Scary Ride

RAG · 05-26-2017, 08:43 AM

Hey All,

Had a scary ride home yesterday. Just had my local shop put new tires on my bike. Put on Avon Cobra Radial 150/80R/16 on both the front and back. Bike felt a little wobbly when I left the shop but I chalked it up to new tires, slick, breaking them in. Did not get up to any significant speed on the way to work. On the way home the road cleared and I got up to about 80 and had an uncontrollable wobble. I would call it a speed wobble but I wasn't going that fast. Good interstate highway. Had to let it coast down to about 60 before I got the bike back under control and nursed it home. Going to take it back into the shop on Saturday.

Checked a few things. Both tires are pointed in the right direction. Shocks both set on the same setting. Had them install dynabeads in the tires. What could it be? Bad tires? Bad install. Want to make sure it is done right when I get it back next time.

Thanks,

Scootergptx · 05-26-2017, 09:05 AM

First thought would have been out of balance, but the beads should have taken care of that. Been using them for almost 10 years now and never had that happen after a tire change. Have you checked the tightness of the axle bolts? Could be out of round tires too. Hve you checked the manufacture date is on the tires?

Scootergptx · 05-26-2017, 09:06 AM

You're sure they put the beads in?

**Top Cat** · 05-26-2017, 09:16 AM

Also, when they put the beads in they are supposed to take the old balancing weights off. Did they?

RAG · 05-26-2017, 09:48 AM

No weights on the rims. I had beads in the last set of tires. I gave them 2 2oz bags to put in the tires with instructions to do so. I did not watch them do it. The thought occurred to me that they may have put the bag with the beads in the tire without opening the bag but it is a shop that has been in business for a long time and I would not think they would be that stupid.

The wobble does not start until speeds of about 50 and up and it gets worse the faster you go. I want to say its coming from the back but it is really hard to tell.

Riding at 35mph and letting go of the handlebars they stay straight and true.

Scootergptx · 05-26-2017, 11:43 AM

You could put it up on a lift and spin the tires, see if anything looks off there.

RAG · 05-26-2017, 11:59 AM

I already setup an appointment at the tire shop for tomorrow morning. I told them I want the same tech there that installed them.

Because it only shows up at higher speed I am guessing it has to be a balancing issue.

I want to see if they opened the bags of balancing beads or just threw the beads still in the bag in the tire or did they not add the beads at all. Either way I hope to have an answer tomorrow.

cactusjack · 05-26-2017, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAG

No weights on the rims. I had beads in the last set of tires. I gave them 2 2oz bags to put in the tires with instructions to do so. I did not watch them do it. The thought occurred to me that they may have put the bag with the beads in the tire without opening the bag but it is a shop that has been in business for a long time and I would not think they would be that stupid.

The wobble does not start until speeds of about 50 and up and it gets worse the faster you go. I want to say its coming from the back but it is really hard to tell.

Riding at 35mph and letting go of the handlebars they stay straight and true.

It wouldn't be the first time this happened.

**MAS Tequila** · 05-26-2017, 12:44 PM

You said that both tires are rotating in the correct directions.

Did you happen to check if the front tire was on the front...

A front tire on the rear can cause some butt pucker moments.

It could just be a defective tire.

RAG · 05-26-2017, 01:25 PM

I checked to make sure the front tire was on the front and it is. I also checked tire pressure before and after the ride, 40psi on front 42psi on back. I did not check the age of the tires but I will do that when I get back to the house. Hopefully tomorrow at the shop brings the answers.

Thanks,

OldSchool · 05-26-2017, 01:26 PM

I put on a new set of Avon Cobras this Spring. They are great. But I went with the Bias tires and not the radials.

eagle · 05-27-2017, 10:44 AM

My bike mechanic told me that he puts the bag of beads in the tires and the bag will open on its own and start to work. I never had a problem with that affecting the tire balancing.

**Rasta** · 05-27-2017, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagle

My bike mechanic told me that he puts the bag of beads in the tires and the bag will open on its own and start to work. I never had a problem with that affecting the tire balancing.

I was going to say, our diesel truck guy puts the bags in the big truck tires and they open goin down the road....maybe thsee ones didn't open if they put them in that way

CRocker · 05-28-2017, 08:17 PM

Pretty sure all the beads now work this way...looks like this method is for larger quantities only...I've been using Counteract Beads for about five years without a problem...

Have we found a reason yet...?

recumbentbob · 05-29-2017, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAG

I checked to make sure the front tire was on the front and it is. I also checked tire pressure before and after the ride, 40psi on front 42psi on back. I did not check the age of the tires but I will do that when I get back to the house. Hopefully tomorrow at the shop brings the answers.

Thanks,

What did you find????

