bouncing front tire

[valkinator99]

I BOUGHT A USED 1999 INTERSTATE IN APRIL. AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR THE FRONT TIRE OR FRONT END BOUNCES UP AND DOWN. BIKE SAT FOR A YEAR BEFORE I GOT IT. IT HAS ONLY 9800 MILES ON IT NOW.  THE TIRE IS A, AVON COBRA. THE. BIKE OR TIRE ONLY BOUNCES AT 35 MPH.  WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE Or IF THE TIRE HAS DEVELOPED A FLAT SPOT AND IF I NEED TO CHECK ANYTHING ELSE..
ANYONE EVER EXPERIENCED THIS? ANY SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS WELCOMED.

[John U.]

It's possible that the tire is out of balance.
You would be wise to check the manufacturing date code on the tire. At that mileage the bike probably has the second set of tires on it. Most of those miles could have been accumulated early in the bike's life, so the Avon's could be getting old. A tire more than 6 years old should be replaced IMHO.

[valkinator99]

I WAS TOLD THE TIRE WAS PUT ON IN 2008. I TRIED THE DYNA BEADS BUT DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY DIFFERENCE.

[old2soon]

Belt seperation?? Was the tire flat when you got it or was it still holding air? If it was flat with bead seperated from wheel something could have moved in. Like john said check manufacture date. Let us know what you find out please. RIDE SAFE.

[PhredValk]

Out of balance, out of round, or rideon hardened in one spot? Change the tires, get them balanced.
Fred.

[R J]

I don't remember the year of manufacture, but there was a batch of Avon Cobras that had a belt problem.

I know, I bought a set and fought them till I got pessed of and went with a front Metz.

My dealer was very helpful, he put 4 tires on the bike, and we found out later they all came out of the same firkin batch that had the problem.

I don't know whether my tire dealer was blowing smoke up my butt or not, but he said Avon reimbursed him for all the labor he encountered on the bike.   I'd never heard of this happening at any other dealers, so I think he possibly said this to get me out of my foul mood.     Yes, those firkin Cobras had this old CHiP's  temper rilled up.   I've been running a Metz ever since on the front.   I like the wider tread pattern on the ground, and a CT on the rear.

[Ricky-D]

I don't think your problem with a bouncing front tire is that unusual for motorcycle tires. There are a lot of threads with the same basic complaint.

The most likely cause of the bounce is the tire itself.

You can try to attenuate the bounce by varying the air pressure in the tire.

If you can elevate the tire and spin the wheel you will see the variation in the sidewall of the tire and once you see the spot you can look to see if the tire is mounted completely on the wheel by observing the alignment line molded into the tire at the area where the bead/sidewall meets the wheel rim. The line should be uniformly spaced around the whole circumference of the mounted tire when compared to the edge of the wheel/rim.

***

[The Anvil]

I don't think your problem with a bouncing front tire is that unusual for motorcycle tires.

Yes it is unusual and should be corrected.

[Old Geezer Richard]

  Hey Valkinator , I just ordered a new Avon Cobra tire from Jake Wilson about 3 weeks ago ... after having it mounted AND balanced I too noticed a slight hop at around 30 - 35 mph ... only at slow speeds , nothing on the Hwy. ....  now you & RJ got me thinking about this hopping issue ..... I'm going to call Jake Wilson and ask what recourse I have .... Thanks the Geezer

[sugerbear]

my cobra has a little "squirm" at low parking lot speeds, it's loud, it follows tar snakes too much, and i'm ready to take it off and put an e3 back on. don't like it at all.
gave it about 4-5000 miles. never going back.

[Tx Bohemian]

Don't want to sound insulting but does this bounce happen on all roads?

There is about 1/4 mile strech of road here that when I ride on it at 70 the whole bike bounces.  It's the inside lane and when I swap to the outside all is well. Again just a thought.

Interesting tire bounce story:
After I put a set of Metzlers on a C50 Suzuki (with wire wheels) the bike developed an annoying  bounce at lower speeds (35ish).  After having it double checked at the dealer and they not being able to help me I put mag wheels on with the same metz tire and that fixed the bounce.
A couple of years later before I sold the bike I put the same wire wheel back on with a Dunlop tire this time and all was well.

[Roadog]

  Avons are known to have CQ issues.  They seem to have batches that are 'out of round',  this creates what you discribe as a slow speed 40 mph and under 'hop' or a 'bounce' effect but is GREAT above 40 mph.  The Avon rep told me this. I have had three sets of them I sent the first front tire back to them and they sent a repacement at no charge to me....SAME issue.  Same with all the sets I have used.. I went with Metzler 880's  and NO issues at all.  Avon is a good tire but they can't seem to get this issue fixed.   So ..no it isn't your bike (baring an alignment problem or some mechanical issue)   just change out that front tire and that hopping should go away.   

Terry

[valkinator99]

Thanks everyone. I have decided after reading all the post to take the tire off and replace it with another brand probably metz. I have owned a gl 1976 10000, a gl 1981 1100, and a gl 1986 1200. I have put probabaly 500,000 milea on all these bikes (nock on wood - my head -  and praise Jesus) and never experienced a low speed tire bounce. BUT this is the first set of Avons I have had. I believe it must be the tire now and one that I will just replace. BY the way any road I ride on it bounces right at 35 mph. DO want to say before I joined this forum I used knowledge I gained here to do a complete carb overhaul. BIKE runs great!!
Thanks for all the help eveeyone!

