Weird Front Tire Phenom

[Further]

This has been puzzling me for a while, so I thought I'd see if anyone else experiences this.

Got an Avon Storm on the front of my '08. Tire has 3K on it, bike around 10K. Replaced the orig. BT 021 on the front, (bizarre raised center strip wear-pattern). But I'm sticking with the BT 021 rear because it's given me nearly 10K with very little squaring off.

At all speeds I have no complaints with this setup. However, when I'm crawling along at walking speed in traffic jams, just to that point where you almost have to throw a foot down before you start to tip over, I notice this rather pronounced "twitching" from one side to the other with my handlebars. I can feel it, AND I can actually SEE it. If I just lightly hold the bars with my fingertips, I can see the bars "twitch" just a hair, first to one side, then the other. Get up to 5 or 6 mph and it's pretty much gone.

The tires are at 39 and 42 lbs. The Avon still looks new in terms of wear. No cupping. Very fresh looking still.

I'm trying to remember back to when the BT 021 was on the front, and I don't believe I recall any such phenomenon. And on my previous bike, 91 BMW KRS's which I ran Avon STs on, (the model the Storm came from and which shared a nearly identical tread pattern), I never experienced this.

Anyone share a similar experience, or have any ideas ?

Thanks.

 

[happyPuppy]

Avon has horrid QA. Despite that I love the Storms. It maybe the tire is bad, I have no problems. The rep for Avon is really good , I called him and he had the one bad tireI had replaced. I think they have a new model storm also. It maybe worth using Dynabeads too. I have used them in the pastand they worked well. Maybe the tire is not balanced correctly?

 

[Ignacio]

I notice this rather pronounced "twitching" from one side to the other with my handlebars. I can feel it, AND I can actually SEE it. If I just lightly hold the bars with my fingertips, I can see the bars "twitch" just a hair, first to one side, then the other. Get up to 5 or 6 mph and it's pretty much gone.

Talked about many, many times with Avon products on this forum. Try searching on +avon +wobble site:fjrforum.com at Google and see the various threads about it. Other words include head, shake, low-speed, and maybe even your twitch.

 

[Further]

Avon has horrid QA. Despite that I love the Storms. It maybe the tire is bad, I have no problems. The rep for Avon is really good , I called him and he had the one bad tireI had replaced. I think they have a new model storm also. It maybe worth using Dynabeads too. I have used them in the pastand they worked well. Maybe the tire is not balanced correctly?

I'm real sure I don't have a balance problem or a steering bearing problem.

I just did what Ignacio suggested and Googled Avon + Wobble + the FJR Forum. Came up with lots of listings back in '06 on this subject. Personally, I would hesitate to call my problem a "wobble", that indicates something more extreme to me. Likewise "headshake" to me is a really extreme problem, a precursor to a tank slapper. But many of the listings talked about a problem sounding like mine. Very low speed "twitching" from side to side, though everyone seems to call it a wobble. And most people seemed to agree that it's just a quirk, and not really anything to worry much about.

Like I say, as soon as I get up to 6 mph or so, the bike is as smooth as glass. Accelerating, decelerating, braking, coasting, all the same... smooth. So I'm going to lay my concerns aside for now.

Thanks for your response.

 

[Karl]

I notice this rather pronounced "twitching" from one side to the other with my handlebars. I can feel it, AND I can actually SEE it. If I just lightly hold the bars with my fingertips, I can see the bars "twitch" just a hair, first to one side, then the other. Get up to 5 or 6 mph and it's pretty much gone.

Talked about many, many times with Avon products on this forum. Try searching on +avon +wobble site:fjrforum.com at Google and see the various threads about it. Other words include head, shake, low-speed, and maybe even your twitch.

Yes, please remove the Storm garbage from your bike. Avon does not yet know how to make a dual compound front tire that works past 3K, and much less than that in hot climates. Take a good look at it and run your hand over the surface and you will discover the source of your "twitch". There are several other good choices out there, but for my money the Pirelli Diablo Strada has about the best all-round performance, price, and wear that I have found for the FJR. They are being phased out in favor of the Angel ST, so get 'em while you can.

 

[FJR Flyer]

It maybe worth using Dynabeads too. I have used them in the pastand they worked well. Maybe the tire is not balanced correctly?

My data point on Dynabeads is that they didn't work for sh*t for me. I had really bad vibrations at highway speeds. Bit the bullet and got a Marc Parnes and put some weight on the wheel and it was smooth as silk after that.

 

[bmwhd]

I have the exact same issue with mine. Despite this slight annoyance, I'll be sticking with my "Avon garbage" thank you very much. I love the Storms. They handle and wear as well or better than any tire I've ever used on any bike. And that's a long list.

FWIW, It is sensitive to steering head bearing torque. You might check it again just to be sure.

 

[happyPuppy]

That seems to be the weird things about Storms. If you get a good pair they are great, if not they suck. One of mine was unable to balance at all , and the guy called the rep and he credited him for a new one even though I had bought them online. The C14 claims an "improved" 021 , it will be interesting to follow how they last.

