Wheel Hop

[Wewaman]

I went double dark side and also changed rear tire size. Was 205/60/16 now 205/65/16 General altimax.    Ride on in both, all weight's off the rims.
Problem is I now have a wheel hop at about 35mph.   I did the rear end service, 3 new O'rings ,thrust washer, final drive oil, pinion cup & shaft lube. 
I am not sure if it's coming from the front or rear.  Any suggestions on where to start and what I may have done or not done.  I followed the Rear end service in shop talk by Chris.

I also had to replace my choke cable and while searching that I saw where Mr. John designed his own choke sysem without cables but all the pictures are blank so I'm not sure what he made.  If anyone has alink that will show his set up and how it's made Please share it.

Thanks a bunch,
  Wewa

[Punisher]

According to Ride-on's site you are supposed to balance the wheel/tire via normal methods (weights) and then use Ride-on which will dynamically balance from there across speeds and tire wear.   The problem is now that once you put Ride-on inside the tire you can't spin balance them as the Ride-on will be trying to compensate and will keep throwing the spin balancer off.

Have you tried putting the bike on a lift and putting a fixed point almost touching the tire and spin it to see if it is out of round?   I would check it from the middle of the tread and from each side of the tire, out near the tread.

How much Ride-On did you put in each tire?   I believe the front MC tire requires 8 ounces and the car tire about 16 ounces.   They have a chart on their site for amounts based on tire size.

If they are not out-of-round you could try putting a bit more Ride-on in each tire to see if it will help.

[Valkorado]

According to Ride-on's site you are supposed to balance the wheel/tire via normal methods (weights) and then use Ride-on which will dynamically balance from there across speeds and tire wear.   The problem is now that once you put Ride-on inside the tire you can't spin balance them as the Ride-on will be trying to compensate and will keep throwing the spin balancer off.

Have you tried putting the bike on a lift and putting a fixed point almost touching the tire and spin it to see if it is out of round?   I would check it from the middle of the tread and from each side of the tire, out near the tread.

How much Ride-On did you put in each tire?   I believe the front MC tire requires 8 ounces and the car tire about 16 ounces.   They have a chart on their site for amounts based on tire size.

If they are not out-of-round you could try putting a bit more Ride-on in each tire to see if it will help.

That's the amount I used, 16 ounces in the Austone and 8 ounces in the Battlax double dark on front.  It rides good.  Didn't balance either tire before the Ride-On, guess I got lucky.

[98valk]

to balance u have to use more, from their tire size chart.  also they state that under 35mph esp during colder climates a bounce could occur until it becomes properly dispersed.

BALANCE* / SEVERE / Tube: To use
 Ride-On TPS Motorcycle formula for
 balancing without wheel weights,
Severe applications, or in tube tires,
 you may use up to 25% more product.

if u used the AltiMAX RT43
could u verify the tread width for me?
tirerack list 5.5"

Thanks

[John Schmidt]

Hey Wewa, here ya go....and for anyone else that's interested. I used some SS strap and ground/cut it as shown. Email me with questions:  stuffy402@aol.com

First, fab up the parts shown in the first pic along with the 6" long arm, notice it has to have a couple areas cut/ground to clear stuff. Then remove the cable from the handlebar down to the connection point. Put a rag over the carbs and drill two small holes where you see the small bolts. I don't recall the size of those two little bolts but my guess is maybe a couple #10 or 8's. Use some Loktite and a nylock nut on the backside. You'll see in the picture the new attachment point is just to the right of the original cable attachment point. To mount the "L" shaped bracket, look at the link below....you're interested in #10 and the nuts on either end. Loosen the nut on the front just enough so you can tap that rod rearward, giving you space under the rear nut about the thickness of the bracket. I also put a drop of Loctite on those threads. The lever pivot bolts are held in place with a lockwasher under a nylock nut. You can tighten the nuts down enough so the lever can be set at any point and it doesn't move. The entire setup has been on there close to 10 yrs. with nary a problem. When you move the lever, it pulls the cable for the right side....same as before.







