Steering question on my 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R?

[My name is Jonas]

I just bought this bike and it is my first sport bike. The steering feels like there's a click in the middle. I feel like it wants to be dead center (and it is and it's very smooth at high speeds) but it does not turn smoothly from the left to the right. If I start from left and go right, it feels smooth until dead center, where it feels like it clicks into place, then clicks out of place and is smooth all the way to the right. It feels pretty unstable at low speeds kind of like I'm clicking in and out of center. I feel like I need to be braking facing completely forward. Any thoughts? Is this normal?

 

[Heavy_Cavalry_Sgt]

It sounds like perhaps your steering head bearings need to be looked at. If they get a damaged spot, they can cause that feeling.

 

[Jancie]

Steering stem bearings need adjustment/replacement. Not hard, just time consuming. The entire front end needs to be pulled apart-remove the cables brake and speedo), then the front wheel, then the front fender, then the forks can be dropped out of the tree. You then take the handlebars off and now have access to the nuts. Remove the top steering stem clamp, then taking a speciality tool or a hammer and drift, and undo both the lock nut and the actual nut that secure the steering stem in place. when you have them loose, watch for falling bearings..

Take the lower bearings out first and put in a cup, then remove and cup the top bearings. now clean and examine the races. If damaged replace them. There will be top and bottom parts to both the upper and lower bearing sets.. If no damage, repack with grease and put the bearings back in, retighten to spec and reassemble the front end.

If the races and or bearings are damaged you can go with standard replacements or buy aftermarket units. the aftermarkets are easier to work with but require the old races be tapped out and the new stuff carefully pressed into place.