What Does a Tire out of Balance Feel Like? I have one??

[D-Eagle]

Thanks Wayne for the offer. Thanks Brandon also. You guys just aren't real close though and I've been short on time to travel anywhere for this, and I found a small shop 3 miles from my work that I can visit on my lunch hour. That said, I pulled the wheel last night and am taking it there today to be checked. I already loosened it all and compressed like what was suggested earlier, but then never gave it the test run. I figure taking it off and verifying it is in balance and then putting back together will take care of those two potential problems.

Although I no longer believe it is out of balance, as it doesn't feel like a polo stick nor a paint shaker. Just at 45 mph it feels like it wants to take the bars out of my hands if I'm lightly resting my hands on them, even with cruise on. 4th set of tires on this particular FJR and first time having an issue. I'll report back with findings this afternoon.

[wheatonFJR]

The steep fork geometry of the FJR is likely the culprit at that speed. At that speed it is not likely a tire balance issue.

On my 70s cruiser XS Eleven and 850, there was no issue with the flatter fork geometry. With the FJR, the steep geometry has a wobble to it at 45mph that will occur. Your hands are a natural damper for the oscillations.

[bungie4]

Your hands are a natural damper for the oscillations.

Yer an osckilation.

[raYzerman]

I keep new weights in zip-loc bags so the adhesive tape doesn't dry out... I re-use weights and put 3M tape on them. If the adhesive tape is old, the foam tape degrades and rips apart to leave you the residue.

[D-Eagle]

Update: The garage that checked the wheel balance took 1 of the 4 weights off to make it balance (leaving 3). Hard to believe 1 tiny weight is my issue, but I will cautiously install the wheel again and report back.

[wheatonFJR]

If you're having issues at 45mph, then it goes away at a higher speed, it is not a tire balance issue. Balance issues don't go away at a higher speed, they just get worse.

[D-Eagle]

Yeah, after reading the very helpful responses above, I realized it probably wasn't a balance issue. But it was the easiest thing to have checked. Guy looked the tire over, confirmed it was installed correctly and not pinched anywhere at the bead, and balanced it. Said one little weight could just be the difference between the original balancer and his machine, and was not the problem. So got home late last night and meticulously installed the front wheel. There were a couple of comments earlier about loosening and compressing and retightening everything. So that will be accomplished at this time too. I'll take it out for a ride after work if the rain stops. I can't believe it was my installation error. It's pretty straightforward and if everything doesn't line up it just doesn't fit. Bought a new torque wrench for the install (old one was old and so am I so purchased a digital model that is much easier to read). Again, thanks for all of the comments.

[wheatonFJR]

Just a side note: (and I know you know this) but digital readout has nothing to do with accuracy. (40.7776 ft-lbs readout when it is actually 68 ft-lbs.)

If the old wrench was proven to be "off" and a new wrench was proven to be "on"...then ya got something there.

[raYzerman]

Agreed, shouldn't "have to" bounce everything to line it up... also don't think one 1/4 oz weight is all that significant, so hoping it all works out. If you've got one of those wheels (and I've had them on both FJR's) where it takes a ton of weight (50 grams right from the factory) just to balance the wheel (no tire), then go back one day to the dynamic balancer and balance the wheel only, install clip-on weights or mark stick-ons permanently.

[ionbeam]

Ya know, just taking the wheel off and putting it on again may 'fix' the non-problem, problem. Best wishes for an easy fix.

[silverback]

I really have to give you guys all the nod of approval. An entire wheel balance thread and not one mention of those gimmics you put in your tire to "automatically" balance a wheel.

Good job!

[D-Eagle]

Update: No change. Called tire supplier. Their first recommendation was to put dyno beads in the tire (nice call Silverback). I said the tire had been to two places for balancing and that does not appear to be the issue. They are sending me a new tire. Will be here next week.

[bungie4]

I had to go back and reread to verify that the tire wasn't an Avon.

[silverback]

Update: No change. Called tire supplier. Their first recommendation was to put dyno beads in the tire (nice call Silverback). I said the tire had been to two places for balancing and that does not appear to be the issue. They are sending me a new tire. Will be here next week.

Which supplier is this so I can avoid them?

[wheatonFJR]

So is the issue gone with the new tire?

Or is it still bad at 45mph when you let go of the handlebars, but then gets better above that?

[D-Eagle]

New tire arrived over the weekend. Removed wheel (3rd time) and taking to shop today at lunch time to get warranty tire mounted. May not have time to install and test tonight, weekdays are tight on time (and not certain shop will get it swapped today either). Will report back after wheel put back on and test ride.
Don.

[D-Eagle]

Resolution: Picked up the newly balanced warranty tire from the shop yesterday and installed last night. Tire took one weight (1/4 ounce I believe) and they put the weight in the center of the wheel on the opposite side as opposed to on the outer edge, not that it sounds like this matters. But the bike was much, much smoother. At all speeds it felt smooth, and at 45 mph the bike was great at a constant speed, where before I could feel the wobble starting with hands gently on the bars. I still have the 45 mph wobble with hands off the bars when I slow down, but it takes quite a while for it to get "nasty", where the previous new tire went violently into the wobble immediately. I know, I know, don't take my hands off the bars.

Thanks for all of the advice!! Nice to have my great handling FJR back so I can confidently take curves at 1/2 the speed the rest of you do.

Don.

[silverback]

Glad you got it sorted.

Half the speed just means you like tighter curves!