mile in 24hours attempt in NT Australia. Wanted to average 130kmh posted speed limit for 14 hours, so needed some leeway for safety/bumps etc. I took my topbox off and the weave found at 140 was less, but still there. Thought this was strange as have been 180+ with pillion with no weave before. I found The hunching down helped, but not long term solution for my long ride I pumped up tyres and airshock to top of the manufacturer range 40/42/65psi and went out again. Better but still not as stable as expected. Took some air out to 38/40/50 and donned full leathers for final test. The front tyre was 2000km old and the rear maybe 9000. Was improved to .60, then i decided to go to .80 to be sure. Backed off throttle too quickly perhaps and the tankslapper started. I bent down, not enough help. Decided to gun it from .60 as last resort (not holding hard on bars) and at .70 highsided I was in a neck brace in hospital 8 days later having a broken neck at C1, smashed foot and wrist. I was lucky to survive tbh. I will ride again but probably will never achieve iron butt association status... Apart from buttoning off too abruptly, what were my errors Murray Walker? I just watched this vid again and think i followed most of your points

[@kevintucker3354]

Ken Dibble Damn Ken sorry to hear that. Because of the hardcore test situation you may could have used a steering damper.

[@kdkd693]

Kevin Tucker Thanks, you are right. I only learned a bit about these after the fact and had never seen one on a cruiser/tourer myself. No problem with pillion at higher speeds kinda made me think it should be solvable, even without a store within 400km. I was wrong and take full responsibility for my ignorance. Happy to be here. 3 months later I’m out of the neck brace, arm cast due off in 2 weeks and relearning the leg to walk again. Full of titanium pins, plates and screws so should go off at airport security now 😂🙈 Should be good to go in 6 mths, when in June 2019 the wife and I have booked another 1 month US Harley tour from NY through bottom of Canada and back 👍🏽 I won’t be hitting the 110mph limiter on the Harley this trip! (Or the wife will surely slap me silly)

[@kdkd693]

Louis Costa Cheers for the reply. Unfortunately the Vic is dead and no longer can do more testing, not that I’m that game to try high speed testing anymore on a potentially unstable bike/config. Been there done that, fail army case. But I think along same lines as you - I tried max 72psi on rear shock too much, then around 50 - then I fell off. Maybe 30-40 would have been better, but fine line. I must say I was surprised the difference weight/shock pressure made. Just too painful to get it wrong. Happy to still be here though!!!!

[@_3lementa1_7]

Glad you're recovering Ken, and sorry to hear about your accident. I high-sided at a very high speed on a cross-country trip this summer and I'm also happy to be alive. I managed to walk away with only a minor foot injury and some decent road rash on my hips and knees and even that wouldn't have been as bad if I'd been wearing my riding pants. That was the only day of the trip I wasn't wearing them. Figures. I've been trying to figure out what happened since then. I've gone 150kmh on my old Ninja 250 and felt stable so I was certain I would be able to go faster on a V-Strom 650. I'm a very lightweight guy though, and was packed to the nines with camping gear for the month. I had also just loosened my rear suspension. Best I can figure is that the saddlebags, top box, and my army backpack under a cargo net on the back seat were too much weight to be going that fast. My weight was not enough to balance it out. I think loosening the rear shock was a mistake as well since it gives more play to potentially mess with the oscillation frequency. I flew the rest of the way to the west coast once I recovered but the bike is wrecked and the trip was ruined. Not to mention that recovering was not easy. I can't imagine how it was for you. I bought a Ninja 300 when I got out here and I don't intend to go that fast again. As they say, it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow, and the Ninja feels faster at 60kmh than the V-Strom felt at double that. My future trips will also be with little or no luggage, tight suspension, and ATGATT. Now I just have to work on the nut behind the handlebars. Best of luck with your recovery and ride safe!