http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/GL1/gl20.jpg

[Firefighter]

My 2000 IS has always had a front wheel hop at 35 mph. I have had several sets of tires with the same hop. I have tried wheel weight balance and now using ride on with no change. My current metzler is out of round., and still hops at 35. I have changed front springs and rear shocks, head bearings, done all the maintenance several times. I have tried loading the bike differently, two up, riding the front brake, nothing seems to make a difference. I have wrote here before but have never figured it out. I try not to ride at 35. I would have to go check, but it is a 10 mile an hour range 30 to 40 or 25 to 35, I can't remember, hope someone here figures it out.

[PAVALKER]

According to Ride-on's site you are supposed to balance the wheel/tire via normal methods (weights) and then use Ride-on which will dynamically balance from there across speeds and tire wear.   The problem is now that once you put Ride-on inside the tire you can't spin balance them as the Ride-on will be trying to compensate and will keep throwing the spin balancer off.

Have you tried putting the bike on a lift and putting a fixed point almost touching the tire and spin it to see if it is out of round?   I would check it from the middle of the tread and from each side of the tire, out near the tread.

How much Ride-On did you put in each tire?   I believe the front MC tire requires 8 ounces and the car tire about 16 ounces.   They have a chart on their site for amounts based on tire size.

If they are not out-of-round you could try putting a bit more Ride-on in each tire to see if it will help.

I don't recall ever reading about balancing it with weights first, and didn't notice that on their web site.  Please give me a link for that if you can.     I add the ride on and ...ride on.,

Edit - slightly curious about this prebalance issue, I went to the web site.  I didn't find anything about a balance first in the bike brochure, but did read something in auto section tho.  In any event the bikes section says you can remove the weights or keep them as it dynamically balances.

I started to get a hop on a front tire (E3) after it has been on for awhile with a weight balance.  I installed the ride on and didn't get a chance to get out to ride it for a few days due to rains.  But did so the other day and it feels ok.....on the initial run.

[salty1]

As mentioned earlier, add another 2 oz of ride-on  to each tire. Also, get on the horn and talk with a tech at Ride-on.

[Wewaman]

Okay I did use 8 oz in the front Dunlop D404 and 16oz in the Altimax, the front had the weights on and the Ride on in at first but after the Hopping I removed them with no change.  I have changed air pressure from 41 front /40 rear to 40 front/ 36 rear no difference.   Next I will do as Punisher suggested, (great idea)  I had the General Altimax HP 205/60 with the ride on in it and it was wonderful.  I had Grumpy install the new front Dunlop D404 and had a rear tire mishap after leaving his house while on I 75 Northbound running 80/85 mph  had to limp it home at 25mph with a gash in the center down to the cords on the rear.  So not sure how the front handles yet as I was only about 15 miles from his house, and rode an 1 1/2 back home on the back roads.  Hence the reason for the new rear tire.  So I just went out and jacked up the Valk and the front tire has about a foot long spot that drags the ground.  ??????  
CA Tread width ? not sure from where to where but I measured mine and I measured across the flat til it started to round to the side wall and it measures 6.5"
Mr. John Thanks I will shoot ya an email if I have any question, Pics are pretty easy to follow "I think"   there are several different pieces of SS available to me at work leftover from previous jobs.  
Firefighter you are Correct sir,  30-40 mph  

 I might try adding some more ride on.

OR I need to just ride it till it's round  

Thanks for the feedback,
   Wewa

[Firefighter]

Wewaman, I have been through several avons which I thought were round, but mine still hopped. And it was still hopping today with my out of round metzler, so I don't know?

[indybobm]

Little more than a year ago I returned a new Metzeler 880 that was over .060 out-of-round. It caused the front end to hop around 35 mph. Seems like I have read a lot of similiar stories about the front hopping around 35 mph. With what they charge for motorcycle tires, you would think that they would be higher quality.