[Cruzen]

I WAS TOLD THE TIRE WAS PUT ON IN 2008. I TRIED THE DYNA BEADS BUT DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY DIFFERENCE.

Do not go by what you were told.  Get the date off the side of the tire.  Here is a link that explains how to read the code.
http://www.spokes-women.org/Technical_Cornor/motorcycle_tires.htm

While the tire may definately be the problem, I do not know what you rode before the Interstate but I go between riding a Magna and my Interstste and the Interstate does bounce a bit over irregular surfaces when compared to the Magna.  The stock front suspension on the Interstate is quite a bit softer than other bikes.  You can counter that a bit by running your rear shocks up to number 4 or 5 and see how that feels.  Some of that slushy feeling up front can be remedied by new fork fluid and if it really bothers you stronger fork springs.

[Novavalker]

I had the same problem with a new Cobra last year. The tire was out of round.

[Dougger]

I have run the Avon Vemon and replaced them with Cobras and I also have a slight bounce, but it is not enough to replace the tire. I know it there and it is what it is.

[art]

Don't want to sound insulting but does this bounce happen on all roads?

There is about 1/4 mile strech of road here that when I ride on it at 70 the whole bike bounces.  It's the inside lane and when I swap to the outside all is well. Again just a thought.

Interesting tire bounce story:
After I put a set of Metzlers on a C50 Suzuki (with wire wheels) the bike developed an annoying  bounce at lower speeds (35ish).  After having it double checked at the dealer and they not being able to help me I put mag wheels on with the same metz tire and that fixed the bounce.
A couple of years later before I sold the bike I put the same wire wheel back on with a Dunlop tire this time and all was well.

i have had the same thing on certain roads .I don't think its the tiers or the bike because I had that happen with my 98 shadow aero an also my valk both in Az. and Or. on the same roads .On other roads at the same speed nice an smooth.usually about 35 mph.My guess is the tire and road get iun sync at that speed an the wheel starts moving up an down so you get a little bounce.I gave up on trying to figure it out.Just go faster an enjoy

[valkinator99]

THANKS "Cruzen" for the tire link page. The manufacture date was 4607, don't know if that helps. I know that I Could probably keep riding on the tire but, IMHO if a tire bounces at ANY speed there has to be a problem.  And one problem can lead to another.  MY gut feeling is to get rid of the tire if it has ANY problems or has been known to have issues. I would rather play the better safe than sorry theory than to take a chance. And I have learned the hard way if I don't listen to my inner voice I pay for ignoring it in the long run....

[Ricky-D]

You can always try experimenting with tire pressure to get rid of the bounce!

***

[Thespian]

  Hey Valkinator , I just ordered a new Avon Cobra tire from Jake Wilson about 3 weeks ago ... after having it mounted AND balanced I too noticed a slight hop at around 30 - 35 mph ... only at slow speeds , nothing on the Hwy. ....  now you & RJ got me thinking about this hopping issue ..... I'm going to call Jake Wilson and ask what recourse I have .... Thanks the Geezer

 I just put on a new set from Jake front and rear. I'm waiting for a few more parts to arrive so I can get back in the saddle. Will be paying close attention to this.

[Firefighter]

I have the same tire and the same bounce at the same speed. Took weights off and tried "Ride on tire sealant" , still have bounce. Rebuilt shocks (front), same problem, same speed. Tried lots of tire pressure changes, same, same, same. Maybe a different tire? Good luck.

[olddog1946]

I was running an Avon on my std and had no problems until this summer when the main drag in town was repaved..now my cars and bike bounce at 33-35 so it may not be your tires at all..and I still have that bounce with my new dunlop D404..

[al v]

Valkinator99, just curious if you were you able to resolve the bounce issue? My bike is behaving exactly the same. Slow front end bound at 35 mph. Have avon venom tires installed. Previous owner said they were new last year, but I see the date stamped  on the tires is 2004. Tires look new. I did notice that putting the rear shocks on number 2 setting made it worse so I went back to number 4 setting.

[Earl in Pensacola]

AVON will make it right--First confirm that you have a TIRE problem--Either on or off the bike-- turn the wheel and measure the run-out, then measure it on the side.  If the tire is-in-fact out of round, Call Avon.  I've had that problem twice and AVON replaced the tires at no charge.  However, the last time (a couple of years ago) I had to have a m/c dealer call them and confirm the condition.  Avon shipped the tire to the dealer AND the paid him one hour labor.  I've had at least five or six sets of Avons (Venoms and now Cobras) and average 18 to 20K on the rears and 28 to 30K on the fronts.

[GotValk]

The last 2/3 of last year I developed a slow speed wobble, (Avon Cobra) I did have 14200 miles on them, the rear was cupped pretty bad and the front didn't look to bad, but that being said I still liked the cobra much better than the E3's I took off.
I just put on another new set of cobras on, No bumps or wobbles they are smooth as silk,I hope to get another 14k out of those.  I know everyone has there favorite tire but I don't think I'll use the E3's anymore.