[@purebloodheretic4682]

Hey Ken, I hope you recovered ok & got back on the 'horse' so to speak - The Victory like most Cruises aren't renowned as High Speed handlers! The long fork rake is fairly unstable @ high speed - some Choppers are Deadly @ any speed! 😆 Wheel balance especially the front is very important - I had a BMW K100rs & it nearky threw me over the bars down over hill @ 90ks/hr when I took my hands off to zip up my jacket - I went & got a new Tyre fitted & balanced & she was steady as a rock afterwards! Sometime having Empty or lightly packed Pannier Bags on the back can help stabilisation like an Arrow has Fleching Feathers or how Drag Chutes aid stabilisation under deceleration! Lowering the Forks through the clamps 10-25mm is standard practice for Road & Drag racing for stability - I'd definitely check the Wheel Balance as 1st port of call - Cheers - Paul 👍

[@LucyFire7]

what a valuable video!

[@8888swatt]

John and Dave must have balls of steel to ride around like that.

[@mw666roar4]

What a legend . Great video .

[@raddwest]

Man that weave and wobble got my heart pounding a bit lol

[@mattcrook4978]

Very in depth explanation even experienced people could gain something from, thanks

[@Blue-moon12]

Classic video from a legend

[@RevvedUpBiker]

Murray Walker is the best. What great advice.

[@iman80skid91]

Good old Murray. ...Bless him

[@daweshorizon]

My old 1981 Bonneville doesn't 'wobble' or 'weave'. Back in the day Japanese bikes had flexible frames, cheap suspension and utterly useless tyres. We used to call them 'teflon, non-stick tyres' because they were! The Japanese engine technology of the time, outstripped their frame and tyre technology, for many years. I think this archive piece by the great Murray Walker is more of a sales pitch from Dunlop, rather than an actual piece of riding instruction! Avon Roadrunners were much better than Dunlop's equivalent, the TT100's in any case. Cheaper and longer-lasting! Anyway, no-one can resist a bit of nostalgia! RIP Murray. Love and peace.

[@vf12497439]

Great video! I've felt both wobble and weave, both are spooky situations. I've never tried to lay down. I can say trying to muscle against the weave does nothing.

[@bashkillszombies]

When I was a kid I was in a race to get a bigger bike. Now I'm an adult I'm slowly going smaller and smaller. I enjoy paying $2.70 a week in petrol. :P

[@calvinhulburt9188]

I have experienced wobble or front end shimmy with my hands on the bars. It was likely due to excessive clearance in the forks that were way past the point of rebuilding. These guys seem to give advise that will sell more tires but a study done about the same time found that frames have a resonate frequency near the shimmy frequency and can make things worse. Today's sport bikes have greater frame stiffness and are less prone to both wobble and weave.

[@willcraswell]

Lifesaving advice well presented - thanks Murray.

[@Candubrain]

Nice, never knew Murray was a motorcyclist.

[@samurai1833]

I had a 1982 GS 1100 that was a fantastic bike but prone to an occasional tank slapper due to the frame flexing. Fortunately it had enough power to wheelie out of any issue. This is a great video!

[@skeggjoldgunnr3167]

I took a GS 1100 E up to it's full top flat-out speed. In my opinion, that thing was a beast. It had spirit. It felt honed for one purpose; go faster. And dear GOD, that thing could move.

[@ianlivingston1671]

I have recently gone over to Avon tyres on my 1200 Vmax, Cobra rear and Road Rider front. No wobble or weave now, they're great. Previously used Bridgestone Exedras front and rear.

[@750VFRRules]

Many years ago I got a Tank slapper at 35 MPH on a friends 325 Villiers twin Panther, No leathers or gloves etc , well I was only 19. I had just rolled the throttle off for a downhill bend. Certainly I didn't have time to lay down, the forks hit the stops like a machine gun firing, and I was off. Gravel rash was painful. Changing the dressings even more so. But I did get to have two terrific looking nurses cut my jeans off. Nowadays you would be stuck in A&E for 10 hours, while you bled out.