[0leman]

I am on my 3 404f.   No wheel hop (have DS tire in rear) at any speed.   I run the 404f at 36 psi.   Get better mileage without problems with cornering.

[sixlow]

My wheel hop at 35 turned out to be an out of round Metz 880 as well, the tread wore evenly. I had switched the wheel to a different bike and the hop came with it. I finally took it off with half life left to it because I didn't want to sell a bike with that on it. New Metz 880's installed today front and back and Dyna Beads, she is smooth as glass this evening.

[Gavin_Sons]

My bike has the same bounce from 35-45. I use balancing beads and have had 3 different front tires on it. I'm going to balance the rim without the tire, then balance it with the tire on. We will see if that fixes the issue.

[PAVALKER]

My bike has the same bounce from 35-45. I use balancing beads and have had 3 different front tires on it. I'm going to balance the rim without the tire, then balance it with the tire on. We will see if that fixes the issue.

Might also want to check that wheel alone for possibly being out of round prior to tire installation.  Could have been damaged slightly hitting a curb, pot hole or ???

[Gavin_Sons]

My bike has the same bounce from 35-45. I use balancing beads and have had 3 different front tires on it. I'm going to balance the rim without the tire, then balance it with the tire on. We will see if that fixes the issue.

Might also want to check that wheel alone for possibly being out of round prior to tire installation.  Could have been damaged slightly hitting a curb, pot hole or ???

Yes,  plan on putting a gauge on it and checking that too.

[Tx Bohemian]

I can't say I'm glad to see this thread about this issue but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with this problem.

My '99 Standard rode good, but the PO had the wheels chromed but it all peeled and looked crappy.

I was able to secure a regular rear wheel a few years ago and a regular front wheel (along with forks, original were chromed and peeling also) from a member parting out his bike about a year ago.

The tire (Avon) was still in pretty good shape threadwise but, sure enough, it hopped around 30MPH.

I needed to replace a worn out rear Metz and I wanted to try Avons so I eventually replaced both. The hop seems to be better but is still there. Not enough for me to bother with, like another member mentioned I just won't drive at that speed.

Did all the run-out checks (tire, rim) and all are good.  Not sure what the specs are but when it shows 0 run-out, I'd say that's pretty good.

Funny thing is I had a C50 Suzuki that came with Dunlops (wire wheels) that rode good but when I replaced them with Metz it developed a severe hop.  As I drove down my street at night I felt like I was in a disco as the stop/speed limit signs flashed at me reflecting from the headlight bouncing up and down!!

After fighting this for awhile I eventually went back to Dunlops and, lo and behold, NO MORE bounce!

[98valk]

I have also observed wheel hop off and on during slow speeds like traffic jams and I have realized that it is actually the road surface. Other times same road but no traffic, bike rides smooth.

[h0race]

I'm afraid to read too much more on this forum.. I read through this thread when it was fresh and new.  I felt revealed I didn't have said wheel hop.  The ride on my 98 has been smooth as silk in the year and change I've owned her. 

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest so I decided to ride to the ocean (Ocean Shores).  A 300 mile round trip for me.  The ODO flipped 10,000 miles as soon as I got there... Not that turning 10k is relevant, but I also noticed a slight wheel hop between 25 and 35 mph.  It was only slight  when I first noticed it.  I got off the bike to make sure I didn't pick up a nail or something and I hadn't.  So I headed home and experimented with speeds to see what the heck.  Well it smoothed out once I got to 50ish so I felt a little better about it... but this thread was nagging at me in the back of my head.  I just didn't have service to look it up.

Once I got service, I looked up the forum and gleaned over it... I felt a little (not much) better for my ride home so I proceeded.  Once I got home, the hop became much more extreme at the before mentioned speeds. I was wondering if I had a caliper piston dragging or something.

I've parked the bike for now but will put it up on the lift to spin the tires later tonight.  Had to get chores done for the day.