New tire blues :( :(

[ConPilot1]

I've heard that there were quite a few Avons that were out-of-round and damn near impossible to balance properly.
I run the dynabeads in my Connie, they're great. No problems. We'll see what happens when I put my Metzler's on soon.

[tomek]

I've stayed away from Avons for years, because much more consistently than any other brand, I've heard anecdotes about QC issues with balance and wobbling.  I'd start there if your dealer will let you.

KeS

+1

[maddjack]

My 2 cents, yep the tire. Also , do NOT adjust the head bearings unless they need it, overtightening shortens life and can cause wierdo handling and can notch them. If the adjustment is good ,LEAVE THEM ALONE. Its a BS fix

[photomd]

I'll dogpile the Avon QC issue on modern bikes. I had some  on my oilhead and they cupped badly. They were so bad that in 2000 miles the front felt like it was going over ripples: worse at any lean, but could be felt in a straight line.

That being said, Avon Roadriders are the best tires for classic bikes. I can lean and lean and lean on my airhead and Guzzi. The tires are smooth and stick to the road great. I have no idea why they can't get their modern tires right.

[ConPilot1]

2nd I'd remove those DynaBeads, which I've heard three things about (1-they're likely to spill when you dismount the tire, 2-my 'tire expert' says they don't work, 3-nobody I know has ever admitted to trying them).  

1 is true. So what. Put new ones in.

2 is pure BS


3 is pure BS



I've run them in three sets of tires. They DO work, and work very well. 2 of my bike wrench buds have been running them also with great success.

[Windblown]

Avons & C10 Connies with a decel wobble are like PB&J. they just kind of go together.

[bikefreak47]

When the original Avon "Storms" were released one US tire vendor finally put a "Do Not Recommend" on the front Storm because of all the complaints and returns. I've never had any problems with the Storm predecessor, the AV 45/46 pairing. They're the only tires I've ever experienced that's gone 7,000 miles on the rear.

[photomd]

When the original Avon "Storms" were released one US tire vendor finally put a "Do Not Recommend" on the front Storm because of all the complaints and returns. I've never had any problems with the Storm predecessor, the AV 45/46 pairing. They're the only tires I've ever experienced that's gone 7,000 miles on the rear.

yep...mine was a strom.

[DaisyCutter]

I mounted my Avon's last night. I removed all the weights on both rims and used dyna beads when the tires went back on.  Both rims and tires where wiped down spotless, the beads were poured in and tires mounted (no spilled beads).

Tonight's 20 mile ride to break them in a little for this weekend revealed a front end wobble on decel.  That isn't ok with me!  Dyna beads come with great recommendations, so i 'assume' they are doing their job.  Do these Storm 2 tires usually result in this?  

Of course you could say "tighten your head stem bearings", but i've ridden 3700 miles in two months on dunlops and never once ever experienced anything like this.  I can feel it try to start the wobble just cruising at 65 if i relax my hands on the bars.

My steering is looser than the common "Tighten it until it won't flop to the side while the tire is off the ground".  It is pretty free to turn.  It always has been.

Why would changing to a new tire force me to readjust my bearings.  Isn't that hiding the real problem here?

It might not be your bearings.

I bought a new Triumph Sprint in 2008.  After 5,000 miles I got a new set of Conti Road Attack tires.  I loved those tires on my ZRXs, they wore well and stuck good, and the price was amazing.  I've bought several sets.


I put the new Road Attack tires on my Sprint...  Low and behold the Sprint had a nasty headshake, really nasty at ~45mph on decel.  The Sprint was under warranty, so I had everything looked at... torqued, tightened, re-balanced, etc.  The problem never went away.

I've done the another 5000 since then, and I can't wait to get some different treads, because it's almost time.




For whatever reason the geometery of my bike coupled with the geometery of the Continental tires generated a wobble at the resonate frequency of the steering.  I've let the bars go and get up to 5-6 inches of movement at the bar-end, which is real close to tank-slapper land.


The Sprint also wore out these tires faster than the old ZRX1200Rs did, which doesn't make sense to me either, because I rode the ZRX like I stole it...  although I put more 2-up miles on the Sprint.


I'll try a different brand of tires next.




I think in your case, blame the tires not your steering stem.  Your bearings didn't just magically go bad or get loose.

[andras]

... but now the front does a little shimmy on decel if my hands are off the bars. Nothing scary, ...

My bike does the same with some front tires that have a strong zig-zag center tread pattern.
Can't be felt with hands on the bars.

Before adjusting the bearing, lift the front and check for looseness and preload.
Looseness can be felt and heard when braking, too.  Preload is easiest with a spring scale.