[@m1aws]

lol, you are a Brit like me then. Been there! ;)

[@donlunn792]

Haha,It was obviously my comment about A&E that you knew I was a Brit

[@wisnuadiputra4843]

R.I.P Murray Walker ( 1923 - 2021 )

[@hairymarmite6419]

I had wobble on a BMW r80rt. When in the shop with front wheel in the air, could feel indexing when lightly turning bars. Replaced headstock bearings. No more problem.

[@juandeandrade3675]

I've learnt 6 short sayings which I've adopted whenever I hop on my bike. These have humbled me. 1. Ride as if you're invisible because you are. 2. The moment you hop on, you ride a potential coffin on two wheels. 3. Ride as if you're everyone's enemy. 4. There comes a point where you're guardian angel can no longer keep up with you because of your speed. 5. Come to terms with the fact that the moment you hop on your ride, your life is no longer in your own hands. 6. Have fun and cherish every single moment, the good, the bad and the ugly. You can disagree with some of these but at the end of the day, no matter how good and safe of a rider you are, the only shell and protection you have - unlike in a motor vehicle - is your gear, flesh and bone.

[@IndependantMind168]

Great find. Thanks.

[@InHimwillitrust]

Amazing video

[@taggerinc2652]

Skip to 4:25 to get to the wobble and weave part of the video.

[@Visionery1]

Excellent video! Many a novice would've been thrown off by some of the illustrated weaving.

[@jontnoneya3404]

Awesome vid but those weave segments made my hands sweat.....damn that shit is terrifying especially at 85+ and you could see they were on normal roads and passing guardrails so if the weaved caused a crash, they would likely slide into the damned guardrail. Great info however.

[@armadilllo]

This is old but still true, had a top box on my DR yesterday with about 30 lbs in it and it started weaving at 70, 65 was fine, it was never an issue until I put new tires on, rain grooves were the cause, no worries on regular pavement. Say what you want about Trailwings, they're great on the road. Hard to do the speed limit when everyone else wants to do 80-90.

[@chriscoates2399]

2021 really enjoyed this video review ! Advice ...

[@happywjc]

LIFESAVING information! THANK YOU & WELL ONE!

[@4legsgood]

Those bikes were lethal

[@charlesscottkelly]

Good stuff I just learnt something. I need to eat more.

[@davidhall2141]

Murray looks the biz on that xs11.

[@goceristeski199]

David Hall

[@niklashall5969]

That was BRILLIANT

[@christophersonawane]

I’m so high I don’t even own a Motorcycle but watched the entire thing

[@lis3728]

What a legend!

[@kevintucker3354]

I had a slow speed wobble lasted a second and whacked both hands on the knuckles but it was from a rough road, both hands on the grips. About 40 mph even throttle. Harley 883.

[@jagmarc]

A good fast frame rate camera recording and view it in slow motion, look at various different nodes moving note their phase relationship in the oscillation, then use all that to identify the exact mechanism that's making the weave or speed wobble. Road speed of course is just one factor, others are the inherent geometry of the motorcycle in combination with worn parts and or just the way it's made. Often it's a combination of factors and simply eliminate one stops it. Then can go straight to whatever factor is contributing the most which is often worn front fork bushes, or forks too skinny add a fork brace, or worn swingarm bushes often agravated by intolerance of tyre wear. Of course can add damping device and of course can fit tyres with tread optimized for a damping effect.

[@doncairns9275]

That's fantastic news... the next time my doctor tells me I'm overweight, I'll point out that it's quite literally saving my life! 👍

[@yes333yes]

I actually have a video "How to: Deal with Speed Wobbles / Tank slappers". It's only about 30 seconds but it gives a technique on how to prevent them from getting worse. Modern bikes don't wobble randomly like the bikes of old, it requires the front tire to be out of alignment with the rear (EX: bar input, going in a rut, coming down from a wheelie with a turned wheel etc...) and as a result the front tire tries to "jump" back inline with the rear. Have another wobble vid from a race too!

