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Front tyre bounce/vibration

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  • Mitchleeey
    Mitchleeey
    3 years ago
    Hey All,

    After some advice. I have around 9k on my front tyre. Not sure if it’s the tyre or something else but I’ve developed a ‘bounce’ at speeds above 80kph. I’ve jacked the bike up and checked the tyre whist it’s in rotation. I’ve noted 2 spots with about 2-3mm tyre height deviation. You reckon this might be the cause?
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    3 years ago
    Yes, it could well be.
    What sort of wheel is it?, spoke or cast.
  • Mitchleeey
    Mitchleeey
    3 years ago
    Cast. 2020 21” breakout rim. 
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    3 years ago
    Well 9K is enough mileage to get big wear on any tyre I've ever used. Sometimes they wear funny and get scalloped edges on the tread. I have even seen some tyres develop big lumps on them.
    Another thing to check is the wheel bearings. If you get the front wheel off the ground and hold the tyre with 2 hands at 180 degrees, (with steering at full lock one way) can you detect any play moving the wheel.?.
    Otherwise, maybe balance weights have fallen off.
  • steelo
    steelo
    3 years ago
    Hi M. Sorry to hear of your woes. 9k doesn't seem like a lot of distance. I just had a quick browse on forums and wheel balance can cause it. The problem may also be inside the tyre where you can't see it. The tyre may have de laminated. Do you remember hitting a drain hole or something which could have damaged the tyre. Is it tubeless.
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    3 years ago
    Gee Steelo, 9K on my back tyre and it is rooted every time. Front is never too far behind.(in terms of wear, not grammatical sanity)
    Also, he said he can see the tyre is not  running true.

  • steelo
    steelo
    3 years ago
    You fellas on the apple isle are tough on your bikes FC! Longer arms are not JUST genetic. (hard throttle) I just couldn't see a couple mm in the tyre by itself causing the grief.
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    3 years ago
    Well we do have corners here and lots of them.
    What are you saying?. Longer arms = knuckle draggers, ha ha.
  • steelo
    steelo
    3 years ago

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  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    3 years ago

    Mitchleeey, does your rim run true (it should being cast), or have you dented it. Easy to tell with wheel in the air spinning.

  • Mitchleeey
    Mitchleeey
    3 years ago
    Quoting Far Canal on 14 May 2021 11:12 AM


    Mitchleeey, does your rim run true (it should being cast), or have you dented it. Easy to tell with wheel in the air spinning.

    Hey mate, yep the rim as far as the naked eye can see runs true. 
  • Mitchleeey
    Mitchleeey
    3 years ago
    Quoting steelo on 14 May 2021 10:09 AM

    Hi M. Sorry to hear of your woes. 9k doesn't seem like a lot of distance. I just had a quick browse on forums and wheel balance can cause it. The problem may also be inside the tyre where you can't see it. The tyre may have de laminated. Do you remember hitting a drain hole or something which could have damaged the tyre. Is it tubeless.

    Hey Steelo,

    Went over an inspection plate that was deeper than usual. Possibly that… 

    Have a new tyre on the way but just wanted to see if there is something more sinister at play 
  • WideglidingNZ
    WideglidingNZ
    3 years ago
    What's the brand of your tyre as you can get the odd tyre that wears funny on the front i had it with my night dragon 90/90-21'' on the front of my wideglide and i got less than 8k out of it, since buying my lowrider S the Metzeler cruise-tec has done similar on the front, I am wrapped with the rear Cruise-tec as as now done 12k with a little live left in it (i have never had a good performing tyre last this long
  • Mitchleeey
    Mitchleeey
    3 years ago
    Quoting WideglidingNZ on 14 May 2021 07:18 PM

    What's the brand of your tyre as you can get the odd tyre that wears funny on the front i had it with my night dragon 90/90-21'' on the front of my wideglide and i got less than 8k out of it, since buying my lowrider S the Metzeler cruise-tec has done similar on the front, I am wrapped with the rear Cruise-tec as as now done 12k with a little live left in it (i have never had a good performing tyre last this long

    Hey Mate, 

    It’s the Michelin scorcher. 
  • Far Canal
    Far Canal
    3 years ago
    WideglidingNZ
    "i had it with my night dragon 90/90-21'' on the front of my wideglide and i got less than 8k out of it, "

    Have to agree with that, got a 90/90-21 on my WG Shovel, only a couple of thousand ks on it and it already looks like a mad womans breakfast. Saw the bad wear early on and tried running with a few more psi in it. Has made no difference. Sometimes I wonder if the 21 inch tyres of the 1980's where they had grooves that ran right around the tyre were not better suited to a skinny front wheel.
  • steelo
    steelo
    3 years ago
    Hi there. Any outcome in this. Did you get a new tyre. 
  • lankbrown
    lankbrown
    3 years ago
    Not too many 21” tyres that are designed for the weight of a Harley.
  • Soapbox2627
    Soapbox2627
    3 years ago
    Quoting lankbrown on 12 Jun 2021 12:12 AM

    Not too many 21” tyres that are designed for the weight of a Harley.

    I had no issue with the 21 on my nightrain
  • Mitchleeey
    Mitchleeey
    3 years ago
    Quoting steelo on 09 Jun 2021 04:21 AM

    Hi there. Any outcome in this. Did you get a new tyre. 

    No luck, changed the front and back tyres, it’s a brand new rear rim. Possibly a damaged front rim, still getting the bounce. Could it be anything else…? 
  • steelo
    steelo
    3 years ago
    Hi ml. Sorry to hear. I’m out of ideas. I supposed the tech examined and check balanced the wheel prior to fitting the tyre 
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