Just got a 98 bayou 220 from my mom in law for my wife to ride. After doing a good tuneup i.e. changing all fluids, filters and spark plug it runs perfect now. The only problem with the bike is when you ride it and get to going fast it wants to try and go whichever way it wants to. You really have to fight hard to keep it straight at high speeds. My mom in law said it didnt always do that but we could have it if we fix that. Anyone have any ideas what to look for on it?

 

No ideas?? Anyone?

 

Try adjusting the toe-in by adjusting the tie-rods length slightly longer. You would need a string and tape-measure to do this. When you have negative toe-in, the steering becomes more sensitive to rider's input.

 

Also check the tire pressure, it should be the same in each tire.
Check for bent or damaged front end pieces, maybe even a loose tie rod end, or ball joints. Youll have to get underneath it, or stand it on the rack, and wiggle pieces, and see if any are loose and sloppy. Also check the wheel bearings. If you grab the upper area of the tire, and the lower area, and wiggle it hard...you shouldnt get much movement, and no noises or feeling that theres slop in there.
To a certain degree, this is the nature of the beast. Its has a single a arm front suspension, and that makes for lots of bump steer...the chamber changes as the suspension moves. Going over bumps fast, can be unnerving.

 

Well i just jacked it up and tried pulling on the tires and I felt no play in the bearings. However I could turn the tires very easily with no resistence when it is jacked up. Is that normal? It just goes side to side very easily. How do you know if the ball joint is bad or tie rod?

 

Grab each side of the joint, and wiggle and feel for slop or clearance. They should rotate and move smoothly in the directions it should, and have no movement in the directions it shouldnt. Think of a ball and socket joint, and thats just about what the tie rod ends are. Also check carefully, where they bolt to the steering pieces, the threaded portion can get loose and sloppy , but the ball and socket joint can still be tight.
You can also use a helper, and have them sit on the quad, and move the handlebars, slowly,back and forth an inch or two....all the pieces should move in unison...if one lags, its got slop. If the handlebars move, the wheels should too. You may have to stand back a few feet, and get the overall big picture, to spot the bad joint.
The toe should be slightly in. The forward side of the front tires, need to be slightly closer together than the rearward side of those same tires. Think of pigeon toed.

 

l know this is a very old post but lm having a similar problem.
l just got a brand new 07 bayou 250 a month ago.
Until today its been fine but today l had the steering locked to one side and pushed pretty hard against a rock.
lt looks like lts more toed in than usual and swervs dangerously on the road.
lm gunna try the tie rod and check ball joints tomarrow.
ls this common or am l dumb?