Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Front End Wobble

Ok I'm no squid, but this might be a squid question...
When I get my 07 BA up between 40-50 mph, it wobbles in the front end. Might wobble at other speeds too, but really noticeable at 40-50.

I'm going to check the air pressure first (later today.) But I wonder if this is common and what others would suggest to rid this bike of the serious safety concern of mine.

Cliff

btw, I picked this bike up used a year ago and it only had 1,200 miles on it. I've had it in for a safety check/lube and have since put 4,000 miles on it.

What kind of front tire do you have? It might be ready to replace, that's usually the problem with the 40-50 mph wobble

I had the same problem with my 2010, turned out it was the front tire, Metzler Lazertech. New front tire, problem gone.

+1 on the tire...have read about this most fixes was a new tire...I run Avon vemons....

Ceramic balance beads in a new front tire may prevent front wheel shimmy longer than exterior lead balance weights. Other suspect areas are bad wheel bearings or loose/worn steering head bearings.

may not be properly balanced or it may have been ran with low pressure and cupped the tire. good luck with it bud.

I checked it's a Lasertec. The guy it bought the bike from had it for 4 years and ran it 1,200 miles. Did I mention I bought in Bismarck North Dakota where it gets -30f in the winter? I'm guessing it wintered in the garage on the cold cement floor. I suppose in the Spring I'll replace both tires to be sure, but hate spending another $400 when i need to do the rest of the standard mods. Oh well, safety first right?

If it's not cracked and it doesn't have a flat spot, it's really just more annoying than unsafe I would say... You don't need to spend $400 either, http://americanmototire.com has good prices shipped and you don't need to stay with a stock brand. I run IRC up front and Michelin in the rear. Read some tire threads here, we have as many opinions on them as we do brands of oil

Looks like about 270 bucks for the pair of Metzeler ME 880s. That's what I run and am quite happy with them.


Mobil 1 4T Racing 10W40

if your leaser tech has 4000 on it look NOW into getting a new tire. Those lasertechs last about 4001 miles. Unbelievable how those tires do not have a long life. My Lasertech was replaced at 5,315.7 miles and it was scary to ride on...
Friar wanted me to load Prudence while we were in GA, in the U-Haul (after he had a blow out on Cinnamon Girl). I rode Prudence home nonetheless. Then once she was home I didn't ride her until the lasertech was replaced. Heck, after all my tire trouble, I had a shop in Helena, MT change out Prudence's rear 880 with only 8,840 miles on it. Didn't want to ride back to Florida that close to the end of the ME880.

Now I have tried cheap tires, Kendas, Spitfires, IRC Wild Flares, etc. and recommend Metzelers and Avon only from now on. Cheap tires blow.

Get yourself a new front tire now!

lasertechs are crap tires, my front went at about 700 klm which is better then some i guess but still crappy, put new ME 190 on the front and all better now, and bigger tire looks better too.

You might have a little twist in your forks.

I've had the same problem and it was New. Small vibration at the 40 to 50 mph area. Some at decel to.

I found a "thread" that commented about fork "sticksion"(stick shun) that caused the same effect.

those "threads sugguested(spelled right?)loosening the lower fork mounts, and retightening.

So,,,,,,,,,,,,

I raised the front tire just off the pavement and loosened(is that spelled right?)the lower fork mounts and re-tightened to spec and all was good.

The Thought being that a twisted fork is turning the tire just enough that it is trying to go in any other direction than straight.

Causing the vibration,,,,,,,,,,,,,,HAND

My lazertec went 23,000 miles with never a wobble and was not quite bald yet when I swapped it out for a Dunlop 404 I think it was. (would have to look to be sure) got it cheap from J&P Cycles and I run the IRC Wild Flare in the back, another in expensive tire that performs very well.

I was going to write, "After getting 23,000 miles on an ME330, how many more miles on your bike now?"

But decided not to. Instead, whattf is up with your bike? It never needs chain lube and doesn't rust when wet, and you can get ungodly mileage out of tires that are certifiable crap, and with 23K on a front tire you never once got any weird handling? I want me on of them thar bikes!

MY first two fronts were Lazertec. Each went about 18,000 with no issues before hitting the wear bars and getting changed. Third front is a ME880. I definitely prefer the feel of the 880.

i think i was getting about 11,000mi on lasertec

Must be two kinds (dayshift/nightshift?) of Lasertech s available, I have experienced nothing positive to report, on two of them. Well, now, they do wander extremely well, as to road seams and other inputs and grated bridges rate 9.6 pucker factor..

all good stuff here fellas thanks...

I've got 31,000 kilometers on my Metzler 880's front and back. The rear has what would be acceptable wear and should be good for one more season. The front is showing signs of cupping but has a lot of tread left.

My bike has just started showing it's first signs of front end wobble when I take my hands off the handlebars. Used to be rock steady. I'll probably change the front out next year with the rear and check the headstock bearings.

19,262.5 miles? Wow! I really have to start being mellow with the throttle and or speed.

I will use this thread to update my switch to the Kenda Kruz 673's.
I have put about 3000 miles on them so far and no visable wear, the traction is solid (I spend lots of time on canyon roads) and no wobble since I switched out from the Lasertech. The set cost me 160.00 shipped.

I put 27000 km on my lasertech and only changed it cas I got two bran new tires with a set of rims I bought.It was just starting to cup mind you,no whoble tho.I've herd many stories good and bad about these tires,I'm happy with mine.

I put about 18000 miles on my front lastertech. Admittedly I should have changed it sooner. I thought well that was so good, I get the same kind again. I got about 6000 miles out of the second one. I would say they are inonsistant. I don't think I'll go back.

I only got 10000km (6000m) out of my original front lasertech, and it had the wobbles from day 1, at varying speeds.But only when I let go of the bars.

Put an ME880 on and haven't looked back.

I am sad to say that the Lasertech or Lazertech appeared to be crap. It wore fast, perhaps due to my inattention to air pressure, and once replaced w/ an Avon Venom, no more wobble.

Same problem here with lasertec....switched to dunlop and all is well...great tire.