New PR4 GT rear, now wiggly feeling

[Old Guy]

I'm got a brand new set on mine and plan to take it out tomorrow. I'll admit that I'm a little concerned with that extreme siping (sp?), but I'll keep an open mind.

 

[HotRodZilla]

I'd look at your reassembly. Is the spacer in the right place? Is stuff torqued correctly? What you describe sounds like the rear wheel being loose in between the swing arms.

 

[Hotboot]

All those sipes are going to flex and move around, I have not ridden a bike with them but several experienced friends don't like the movement back there. I doubt you have a bad tire but maybe chose the wrong one for your style, which sounds close to mine. Switch it and take the loss or wear it out in tip toe mode.

 

[longrider1951]

I work at Kawasaki/Yamaha Dealership and we have sold and installed PR 4's on about 5 FJR's. Out of the 5, 2 owners complained about high speed wobbles (40%). We swapped them out for PR 3's and problem cured. Seems FJR's and PR 4's don't play well together. BTW both bikes were Gen II.

 

[redneckj]

I find this thread VERY interesting. PR3 treated me very well. Moved to Angel GT's and they are treating me fine too. I did go through one front at 7000 but the rear lasted so far 11,000+ miles so far. I have the replacement rear in the barn and will spoon it on asap. But don't mind me, I don't ride fast.

 

[supertankerm60a3]

I have had 2 PR4 on the rear. Not GT's though. I have not had a problem with any wobble.

 

[fjRaven]

Here's the difference between the 4 and 4 GT. Which would generally be the better all-around better for 1-up on our bikes?

• Pilot Road 4 for all-around sport touring use
• Pilot Road 4 GT has a stiffer casing with a patented new technology for motorcycle tires that delivers the stability you need for heavier GT-class bikes while riding solo, two-up or with luggage, and the comfort you desire

The difference between the Standard and GT models is in construction, with the GT model using a 2AT (Dual Angle Technology) design that’s claimed to provide the rigidity of a bias-ply tire and the sporty performance of a radial tire. On the GT, the first ply is laid at a 90-degree angle to the road, and the next ply diagonal to the road, Michelin says. What’s that mean to you? Well, all you really need to know is that the GT is more idealistic for larger mounts like the new BMW R 1200 RT, which as it were, comes standard with the Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT.

 

[Old Guy]

I finally got mine out yesterday for the first ride on my new PR4 GTs. We did about 300 miles of fun Arkansas twisties, and the bike felt fine.

I tell you what, though. The PR4 GTs were the easiest tires to mount that I've done in a long, long time. If they're stiffer than the standard PR4s, I could probably mount the PR4s with my thumbs.

 

[kleake]

I had planned to ride SE Oklahoma into Arkansas over the weekend, but the wifes ankle/knee hadn't healed enough from her wreck to allow it so we had to take the car, but I sure was drooling in the twisties! Anyway, on my way home from work I have a long high speed left hander, so I pushed the bike like I normally would have and the bike handled it fine. I'm wondering if once leaned over farther it gets past those sipes and it holds good. Maybe those sipes are only causing issues at mid lean which is where I've seen it the most. We have rain for the next couple of days, then i'll be giving it a little more ride time to see if I can deal with it or if I need to go back to a PR3. I'm hearing mixed reviews though. Some say they are great and they love them, and others are reporting the same sort of wiggle I am.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I certainly don't want any wiggle while leaning over...I like the nice smooth transitions that give me confidence all the way through the curve.

 

[roger dodger]

The last swap from PR3 to PR4 I felt an added 'wiggle' but with another 50 miles or so (and gradually increased leaning) it came to feel fine.

I think the newer (rounder) profile of the (slicker) new tire is a little off-putting, but after 5000 miles to TN and NC it proved to be fine.

Keep riding it (and leaning it) and it should like 'home' in no time soon!!! YMMV

 

[Redfish Hunter]

For the record, my PR4GT has no wiggle while leaning. It only feels strange while straight up. Once leaned over they are rock solid. Which is why I assume tread issues rather than construction issues or defects.

