Front end wobble

[THROTTLEUP]

Has anyone had a problem with front end wobble with hands off the bars between 45 to 50? It seems to ocure when loaded, tankbag; tailtrunk;and bags.Sometimes when tire wear is low. I have installed a fork brace and that did'nt seem to change this condition any.

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Throttle,

Here is a link that will give you some ideas:

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=12738

Make sure your tire pressures are up.

Hope this helps.

 

[mcatrophy]

Normal.

Many bikes do it, it does depend on all sorts of variables including tyre type, tyre wear, tyre pressure, fork condition, loading etc etc.

Nothing to worry about unless simply holding the bars doesn't stop it.

 

[Aasland]

I've had this problem on a couple bikes.

On the FJR I resolved it by switching to PR2's from the Pilot Classic's the original owner had on there. WHen I tried the Avon Storm's it came back with a vengeance, so it was back to PR2's and smooth riding.

On the VFR the problem was the topcase, so no more topcase. I'm sure this would affect the FJR too if I weighed it down too much.

 

[SLK50]

Normal.

Many bikes do it, it does depend on all sorts of variables including tyre type, tyre wear, tyre pressure, fork condition, loading etc etc.

Nothing to worry about unless simply holding the bars doesn't stop it.

Except mine doesn't do it. At all. Ever.

While wobbles can be exacerbated by tire choice, most are the result of poorly set up suspension settings.

Ask Jeff ( haulinashe ) how to adjust the suspension to get more weight on the front-end.

In this case a "soft" rear suspension may be preventing the front-end from being properly weighted, inducing the wobble.

Or maybe I don't have a clue. But my bike still doesn't wobble. Thanks Jeff.

 

[TomInPA]

On my cruiser this was resolved by installing tapered bearings in the steering head. I'm kind of surprised to see the FJR also has a crappy ball bearing set in a plastic cage. The stability of tapered bearings seems much better.

 

[maddad]

This is almost always the tires scalloping. Run your hand along them and you'll probably feel flat spots. Once they start, they get worse really quick.

PR2's have less wobble because the tread pattern is symetical, where most other tires have offset tread patterns.

PR2's

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Others

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PR2's still scallop but because scalloping happens based on the tread pattern, you don't get the same wobble.

 

[GPRIDER]

This is almost always the tires scalloping. Run your hand along them and you'll probably feel flat spots. Once they start, they get worse really quick.

PR2's have less wobble because the tread pattern is symetical, where most other tires have offset tread patterns.

PR2's

/\

/\

Others

/

\

/

\

PR2's still scallop but because scalloping happens based on the tread pattern, you don't get the same wobble.

Your right. As much as I love the Avons, they are very prone to low speed wobble. I have run several sets of Avon Stradas and Storms and they all wobbled on lower speeds. I'm on my third set of PR2s and have never had a wobble. They don't turn in as good as the Avons, but they are good on the turns with no low speed wobbles and last longer. Pick your poison.

GP

 

[mighty mouse]

Possible reasons for a wobble:

low front tire pressure (keep it at 39, check when cold)

weight unbalanced (too much at the back - no offence to any passengers...)

mismatched tires

using Avon tires? Switch to PR2's!

good luck