HELP - Darkside Wobble

[rhodyrider401]

Just rode my 2002 nomad 1500 (with fairing) for the first time with a Dunlop SP Sport 5000 Symmetrical dark side car tire and liked everyting EXCEPT the high speed wobble.

I never had a wobble on the bike before. Before, when I hit about 90 indicated, I would get a shake in the front end, but not a whole-bike wobble. Now, when I hit 75-80 indicated (only about 65-70 actual speed) I get a very pronounced wobble. I can make it go away by slowing down, and feel like if i went faster it would just get worse and worse until I lost it. At about 65 indicated, it is really easy to make it wobble if I try.

First thought (and hope) is that the tire needs to be balanced. The guy who put it on did NOT balance it, and actually left two old weights on the wheel. Could this be the problem? Can beads really fix that?
Also, I stiffened the progressive shocks a little, but am unsure if they are on the same setting (label has been painted). Could this be the problem?

Thinking it might be a little of both, plus a tire pressure issue, but wanted to see what you guys think?

Any help out there?

[cactusjack]

Most likely a balance issue. Get the old weights off of there and add 3 oz of Dynabeads.

[Jared]

+1

One of the best benifits of the CT is how smooth it is at higher speeds. You're definitely out of balance.

Why would he leave the weights on the rim?

[Kawhead]

Good Greif!!!!!!!!! I hope the guy ain't a close family member! +1 what the other guys said. My extry advise is don't twist the dern throttle until it stops while your breaking in a new tire. You want to wear the mold release off. Not SLING IT OFF! Keep at least close to the speed limit as.

Be careful and enjoy it. I must commend you for coming to us for answers.

Do this always and your days will be fruitful and full of joy!

[rhodyrider401]

When i finally found someone willing to mount the tire I assumed he was going to balance it. He said he could balance it (I had it done at a car shop) amd HE SAID IT WOULDN"T MATTER! I even asked about taking th old weights off, and he said to leave them on becaus ethey were probably balancing the rim as much as the old tire. HA! He even claimed that noone he ever knew ever balanced a motorcycle tire. Unreal!

I was lucky enough to pick-up some dynabeads locally and am about to go jack the bike up, add 3 ozs of beads, make sure both rear progressives are set the same, and take her back on the slab for another test. Wish me luck!

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by rhodyrider401

When i finally found someone willing to mount the tire I assumed he was going to balance it. He said he could balance it (I had it done at a car shop) amd HE SAID IT WOULDN"T MATTER! I even asked about taking th old weights off, and he said to leave them on becaus ethey were probably balancing the rim as much as the old tire. HA! He even claimed that noone he ever knew ever balanced a motorcycle tire. Unreal!

I was lucky enough to pick-up some dynabeads locally and am about to go jack the bike up, add 3 ozs of beads, make sure both rear progressives are set the same, and take her back on the slab for another test. Wish me luck!

Don't forget to remove the old weights.

[oldbikers]

Make sure and check the shocks when I put my CT on some how the progressive shocks locked up and the swing arm couldn't move and I had a bad wobble at around 75 I removed the shocks and put the stock shocks back on and have not had any more problems.
As for the guy saying that he had not heard of balancing motorcycle tires he may be right I have only found one motorcycle shop around here that balances bike tires and for years I never did now I use dyna beads.

[Kawhead]

OK then. I'll give him a pass 'cause he was willing enough to mount it for you, which ain't easy.

[ringadingh]

How many miles are on your front tire? I noticed that my bike would wobble more as the front tire wore. And perhaps experiment with the tire pressure in the rear to see if that helps cure it.

[blowndodge]

Before the tire you stated you used to get a shake in the front end? have you checked the steering head bearings for lube and tightness?

[rhodyrider401]

Well that was disappointing. I was REALLY hoping that after removing the old weights, adding 3 ozs of dynabeads and making sure both rear shocks were set the same that the problem would be gone. NOPE. Still get the wobble at the same speed. i wonder if it has to do with the fairing (although I never had this wobble/oscilation thing until I put the CT on today).
Not sure how many miles on the front tire. Tread is getting shallow (but not cupped), so a new one will be going on soon.
Have not check the neckl bearings, but do you think this new wobble would be that, and the ct just made it worse?
HAD the rear set at 40 PSI. Think I should try higher or lower? What's the theory here?
Thanks!

[mobandy78]

I'm thinking it's something other than your c/t. Like BD said, you mentioned having a shake in the front end before the c/t. Maybe things have just magnified over time? Since you're still getting the shake/wobble after removing the weights on the rear and using the beads, it sounds like something on the front end is causing your issues.

As for the rear tire, leave it at 40 PSI for about the first 400-500 miles. After that, you can start decreasing a little at a time until you find the pressure that works best for you. I'm running anywhere from 30-32 psi in mine and it handles like a dream.

[rhodyrider401]

It's just hard to NOT think it's the CT. Yesterday I was riding at 85-90 indicated (77-81 actual) and it was fine. Over 90 I would get a shake in the front end (and thought maybe it was from the badly cupped rear tire). Never had a real wobble/oscilation like today with the CT, and now it comes on strong at about 75 indicated (which is actually just barely over the speed limit).
How do you know the neck bearings are bad? When jacked up there is no play in the neck, and it turns from stop to stop smooth as butter.

For the record; other than the high speed wobble, which I am REALLY hoping to get rid of, I notice no significant difference with the car tire (except for better stopping). I can corner at all speeds just like before, and even found slow parking lot riding to be the same.

[rhodyrider401]

Originally Posted by Kawhead

OK then. I'll give him a pass 'cause he was willing enough to mount it for you, which ain't easy.

And he only charged me $15! The MC shop around the block charges $45 to mount a MC tire on a MC rim, if you bring them to him.

[macmac]

Was the swing arm serviced? I sure hope so and that new swing arm seals were installed.

A wobble woth bad seals actting as thrust washers in the first place isn't going to be any fun.

Ditch the weights. So far as I am concerned the tire should have had the target dot aligned to the valve stem, and with no weights checked by using the axel clamped to 2 jack stand and spun marking the tire at mid night for several times to show the light spot (if any)

Was the wheel splines greased at least?

This isn't exactly a CT problem, not really.