New Shinko SE890 Journey tires... Vibration

[blackbird239]

I bought a 2002 Valkyrie  with 1900 original miles on it. A few weeks ago  I purchased a set of Shinko tires online. Had my dealer  mount and balance them.  I noticed a vibration  in the seat and the bars starting around 2200rpm.  I called the dealer when I got home and they had me return the bike to them on the next business day.  The bike sat there 4 days  when I returned and asked if they found the problem. The head mechanic took it for a ride. When he came back he said I had a rock in my tread.  ( BULL)   Took it to another shop and had them test ride the bike.  Second mechanic said the vibration was minor however he rides Harleys . Advised me to take it back to the first guy and inquire HOW they took off the rear tire.  Did they remove the pipes or just drop the shocks. 

The first shop said they dropped the shocks. They checked the splines and everything else.  Now they think it is the rear tire.  They ordered a Dunlop E3 for me and said the total with install would be $450 .  The  tire was $370.  I told them to not touch the bike and I picked it up in the afternoon. The vibration starts around 2200rpm  in any gear and gets more intense as the speed increases.  On longer rides it numbs my hand.  Can anyone give me some advice ?  Thanks for the help.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I had a Shinko Journey on the front that I could not get rid of a vibration . Some have had good luck with them but I won't go back to them.

[Pappy!]

Your description is somewhat confusing.
Did you have any vibration before the tires?
Your statement about the vibration coming on at 2200RPM regardless of what gear kind of throws this off some when looking at it as a tire only issue. 
If it were solely the tires the vibration should come on at "X" mph and get worse or whatever as speed picked up. It should not be based on a given RPM in each gear.
Wondering if they knew and took the proper sequence of steps when re-assembling the wheel to the rear drive assembly although that too should be more based on vehicle speed than an RPM in each gear.

[NITRO]

My guess is that it's your tire(s). I've heard nothing but bad things about the Shinkos.

[blackbird239]

I have no idea if they put everything back in the right order.  I  am going to buy a Bridgestone Exedra Max or a G702 and see what happens.

[blackbird239]

The bike had no vibrations before the tire installation. The tires were the stock Dunlops.

[old2soon]

My guess is that it's your tire(s). I've heard nothing but bad things about the Shinkos.

     NOT entirely true. I am on my second Shinko S E 890 on the front and when it wears out probably another Shinko S E 890 to replace the one I now have. My Valkyrie came with an E-3 than a Metz 880 then the first Shinko then a 404 I believe-rear tire running in proper direction and now on another Shinko. I got 14454 out of my first Shinko. Color me a happy camper.  Liked the Metz a lot but pricy and just missed 12 grand on the mileage. After I got rid of the E-3s all my tires are mounted with Dyna Beads. And I might add-every tire that has been on my Valkyrie has been subjected to at least 130 M P h indicated.     RIDE SAFE.

[pancho]

The bike had no vibrations before the tire installation. The tires were the stock Dunlops.

Well , that narrows the search, but I agree with Pappy that your description of when the vibration appears is a bit confusing.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

My guess is that it's your tire(s). I've heard nothing but bad things about the Shinkos.

     NOT entirely true. I am on my second Shinko S E 890 on the front and when it wears out probably another Shinko S E 890 to replace the one I now have. My Valkyrie came with an E-3 than a Metz 880 then the first Shinko then a 404 I believe-rear tire running in proper direction and now on another Shinko. I got 14454 out of my first Shinko. Color me a happy camper.  Liked the Metz a lot but pricy and just missed 12 grand on the mileage. After I got rid of the E-3s all my tires are mounted with Dyna Beads. And I might add-every tire that has been on my Valkyrie has been subjected to at least 130 M P h indicated.     RIDE SAFE.

Got a shinko on the front of mine now with no issues

[Pappy!]

And, like Old2Soon and Dave....I also run a Shinko on the front of mine. No issues.
 
Remember that two separate things will occur when you change out the tire. A new brand of tire and possibly the correction of a previous installation problem. Which one is/was it?

[sutterhome]

currenty have a shinko on front, its fine.Tried on on the back..big time vibration had it on/off rebalanced and nothing could fix it returned it with another brand and it was fine.Major hassle and time.Cant say I WOULD TRUST THEM AGAIN.

[signart]

You may or may not have a tire issue, but the problem you describe, (vibration @ 2200 rpm in any gear) is NOT caused by a tire.

[blackbird239]

I don't think it is a tire problem either.  The tires that came off were the original Dunlops. So I don't think the wheels were ever of the bike. I have been over the bike a number of times checking to see if anything is loose.  The shock bushings are still good. It has a Cobra 6 into 6 and all the bolts are tight. 

