A method for the modal analysis of continuous gyroscopic systems with nonlinear constraints is developed. This method assumes that the nonlinear constraint can be expressed as a piecewise linear force–deflection profile located at an arbitrary position within the domain. Using this assumption, the mode shapes and natural frequencies are first found for each state, then a mapping method based on the inner product of the mode shapes is developed to map the displacement of the system between the in-contact and out-of-contact states. To illustrate this method, a model for the vibration of a traveling string in contact with a piecewise-linear constraint is developed as an analog of the interaction between magnetic tape and a guide in data storage systems. Five design parameters of the guide are considered: flange clearance, flange stiffness, symmetry of the force–deflection profile in terms of flange stiffness and offset, and the guide's position along the length of the string. There are critical bifurcation thresholds, below which the system exhibits no chaotic behavior and is dominated by period one, symmetric behavior, and above which the system contains asymmetric, higher periodic motion with windows of chaotic behavior. These bifurcation thresholds are particularly pronounced for the transport speed, flange clearance, symmetry of the force deflection profile, and guide position. The stability of the system is sensitive to the system's velocity, and, compared to stationary systems, more mode shapes are needed to accurately model the dynamics of the system.