05-26-2017, 08:43 AM	#1
RAG Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 59	Scary Ride Hey All, Had a scary ride home yesterday. Just had my local shop put new tires on my bike. Put on Avon Cobra Radial 150/80R/16 on both the front and back. Bike felt a little wobbly when I left the shop but I chalked it up to new tires, slick, breaking them in. Did not get up to any significant speed on the way to work. On the way home the road cleared and I got up to about 80 and had an uncontrollable wobble. I would call it a speed wobble but I wasn't going that fast. Good interstate highway. Had to let it coast down to about 60 before I got the bike back under control and nursed it home. Going to take it back into the shop on Saturday. Checked a few things. Both tires are pointed in the right direction. Shocks both set on the same setting. Had them install dynabeads in the tires. What could it be? Bad tires? Bad install. Want to make sure it is done right when I get it back next time. Thanks, __________________ 2001 Vulcan 1500 Nomad FI Chucksters Intake, left side clean TFI, Cobra headers with fishtail mufflers Original Thunder monster baffles in header Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-26-2017, 09:05 AM	#2
Scootergptx Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Grand Prairie, TX Posts: 654	First thought would have been out of balance, but the beads should have taken care of that. Been using them for almost 10 years now and never had that happen after a tire change. Have you checked the tightness of the axle bolts? Could be out of round tires too. Hve you checked the manufacture date is on the tires? __________________ 2011 Vaquero V&H slip ons Roaring Toyz intake PCV (removed) Ivan's ECU flash
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05-26-2017, 09:06 AM	#3
Scootergptx Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Grand Prairie, TX Posts: 654	You're sure they put the beads in? __________________ 2011 Vaquero V&H slip ons Roaring Toyz intake PCV (removed) Ivan's ECU flash
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05-26-2017, 09:16 AM	#4
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Also, when they put the beads in they are supposed to take the old balancing weights off. Did they? __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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05-26-2017, 09:48 AM	#5
RAG Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 59	No weights on the rims. I had beads in the last set of tires. I gave them 2 2oz bags to put in the tires with instructions to do so. I did not watch them do it. The thought occurred to me that they may have put the bag with the beads in the tire without opening the bag but it is a shop that has been in business for a long time and I would not think they would be that stupid. The wobble does not start until speeds of about 50 and up and it gets worse the faster you go. I want to say its coming from the back but it is really hard to tell. Riding at 35mph and letting go of the handlebars they stay straight and true. __________________ 2001 Vulcan 1500 Nomad FI Chucksters Intake, left side clean TFI, Cobra headers with fishtail mufflers Original Thunder monster baffles in header Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-26-2017, 11:43 AM	#6
Scootergptx Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Grand Prairie, TX Posts: 654	You could put it up on a lift and spin the tires, see if anything looks off there. __________________ 2011 Vaquero V&H slip ons Roaring Toyz intake PCV (removed) Ivan's ECU flash
	0

05-26-2017, 11:59 AM	#7
RAG Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 59	I already setup an appointment at the tire shop for tomorrow morning. I told them I want the same tech there that installed them. Because it only shows up at higher speed I am guessing it has to be a balancing issue. I want to see if they opened the bags of balancing beads or just threw the beads still in the bag in the tire or did they not add the beads at all. Either way I hope to have an answer tomorrow. __________________ 2001 Vulcan 1500 Nomad FI Chucksters Intake, left side clean TFI, Cobra headers with fishtail mufflers Original Thunder monster baffles in header
	0

05-26-2017, 12:44 PM	#9
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	You said that both tires are rotating in the correct directions. Did you happen to check if the front tire was on the front... A front tire on the rear can cause some butt pucker moments. It could just be a defective tire. __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
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05-26-2017, 01:25 PM	#10
RAG Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 59	I checked to make sure the front tire was on the front and it is. I also checked tire pressure before and after the ride, 40psi on front 42psi on back. I did not check the age of the tires but I will do that when I get back to the house. Hopefully tomorrow at the shop brings the answers. Thanks, __________________ 2001 Vulcan 1500 Nomad FI Chucksters Intake, left side clean TFI, Cobra headers with fishtail mufflers Original Thunder monster baffles in header
	0

05-26-2017, 01:26 PM	#11
OldSchool Sr. Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Ballwin,MO. Posts: 1,542	I put on a new set of Avon Cobras this Spring. They are great. But I went with the Bias tires and not the radials. __________________
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05-27-2017, 10:44 AM	#12
eagle Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Posts: 291	My bike mechanic told me that he puts the bag of beads in the tires and the bag will open on its own and start to work. I never had a problem with that affecting the tire balancing. __________________ 2001 Nomad 1500 FI - Sold 😟 2005 Harley Davidson Road King Classic 2003 Honda GL1800 Goldwing
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05-28-2017, 08:17 PM	#14
CRocker Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 119	Pretty sure all the beads now work this way...looks like this method is for larger quantities only...I've been using Counteract Beads for about five years without a problem... Have we found a reason yet...? Last edited by CRocker; 05-31-2017 at 07:39 PM.
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