front end wiggle

[blakebird]

The best way to describe how it feels....is that as you slow down to walking speeds (using both brakes, or just the rear), the front wiggles the bars lightly and it feels like you're rolling slowly across roto-milled pavement.

2007, on it's third set of tires. Bike was bought used last July w/ 1,177 miles on it, there's now has 21,400 miles.

Avon Storms which look essentially new w/ 5,000 miles on them (3,000 mile road trip just done a few weeks ago).

The front has felt a little strange at low speeds for a while, but everything looks good, nothing appears to be loose, etc, and tire pressure is fine.

The Avons are a thin carcass, flexible tire...but at 42psi they feel great. Just when I'm almost to a stop....I get a little bar shake. Weird-o-rama.

I'm going to put it on the stands and give it a good check, I was wondering at some point if it was the pair of front pads that the rear linked brakes activate dragging funny or something.

The strange thing (to me), is that the oem BT-020 front cupped so badly and had the freakazoid wear pattern you see on these pages a lot....so I went to the Dunlop Roadsmart. Same thing on that front.

Despite the wacky wear, the front of the bike with those tires never felt strange or wiggly....but with the Storms - which are wearing like iron and perfectly round, no cupping... are on the bike when it's doing this.

I did a search and found other non-related front end subjects...but nothing that covered my case. Anyone had a similar experience?

 

[mattster31]

Your bike is angry you're riding it so slow!!!!!!!!!!! Just speed up..............it goes away

 

[escapefjrtist]

One word, AVON. They might wear well, but the odds are against you on getting a good (front) tire... Double check the steering head bearings, but most likely it's tire related.

--G

 

[blakebird]

One word, AVON. They might wear well, but the odds are against you on getting a good (front) tire... Double check the steering head bearings, but most likely it's tire related.
--G

I had very good luck with the Avon Storms on my ZX-14. Never had a bad tire. Stick like glue, wear like iron. Getting 7500/8500 miles on a ZX-14 rear/front - and liking them - says a lot.

Back in the '90's when the Azaro came out, there were lots of separations and issues for a while, and that was a very flexible carcass on that tire. I steered clear of the Azaro even after they were a good tire because of that first one. The Storm IMO is a great tire.

I just changed the oil & filter and went ahead and put the bike up on the front stand to give 'er a spin and see if anything looked suspect.

Nope, all is good mechanically....but it is the recurring weird cupping thing happening again. On this tire, the tread block shape makes it tougher to see, it's not nearly as obvious as it was on the BT-020 or Roadsmart.

The Storms have always felt great, lots of road feel. They're a great wet weather tire too.

Now they're just transmitting more of the cuppy tire shape back to me. Being able to spin the tire and feel it was the dealio, it just wasn't that noticable or pronounced looking just sitting there - but it's happening on this tire as well. They're showing it later in their lifespan than the others.

Everything else checked out fine.

 

[SkooterG]

Avons will cause that little slow speed wiggle. Don't worry about it. Ride more, obsess less.

I love the Azaros. I have run countless sets on my FJR and previous Concours.

Hate the Storms. After running two sets, never again! On both sets, the front cupped very early. Vibration and ill-handling started early in the tire's life.

 

[C&C]

Put it on the centerstand, jack the front wheel, and check for any looseness in the forks or axle. Also, give the front wheel a spin and check for tire/wheel runout. As previously mentioned, it may be the nature of that tire.

 

[blakebird]

Put it on the centerstand, jack the front wheel, and check for any looseness in the forks or axle. Also, give the front wheel a spin and check for tire/wheel runout. As previously mentioned, it may be the nature of that tire.

As I said....did that, and everything checked out. I have my answer, it's the front cupping like the others did, though later in it's life and more noticeable to feel.

in response to the "ride more, obsess less"....not sure how to respond. I ride constantly, and don't bitch and moan about much. The FJR apparently likes to cup it's front and spit them out at 1:1 with the rears - after 21,000 miles and three sets of tires, I guess I'm getting used to it.

 

[C&C]

Sorry must have missed the centerstand part; new next suggestion Michelin Pilot Roads or PR(2)'s.

 

[ALDAWG]

I have an 08 with almost 7k on it, stock tires and noticed the wobble when I let go of the bars, at any speed. I am very good about checking tire pressure, this tire is wearing strange. Kinda like my Road Warrior used to wear, but it never effected the handling like this..So tonight I am gonna put it on the center stand and check things out. What are some things to look out for when I do this? I have the Y.E.S. plan so that should cover any problems, if it needs to go to the dealer for any repairs...

 

[cardingtr]

I only notice a wobble when riding it from the bar otherwise this bike is steady. h34r:

Seriously though, did you check you suspension settings for your weight?

 

[Foxhuntr]

I have the Azaros on my bike right now and they are shimmying, wobbling, tank-slapping SOBs! They do grip well in the corners tho.

 

[Luke]

If you notice front-end wiggle at walking speeds, then you really need to watch her when she starts jogging!

 

[reecebike]

FRONT TIRE!!!!!!

 

[millride]

I have , in my barn, a useless piece of crap front Storm with 1,000 miles on it-- off it went and I threw it into the loft.

You say you searched and found nothing about that problem or that piece of crap tire, if I searched better I would probably find a post that tells me to STFU! but I try not to find posts that tell me the obvious and thats how it is but trust me the people that tell you to adjust the suspension are the same people that get 10,000 miles on a tire so I'm sorry to say they just don't get it.

Go ahead and milk that hoop and it will bum you out till it wears out and you buy another tire but take just a smidgen of advice from a guy who sucks tires down at a prodigeuos-- damn is that how you spell that word -- rate on an outright fat and heavy front ended bike like the FJR!

No zig-zag shaped tread pattern for this heavy front ended bike, I dont care if your other bike did good with this tire or if it stuck like glue , its not an FJR!

I put up with 3 sets of 021's that wore out in less than 4,000 miles just because I could ride for miles without my hands on the bars- turns and crappy pavement were not a concern---oh yea I could also could go WFO on this bike in second gear coming out of the turns and it would not slip out or anything goofy like that-- got a set of z6's- zig zag pattern and they stuck like glue but on deceleration it was wobble city---who in the hell wants that crap!

pr2's will be my next choice simply because of the tread pattern and of course YMMV! <_<

 

[eaglej]

Really sounds like loose steering head bearings to me, but it sounds like you have checked that... I have had this problem with my bandit, and I was certain it was tires, but the bearing was loose/toast. In fact, I am going to reseat/adjust the bearing on my FJR tomorrow, because I am pretty sure there is some free play in mine. I notice it as low speed as well.

Good luck.

J

 

[user 6393]

the title sounds like loose bra straps, but...*shrug*

 

[just roy]

i've had several front tires do this on several motorcycles always felt it was from the odd tread paterns that some have. if try it on a smooth surface then a really rough textured surface like fresh stone chips you will notice it goes away.