 

[kleake]

Exactly as mine seems to be. Straight up, or only partial lean it feels strange, but full lean it seems solid. Only once has it done the "wilder" squirm like you see on race bikes as they come out of a curve or as they set the front wheel back down after a hill.

 

[kleake]

I may have found the source of my wiggle. I installed the tire last Saturday, pressure was set at ~41. Rode it to work most of the week. Didn't check the pressure again, but did eyeball it and kick it like I usually do and it felt solid. (Usually check the pressure every couple of weeks and just eyeball it and kick it between. It usually works pretty well) These GT's definitely are firmer! I was out in the shop last night and I thought I would check the pressure to be sure, and it was at 15!!! I hadn't rode it since last week so I'm not sure if it just went down or maybe it dropped that first few days, but either way, that would explain the wiggle. It's raining today so I didn't ride, but i'll be watching the pressure and report back my findings. Funny thing is that it didn't really feel like it was that low, and it sure didn't look it! And to think, Friday I was pushing a high speed curve testing it,,,,, and it felt rock solid while leaned way over! Learned my lesson, never trust look and feel, always check! Makes me want to get a TPMS system, any recommendations?

 

[gregory]

Makes me want to get a TPMS system, any recommendations?

This is on my radar

https://www.doranmfg.com/motorcycle-tire-pressure-monitoring-systems.htm?gclid=CJf8hfu_sbcCFS9dQgod0Q4AHw

 

[Old Guy]

I may have found the source of my wiggle. I installed the tire last Saturday, pressure was set at ~41. Rode it to work most of the week. Didn't check the pressure again, but did eyeball it and kick it like I usually do and it felt solid. (Usually check the pressure every couple of weeks and just eyeball it and kick it between. It usually works pretty well) These GT's definitely are firmer! I was out in the shop last night and I thought I would check the pressure to be sure, and it was at 15!!! I hadn't rode it since last week so I'm not sure if it just went down or maybe it dropped that first few days, but either way, that would explain the wiggle. It's raining today so I didn't ride, but i'll be watching the pressure and report back my findings. Funny thing is that it didn't really feel like it was that low, and it sure didn't look it! And to think, Friday I was pushing a high speed curve testing it,,,,, and it felt rock solid while leaned way over! Learned my lesson, never trust look and feel, always check! Makes me want to get a TPMS system, any recommendations?

Thanks for reporting back.

 

[supertankerm60a3]

Ditto, Thanks for the Follow up. So Often the OP does not post the solution or the problem once it is found.

 

[kleake]

Checked it tonight before riding to work tomorrow, 30psi.... Went on the hunt and found a nail, in my brand new PR4!!! Less than 250 miles on it. It's in the center of the tread and a small nail, so it looks like a patch on the inside will be the best method. Guess i'll be picking up some patches and repairing tomorrow night instead of riding. Definitely ordering a TPMS system, man there are a lot of them out there. I do like the looks of the Doran, but it is a tad more expensive than some of the others.

 

[mcatrophy]

... I thought I would check the pressure to be sure, and it was at 15!!! ...

Erm, post #2

.

 

[kleake]

mcatrophy: Yea, I learned my lesson, unfortunately when I got home from work each day, as I get off the bike I'm not really wanting to get down on my hands and knees to check until I go in the house and change clothes, then I didn't always make it back out to the shop. That's why the kick it method can usually get me a close ballbark if anything is obviously out of whack (I learned it's not as foolproof as I thought). My brain is thinking (I just put this tire on, there shouldn't be any leaks, at least not this quick) so I put off checking, thinking I had just checked it a few days before when I installed it. I'll definitely take the blame for not checking, but nobody expects a new tire to go down that quick, and when something feels funny, your brain wants to look at the new tire being at fault, not your bad luck of hitting a nail within a day or so of putting that tire on. lol