[@harry556b]

I was going on the highway and the bike started to weave, but you know when, when i lied down. The reason why i lied down was to get some extra speed but that caused the weave, just nearly missed death today. How i survived, let go of the throttle, pulled the clutch in and applied a little bit of the front brake and some rear brake.

[@citizenbfk]

Jolly good show. Thank you.

[@garethprice2245]

the small back tyre plays a bike part on them old bikes to

[@nutmegger1957]

I get "wobble" around corners. Not all the time, mind you. I figured it was either a mis-matching between the "new" front tire tread, and the old back tire, or perhaps the seals (?) in the front forks? Still diagnosing.

[@thenite187]

Seems to me it's quite clear with the mismatched tires. If you've had the bike a while, you may have noticed the problem increasing. Try getting a rear tire to match the front and it should clear up the problem. The other option is to slow down in the curves or alter you approach and exit; being mindful of hazards of course. Have them check the balance of your front tire too. You could have ran across a dim-wit who hadn't checked for proper balance.

[@fhhfgj]

F1 racing is Murray Walker!

[@8888swatt]

Indeed. We are talking about the man that once said "...F1 is if spelt backwards"

[@reddyreddy2618]

Hmm, one of my old stage 3 LCs used to weave a bit, mind, every bearing was knackered, over size rear tyre, perished front, fork oil like treacle (probably) and riding like a complete tool might have all been contributing factors😂😅

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

How did we ever ride on those skinny Dunlop’s ? 🤣. I was forever replacing them on my Commando until I found Pirellis and Conti’s. Still run Avon’s on my classic bikes now though.

[@noelduggan72]

Good Stuff!!!! - 👍

[@infinitehospitality]

I want his yellow jacket!

[@cygmx]

Informative, but 0:33 lemon, orange, and raspberry. Also, Norton's wobble, but they don't fall down.

[@charliecallcut2219]

I get a bit of weave on my Honda ST1100 at, ah, certain speeds and it discourages further acceleration. I hven't tested it yet but if I remove the pammiers and top box I bet it wouldn't happen.

[@chriskelleher349]

Do 2021 manufacturers mention low speed wobble , high speed weave ?

[@Crooksey]

The low speed wobble of the bars is often referred to as shimmy. Something tyre manufacturers will test for and try to minimise or eliminate, but it is very bike specific

[@bashkillszombies]

So now I know why I've never seen this before. I'm not a manlet. Also explains why little men on harley's get this all the time.

[@doubles691]

Better than some modern times expert VLOGS

[@nickmonkey284]

Those old bikes wobbling and weaving about were seriously dodgy Fortunately it doesn’t happen today because everybody is fat I loved Murray Walker’s splendid outfit

[@Bluecollarrider]

ive never had it, but i drive a harley which is 600lbs and i dont have spokes...found this video interesting though

[@maheshirk]

Very Informational ! I am facing weave while decelerating (esp braking ), what can be the cause of it ?

[@skeggjoldgunnr3167]

Good question, but you'll more than likely get a helpful and educated answer by providing tire condition, pressure and type, bike info, load, weight distribution, any add-ons...etc.

[@tvr419]

I had a weave causing me to crash while i was doing the speed limit (120 km per ours) in Belgium accually

[@gc2696]

Legend, RIP🙏🏻

[@Crooksey]

Wasn’t he just the voice of motorsport and a true gentleman, sadly missed

[@steven-vn9ui]

Tea trolly casters "trail" but front forks on the bike "lead" - I would have thought the result would be very different but I am wrong.

[@HarroldNutczak]

My 83 Suzuki 1100E had anti-dive forks, and I added a steering damper to control the inherent wobble in mid triple digit speeds

[@terryjackman]

His dad used to race in the IOM TT

[@Poop-nu1so]

excellent video! :)

[@HorshamHector]

RIP Murray

[@garrettoneil3864]

Is that a dadgum 1978 Yamaha xs1100 standard shear badass

[@tomakafrankconlon3207]

Hello, Dunlop has paid me to say Dunlop many times.