I am riding to Myrtle Beach on the 17th  (from Philly) and don't trust it. I will end up riding my Honda Blackbird instead.

[CASABROKER]

Pull the weights and put some dyna beads in the tires...

[blackbird239]

I put Dyna beads in the tires after I got the bike back the first time. Did not help.

[PAVALKER]

Vibration at a specific RPM regardless of gear rather than at a certain MPH speed is indicative of an engine problem more than not.  Unless you are not looking at the speedo.

Can you describe this vibration a bit better, and if it is speed relative or strictly rpm related.
 

[Rio Wil]

Since the vibration did not start until the shop changed the rear tire (and dropped the shocks), I am wondering if they did not do something really really stupid like letting the rear tire/final drive  drop and perhaps damaged the ujoint. Perhaps the drive line needs to spin at 2200 rpm and above to feel the damage..........does this shop routinely work on Valks or is it an experiment for them.

[Oyeaa]

If it is actually only at 2200 rpm and above in all gears then it has nothing to do with anything after the transmission.  The entire drive train after the tranny will rotate at higher and higher RPM as you accelerate and will not slow down as you up shift so if the vibration stops and starts with each up shift it is inside the engine / clutch area.  Not drive shaft, u-joints, final drive, wheels, tires, brake rotor and so on.  Dyna beads will compensate for most any tire/wheel balance issues.  Does it vibrate in neutral if you run the idle up to 2200 rpm? 

[blackbird239]

The shop is Philadelphia Cycle Center. The ONLY dealer in Philadelphia that sells Honda Suzuki and Kawasaki's... and now Victory also. They have been around probably 30 years.  This is the 4th motorcycle that I have purchased from them .  As far as service goes, I do all my own work except tire mounting and valve adjustments.  I took it to them because  the bike doesn't have a center stand and I have never taken off a shaft drive rear tire before.  I have just talked to a buddy who has a Gold Wing and a jack for motorcycles. He suggested that we take a look at the bearings. The shop guys might have knocked something a little loose.

The vibration starts at 2200rpm ( I didn't notice how fast that is), however it does go away at 45mph and comes back at 55mph.  At higher speeds (65-80)   there is a vibration in the bars that has put my right hand to sleep after a 30 minutes of riding.  On deceleration  and heavy braking you feel vibration in the seat and almost an audible grinding from  30mph to 10mph.

[The emperor has no clothes]

The shop is Philadelphia Cycle Center. The ONLY dealer in Philadelphia that sells Honda Suzuki and Kawasaki's... and now Victory also. They have been around probably 30 years.  This is the 4th motorcycle that I have purchased from them .  As far as service goes, I do all my own work except tire mounting and valve adjustments.  I took it to them because  the bike doesn't have a center stand and I have never taken off a shaft drive rear tire before.  I have just talked to a buddy who has a Gold Wing and a jack for motorcycles. He suggested that we take a look at the bearings. The shop guys might have knocked something a little loose.

The vibration starts at 2200rpm ( I didn't notice how fast that is), however it does go away at 45mph and comes back at 55mph.  At higher speeds (65-80)   there is a vibration in the bars that has put my right hand to sleep after a 30 minutes of riding.  On deceleration  and heavy braking you feel vibration in the seat and almost an audible grinding from  30mph to 10mph.

Yeah you've got something going on that doesn't sound tire related. I would read up about rear splines, pinion cup, joints , rear wheel bearings. Then you and your buddy jack it up take it apart and look it over. Good luck

[blackbird239]

Going to check wheel bearings in the morning.

[blackbird239]

I reluctantly bought another tire. I got a Bridgestone Exedra Max , 180/70R16. Checked everything again. No vibration. Go figure.  Oh well, no more Shinkos.

[salty1]

I reluctantly bought another tire. I got a Bridgestone Exedra Max , 180/70R16. Checked everything again. No vibration. Go figure.  Oh well, no more Shinkos.

Shinkos are "stinko"! Glad you got it resolved. 

[rhinor61]

I am glad you have your issue resolved but I think it could be how the shop tighten up everything after putting it back together.

There are specific steps that need to be followed when tightening up both front and rear wheels/assemblies.

After my local shop failed to use moly grease on the drive shaft to the pinion cup, the moly paste hardened and then plugged the 2 journals in the pinon cup, which failed eventually... It failed when I wa s 200 miles from home.

I bought my own NoMar tire changing equipment and mount and balance all my own tires now. Of course the purchase of the tire machine will never pay for itself... but what is piece of mind worth..?
ITs priceless...