Help with vibration/rumbling feeling

[TD350]

So I've been trying to track down a vibration in my '99 tourer and am losing my mind. I can feel it in the bars under all conditions, and in the rear brake pedal when I apply the brakes.

Ive replaced all wheel bearings, greased/pasted the final drive, replaced the u-joint and boot, replaced the brake pistons and seals... had the bike apart and together a billion times by now and I can't find the cause.

The rear tire is cupped but the rumble is still there when riding in a straight line. Any help would be appreciated.

[Jims99]

Bearings, u-joint, tires are usually the main cause of vibration. I would replace the cupped tire. I had a front tire that looked perfect do that to me.

[Hook#3287]

I would check all three rotors for trueness (sp) and change out tire.

[Chrisj CMA]

What about the pinion cup?

[Steel cowboy]

How are the rear shock bushings??

[HayHauler]

I vote for defective tire. 

Warning:  Severe Red Neck Engineering in Effect.

This is my current situation.  Installing a new tire, polishing the rim while I have the wheel off.  Please notice the slight bump in the tire as it goes around.

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ak2b_s5tMmu57AlAmYnrBAkyKAYh?e=M6ynCQ

Hay 
Jimmyt

[TD350]

What about the pinion cup?

Could you elaborate? I cleaned and greased it when I had the shaft out.

[TD350]

How are the rear shock bushings??

Ive got the progressive suspension shocks on the rear and the bushings are not great but there.

[TD350]

I vote for defective tire. 

Warning:  Severe Red Neck Engineering in Effect.

This is my current situation.  Installing a new tire, polishing the rim while I have the wheel off.  Please notice the slight bump in the tire as it goes around.

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ak2b_s5tMmu57AlAmYnrBAkyKAYh?e=M6ynCQ

Hay 
Jimmyt

Look at that eh. I had the same issue on a tire on my EF civic. Made for a wild ride. I'll check the tires again for any weirdness, and try to get a new set soon.

[Hook#3287]

Sometimes bad tires are hard to spot.

In a instance of cheapness, I installed a Stinko (shinko) front tire on my Goldwing this past winter.

Mounted and balanced myself as I do most of my own maintenance.

No issues with that process.

Fast forward to spring and I developed a slight vibration that continued to escalate.  Of course I was hoping for the reverse.

I thought it might be out of balance and just put up with it.

Another fast forward to July and I had enough as I was planning a week in Maggie Valley NC and didn't want to spend the time with the issue.

I made an appointment with the service department at Waynesville Cycle Center in Waynesville NC., took the wheel off in the motel parking lot and brought it in.

I asked them to check tire trueness and wheel balance first and they reported both were right on.

Then the service manager stated "In my opinion, what's wrong with that tire is the name on the side"

I had them replace it with a E4, put the wheel back on and got my super smooth ride back.

You couldn't see any issue with the tire, it just sucked.

Shout out to Waynesville Cycle Center, as they have been excellent in the past 2 years of service needed.

[Bagger John - #3785]

The early model Dunlops used as OEM equipment on our bikes were known as Dunflops for a reason. Still wish the old Tech Archives were available to search as there were a TON of logged experiences with them - a few of mine included.

Rear of my Tourer now wears an E4 and it's been solid. Front (A Cobra Venom) will be replaced with another of the same series when I pull that bike apart over the winter for yet another series of upgrades.

Been running Cobras and Metzelers on both F6s in my stable until last year when the new Dunlop went on. I'll give these a try and see how they do.

[Chrisj CMA]

What about the pinion cup?

Could you elaborate? I cleaned and greased it when I had the shaft out.

If you had eyes on it and cleaned and greased you would have known if it was worn. Some people never look in there until the teeth are ground off