Experienced the infamous 'Pan-weave' last week

Savago

Savago

Joined
Mar 7, 2017
Messages
131
Location
California
Bike
ST1300@2009
Context: I was riding in the desert on my way to the Joshua NP and in a straight segment of road (with no other vehicles at sight) decided to see what was the limit of my 2009 ST.

The fastest I ever was in this bike was 125 mph (201Km/h).

The bike was rock stable (but the engine a bit buzzy) and when I hit 130mph (209Km/h) the bike started to weave violently from side to side... really scary to say the least.

Fortunately I was aware of the issue and simply started to slowdown smoothly until the bike stopped 'weaving'.

About the bike: it has new-ish Michelin Pilot Road 4 tires (proper pressure) and the rear shock was rebuilt about 1 1/2 year ago.

I don't blame the bike per si, as the scenario wasn't ideal: fully loaded for a roadtrip (both panniers), had a Givi huge trunk also loaded with stuff and the windshield was all the way up (it was damn hot that day).

*But* what is scary is that there is no early sign at all (i.e. vibration, etc) *before* the weave.

Anyone had a similar experience?
 
Last edited:
Actually, yes, but not at that speed and not that violently!

I was on my '05, heading home down US395, just north of the SR58, doing about 110mph when I felt a slight wobble. And after experiencing a wobble on my '83 650 Nighthawk, when I crashed, I backed down like, FAST!

And like your's I was loaded down in the back. Which in my opinion, is why you have to watch how you load her down!
 
Same experience on a ST1300 on the AutoBahn. Once you hit above 125 sustained, the front end felt light when the windshield was up any amount at all (I played with it just to see). If it was down all the way, no weave (but you had to tuck in). You couldn't just run up and back down, you had to stay there for a little bit.
 
Can't really comment since I'm on an 1100, but FWIW... 125 is the max ST I've gone. Ditto on the new-ish tires, proper pressure, everything well-set up suspension-wise. It was rock-steady. Would it have weaved at 130? Maybe, dunno. I've only had it over 'the ton' that one time, and likely won't get there again. I somewhat regularly ride in the 90's right up to 100 with no issues, but into triple-digits is something I only did the once on this bike and probably won't do again. In all fairness, I've taken ANY bike into triple-digits only maybe a half-dozen times and it's just not a 'zone' where I plan to be again. I once had a big Katana up to 155 on a track, and I've had a car (Lambo) up to 180, also on a track (technically, a runway). But I'm not much a 'need for speed' guy. I get my jollies more from taking a 20 mph curve at 60 than from sheer top speed... The truth is an ST could have a devastating 'death wobble' at 130mph and it would not affect me in the least.
 
Windshield down, tucked in, factory trunk on...........137 near the salt flats in UT.......no weave.......just ran out of courage.
I think full up windshield is a big culprit. Lots of weight, I am sure doesn't help.....:bk13::law2:
 
Mine used to exhibit the weave over 115 from time to time, it never did it every time, but after I replaced the OEM head stock bearings with tapered rollers it pretty took care of it.
 
After 1 1/2 years, I'll bet your rear preload adjuster needs to be serviced again.
You should not blame the bike, you should blame yourself for such a foolish decision.
Fully loaded panniers, Givi Huge trunk probably over loaded as well, and the shield was all the way up? What on earth were you thinking? :nuts1:
Even a properly set up bike would probably not be stable under those conditions.
I've had my personal ST1300A up to an indicated 142 mph with no signs of any wobble or weave, however, I did so with the shield down, tucked, empty saddlebags, and even though I had the stock Hondaline trunk mounted, it had less than 10 lbs of weight inside it.
Even an empty Givi box can shift the weight on the back of the bike and lighten up the front end.
I would write that off as a foolish stunt, and never try to do that under those conditions again.
You got lucky my friend.
 
That's scary. I hit 130 on a straight away last month and didn't experience any pan weave. But glad you are OK.
 
Not experienced it myself...then again, I've only had mine a week! :D

We ran the 1100s in our force, together with K1100 BMWs, then the ST1300s came out and we initially bought 4 to replace our higher-miles 1100s. Back then, procedure was that any new type would go to Driving School for a few weeks for the instructors there to put a few hundred miles on them and then, hopefully, declare them as fit for service. 2 out of the 3 bike instructors experienced the weave, in very similar circumstances, on 2 of the bikes. The other 2 bikes didn't do it. The 3rd instructor rode the same bikes, over the same route, at the same speeds, and couldn't re-create it. Honda UK wouldn't accept there was a fault with them, and wouldn't take them back. The instructors wouldn't sign them off as fit for service. Our bosses wouldn't override their decision, for obvious reasons. They sat in our traffic garage for 6 months gathering dust....then the engines, gearboxes and anything else that could be sold was removed and the frames/swingarms were sliced through with a cutting torch, a sad end indeed! We ended up buying 8, I think, new old-stock 1100s that were trickled out onto the fleet as required....and Yamaha stepped in with the police-spec FJR1300. :rolleyes:

Pete
 
Yup, had the itch to verify my earlier statement. 140 indicated on straight dry road about 70 degrees on Michelin PR4s. Lite load in top box as I am headed into work. Tucked in too with the shield all the way down.
 
My st1300 2002 ,On a straight motorway gave a weave motion between 125 to 130 mph. screen was down , top box and panniers fitted. ( with nothing in them.) I am putting it down to suspension needing some love / service.

Once I sort my ABS , I am going give Maxton suspension my folks and rear shock to uprate ,and set to my weight etc.
 
I had 140 on indicated on my GPS no issues I do have an aftermarket rear shock and fork springs and I keep my windshield fairly low and it is a Clearview GT small
 
Igofar said:
After 1 1/2 years, I'll bet your rear preload adjuster needs to be serviced again.
You should not blame the bike, you should blame yourself for such a foolish decision.
Fully loaded panniers, Givi Huge trunk probably over loaded as well, and the shield was all the way up? What on earth were you thinking? :nuts1:
Even a properly set up bike would probably not be stable under those conditions.
I've had my personal ST1300A up to an indicated 142 mph with no signs of any wobble or weave, however, I did so with the shield down, tucked, empty saddlebags, and even though I had the stock Hondaline trunk mounted, it had less than 10 lbs of weight inside it.
Even an empty Givi box can shift the weight on the back of the bike and lighten up the front end.
I would write that off as a foolish stunt, and never try to do that under those conditions again.
You got lucky my friend.
Click to expand...


My experience too. Twice in two years did I experience 'pan weave' at high speed. Once I adjusted rear shock pre-load and rebound.........no more weave. :cool:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom