Wheel wobble

[XV1100SE]

Been riding my 09 since July, almost 9000km and noticed for the first time yesterday a wheel wobble I wasn't expecting. Tires are original and appear normal wear to me.

 

First time I've done this so it could have been there from day one and was wondering if it is an alignment issue. Hoping someone else can try it or say its normal.

 

Cruising along in gear at 85km/hr (about 50mph) I took my hands off the grips to close my jacket pocket and as the bike coasted and slowed down, at 70km/hr (almost 40mph) the front wheel started to wobble. Had I let it go further it could have turned into a tank slapper.

 

Given the cold weather lately tire pressures were down a few lbs so I put more air in today (36psi front, 40psi rear, have 0psi on front forks, 40psi on rear). Tried same thing and again right around 70km/h I started to get the wobble again.

 

Haven't tried doing it in neutral yet and wondering if it was because the bike was in gear or if it is an alignment, tire, or other issue.

 

Comments?

[Jerry W]

You aired the front tired up to 36lbs? Low front tire pressure will cause a wobble. I am guessing you have a little wear on the front and that along with the pressure being too low was the cause of the wobble. Do you know how much air pressure you were running before you raised it to 36?

[bryan52577]

I had brand new Avons put on my o5 and had sort of the same problem. Wobble / shimmy when letting off gas. (This is after about 3500 miles on them, till then never noticed.) Took it back to the shop and dealer lifted the bike up and spun the front tire. That is where it got interesting, bead was set good and true. (Both sides). But tire had a bow in it side to side and was not "round" tire would go in and out as we spun it. Only time I could tell was when I let off the gas. We took it of the bike and checked balance and it was dead on.

Avon sent a new tire "free" but it didn't get here by the long weekend. So dealer put on a Dunlop E3 he had (we tested the bike with it on before telling Avon too) and I bought it. Turns out it was of the 130 size not the 150 size...... After just 100 miles on the 130 I will never put the 150 back on! WOW is all I can say. Handles more like a trials bike at slow speeds that a big old Barca Lounger "Now I have a 150 new Avon just sitting in my garage."

Avon had less noise than the Dunlop and Dunlop or Avon don't matter to me but I am hooked on the 130 now.

Long story short have the front tire checked, (even new tires, or an older tire, can be bad).

Or the steering head bolt could be loose too.

Bryan

[Guest]

Since your raising the tire pressure, go up to 42 lbs and give it a try. Also add several lbs to your forks, maybe 3 - 4 lbs. If that dont do it its very possible that your steering head is a little loose. Wobbles at the speeds your indicating usually is the steering head, which is not uncommon with this bike and a relativley simple fix.

[XV1100SE]

You aired the front tired up to 36lbs? Low front tire pressure will cause a wobble. I am guessing you have a little wear on the front and that along with the pressure being too low was the cause of the wobble. Do you know how much air pressure you were running before you raised it to 36?

 

With the cold air temperature (-4c, 25F) the front was down to 31.5psi, rear to 37.5psi. After raising the pressure to 36 front and 40 rear I still experienced the wobble, maybe not quite as drastic though. I'll double check the tires for even wear tonight or tomorrow. The wobble wasn't there until the bike got down to the slower speed. Normal riding is fine, no issue with cornering, even coasting at 50mph it is fine.

[XV1100SE]

Since your raising the tire pressure, go up to 42 lbs and give it a try. Also add several lbs to your forks, maybe 3 - 4 lbs. If that dont do it its very possible that your steering head is a little loose. Wobbles at the speeds your indicating usually is the steering head, which is not uncommon with this bike and a relativley simple fix.

 

For the steering head... what should it be torqued too? I'll give that a shot first.

[Guest]

For the steering head... what should it be torqued too? I'll give that a shot first.

 

Check out the link below but bring your air pressures up to say 42 front and 44 rear and take it for a spin first and go from there.

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=511

[bryan52577]

Try this link for the how to.

 

Bryan

 

[Guest]

Try this link for the how to.

 

Bryan

 

 

Ya snooze ya looze!!!!!!

[bryan52577]

Ya snooze ya looze!!!!!!

Yes, I see that now. Teaches me to try not to read more than one post at a time I guess. See old guy can learn!

 

Bryan

[Freebird]

Don't rule out a bad front tire. You didn't say what tire your bike came with but if it's the Bridgestone, it could very well be causing your problem.

[XV1100SE]

The tires are Bridgestones.

Thanks for the support guys ! I'm still at work tonight and won't have a chance to check some of the suggestions until tomorrow night or on the weekend but I will post back.

[darthandy]

The rake and trail on some bikes can react with certain tire profiles to cause this effect. It's not necessarily a problem unless you can feel it through the bars when using a normal grip. Sport bikes tend to be worse because of their often more radical steering geometry. Another potential but rare possibility (For a shaft drive bike.) is misalignment of the wheels. Before I bought my '87 VR I looked through my store of old bike mags and found a 1986 comparison test of six "state of the art" touring rigs (Cycle world). They had handling problems with one of the shaft drive bikes (Not the VR) and discovered that the wheels weren't properly lined up. A somewhat difficult problem to solve on a shaft drive. It's not very likely your problem, but it wouldn't hurt to check just to be sure since, as rare as it may be, it still is a possibility.