 

[Further]

That seems to be the weird things about Storms. If you get a good pair they are great, if not they suck. One of mine was unable to balance at all , and the guy called the rep and he credited him for a new one even though I had bought them online. The C14 claims an "improved" 021 , it will be interesting to follow how they last.

I doubt I'd ever be tempted to return to a BT 021 front for the FJR. That was the most bizarre tire I've ever seen. Fall of 08 we took a 4000 mile trip through west Canada. Before I left, the mechanic at my Yamaha dealer told me to watch the front tire for wear, and showed me a front 021 from an FJR with just 4k on it that looked like someone had glued a 1.5 inch wide, 1/4 inch tall strip of rubber around the center of the tread. Low and behold, 3k into the trip my tire looked the same, and talk about squirrely handling. It was a real safety issue bringing that bike home the last 2 days. Never again. I'm almost as surprised that the rear 021 did just the opposite. It wore very evenly and very long. Go figure.

Also, I have to say, probably 7 years of running Avon Azaro STs on my KRS, I never had any problems. I wish my Storm didn't have this little "quirk", but as long as it's not dangerous, I can live with it I guess.

Thanks for you input.

 

[Crash Cash]

I doubt I'd ever be tempted to return to a BT 021 front for the FJR.

It was the same with the front BT-021 on my SV-650, so it's not the FJR's weight or geometry or anything. And, strange thing... I LOVED the BT-020. That was a damn nice tire, and not even the same species of beast. And I've got another '021 I bought on sale in the garage, before I knew better. :angry:

 

[RadioHowie]

Avon does not yet know how to make a dual compound front tire that works past 3K, and much less than that in hot climates.

That explains why my rear Avon Storm only made it to 8 thousand miles, in Florida BTW, and my front Storm is swiftly approaching 10k and nowhere near the wear bars..

Damn those worthless Storms!

 

[UHOH]

Like I say, as soon as I get up to 6 mph or so, the bike is as smooth as glass. Accelerating, decelerating, braking, coasting, all the same... smooth.

So I'm going to lay my concerns aside for now.

we don't ride M/C's for the 4 mph traffic crawl stuff...

good call.

[SIZE=8pt]EDIT: I use Storms front, but haven't noticed this.[/SIZE]

 

[happyPuppy]

I love the storms, it is just one of things you have to watch for , bad ones pop up. I hated the 021's , but other bikes and Bridgestones were fine. Mine did like all the rest , squares of sort of like a odd triangle on the front. The backs are supposed to be better but I hated them so much I replaced both. I got 4k out of the front and to be honest it should have been replaced at about 3200 the front was handling oddly.

 

[FantasticJohnR]

I've also had the same issue with the front tire - however, despite this I have found that the Avon storms are the best all round tire for the FJR- great for the wet, cold, heat, and even dirt roads- never had a problem. However, the BT020's I had lots of issues with. So, just don't ride slow and you won't feel the twitch!

 

[Rogue]

I had one set that was great and one that did that same thing, but on mine the bars would shake 1.5-2" on low speed tight curves. I won't use Avons again.

 

[CHRIS_D]

It's funny I just took a worn Avon off in which I had no problems with and was really happy with. I then replaced it with a new Avon and I'm now currently experiencing the same thing as you descriped above. Since tires are so damn expensive with little life, I'm also going to live with until it's worn out.

 

[BadPigg]

I'm having the same issues with my Conti Road Attacks. Bought them in a pinch but it was a great tire in the beginning. I'm getting some serious wobble under 35 and I dont dare let go of the bars. I've probably got 8000 on the front and its down to the wear bars. So its going to be replaced this spring with what I dont know. There doesnt seem to be a positive unanimous consensus about front tires. :blink:

 

[RadioHowie]

I'm having the same issues with my Conti Road Attacks. Bought them in a pinch but it was a great tire in the beginning. I'm getting some serious wobble under 35 and I dont dare let go of the bars. I've probably got 8000 on the front and its down to the wear bars. So its going to be replaced this spring with what I dont know. There doesnt seem to be a positive unanimous consensus about front tires. :blink:

Fronts are BIG question marks, but I'm kinda partial to this Michelin for the rear:

 

[beemerdons]

I'm having the same issues with my Conti Road Attacks. Bought them in a pinch but it was a great tire in the beginning. I'm getting some serious wobble under 35 and I dont dare let go of the bars. I've probably got 8000 on the front and its down to the wear bars. So its going to be replaced this spring with what I dont know. There doesnt seem to be a positive unanimous consensus about front tires. :blink:

Fronts are BIG question marks, but I'm kinda partial to this Michelin for the rear:

This's RadioHowie's answer for everything from prostate cancer to manatee fetishes to World Peace; his freaking car tires!

But, dcarver hated his Storms and SkooterG loves his Storms; on their FJR's. As many have said here before on our FJR Forum, Avon must have a really big Quality Control problem in their manufacturing process!