[Guest scarylarry]

The tires are Bridgestones.

Thanks for the support guys ! I'm still at work tonight and won't have a chance to check some of the suggestions until tomorrow night or on the weekend but I will post back.

 

 

I had the same problem and it was the brickstone, I had it at the dealer no help, I check the head bearings that was right...

 

When I let go of the bars it wobble like a lose tire or something, I change the tire to a Dunlop and no that is not the only tire avon, michelin or any other brand...

 

Also mine was really bad around 30 to 40 mph

 

Bridgestone tire needs to get out the cycle tire business, IMHO..

 

My bike is 09 and that started at or around 2000 miles..

Edited November 12, 2010 by scarylarry

[XV1100SE]

Normal riding the bike handles great. No pull to either side. When I take my hands off the grips (extremely rare) it runs straight until it slows down then starts to wobble. I'm leaning towards it being the tires (in which case I'll go Dunlop E3) or loose steering.

 

First day this week I didn't ride in to work. -2c (28F) and foggy this morning. Roads are damp and I didn't want to take the chance of hitting black ice. This afternoon will be 14C (57F) so perfect riding weather ! I'll give the bike a going over before I head out.

[BigBear]

Talk about timely...

 

On the way in to work this morning (42 degrees), I noticed a front-end wobble. If I lightened my grip (almost not touching the bars) I started to get a pretty good wobble (at 50mph) but as I tightened my grip...wobble disappeared.

 

I'll have to check the air pressure when I get home...two weeks ago, the pressure was 42psi, and the front shocks were 3-4 psi...but I HAS gotten colder over the last two weeks.

 

Running AVON Venoms on an 08 RSV...tire has approx 30k on it.

 

Let's just say...the wobble definitely GOT MY ATTENTION!

[XV1100SE]

I have the bike up on the lift but haven't checked for loose steering head yet. Will see if there is any play but am leaning toward my issue being tires. I'm glad I found out about it and stopped it before it turned into a tank slapper.

Lot of suggestions in this thread and hope you find your answer.

[bongobobny]

One of the less than perfect design features of the 2nd gen is the air shocks in the front do not have an equalizing tube between the 2 shocks which the 1st gens do have. There is apossibility that if the pressures were off by a pound or 2 between the shocks it could cause an oscillation. There is a kit that turns the 2 separate air fittings into a single and provides the equalization. This is a remote possibility and moreso the effect of unequal air pressures is a tendency to pull to one side or the other when going over bumps, but you never know...

[BigBear]

One of the less than perfect design features of the 2nd gen"

 

 

LOL....Only one? Maybe there should be a separate forum for that?

[Zane]

Mine a 1st gen identical symptoms. Installed Progressives and Condors brace and no more problem at all. Did not check neck bearings though. But I'm happy! Hope your problems are fixed by now.

[GaryZ]

Normal riding the bike handles great. No pull to either side. When I take my hands off the grips (extremely rare) it runs straight until it slows down then starts to wobble. I'm leaning towards it being the tires (in which case I'll go Dunlop E3) or loose steering.

 

Both of my bikes will do the same thing when the front tire is worn.

 

The ZX11 repeated itself each time the Dunlops (D207 and 208) started showing cupping on the front tire. I swapped to Metzler M1 and have not had the problem again.

 

The VR had a worn E2 on the front when I bought it, no cupping could be seen, and exhibited the exact symptoms that you described. A new E3 on the front and the wobble was gone.

[dynodon]

My '96 had this wobble bad at about those speeds. I put about one "flat" more tight on the head bearings by sticking a thin screwdriver in there and just tightening the nut some without taking anything apart. That was all it took, no more wobble at any speed. Tire pressure or fork pressure made no difference on my part, or a new tire. Also, in checking my front forks/bearings, they did not show any play at all. Try giving the nut on top about one flat at a time tight, and see what happens.

[dunsonaventure]

Im sure it could be any of the reasons already listed, but this is what I love about this site. I am having the same problem only at slower speeds. Listened to everyones ideas and when I heard the one about the steering head bearing, I went straight to the garage. Jacked up my bike ,and sure as hell I can bounce my handlebars back and forth, and it falls to one side or the other on its own. So there is my problem and I solved it just by listening to your problem. Thanks guys!!!!!

[Marcarl]

I would say it's the steering head bearings. You might not find a looseness when you bounce it, be sure to check the end to end bounce.

My thoughts on the tires are: the tires may be causing the wobble, but really shouldn't, unless of course it is totally out of whack. A cupped or out of balance tire should only cause a vibration not a wobble,,,, unless of course the steering head is loose,,,,, but then if the steering head is loose you will find more problems. The bearings act as a damper in the steering system, and if you loose that damper,,,, well,, all your little problems show up. Your hands are also part of the steering system,, helping to dampen the steering, and thus showing you at this time that there is another problem that needs to be addressed.