front end shimmy/shake

[blkvlk777]

I have a 99 tourer (since 2001) / 36K miles - I have stumbled across an issue when I let my hands off the steering wheel on deceleration.  If I bring the bike up to say 30 miles an hour then let my hands off the bars to coast, the handlebars start wobbling back and forth.  I cant remember the bike doing this in the past.  (PLEASE dont respond by telling me to keep my hands on the bars and it will not happen).  I have tried this several times but keep my hands only 1" off the bars (due to the wobble).

With my hands on the bars - the wobble is not noticed at all.  Front tire is an Avon at about 50% wear. 

Anybody stumble across this or have any suggestions (other than keep hands on bars at all times).  Just does not seem right to me.

thanks.

[Ricky-D]

There are many reasons that can cause what you describe.

Tire, wheel, assembly, bearings all contain scores of possible ailments.

I'd start on the easy ones first to eliminate the problem.

Raise the front wheel and check it for run-out or any out of concentric issues. Being 50% worn could be the cause right there. Pump the tire up hard and see if that cures the issue. Have you checked the balance? That can cause what you describe.

Check the front end for tight, make sure the axle is tight, and the fender also.

While the front end is raised, check it for loose condition. Can you feel slop lifting the wheel?

With the bike upright, you on the bike, and the front wheel sitting in a puddle of liquid detergent facing straight ahead,, deftly move the handlebars a few degrees left and right(1or 2 degrees. If you can feel anything but smoothness, like a hitch or a catch. That would mean you have indexed bearings which will cause that problem.

Grab the wheel/tire with one hand and the shock with the other hand. Try to wobble the wheel/tire sideways. There should be absolutely no wobble.

Grab the rear wheel at the back and push and pull on it to determine if there is any sideways play in the swingarm. There should be none.  Check the air in your rear tire.

It's just a matter of elimination of the common culprits to get to the bottom of you problem.

I'm sure there will be more suggestions following my reply.

***

[sandy]

Only thing I could add is check the rear shock bushings. If you've never replaced them at 30K, they're shot. 10-15K is about all they last.

[JimC]

I had the same issue, it ended up being a tire that had a belt letting go inside. (dunlop replaced it)

I is very easy to find, raise the front end, hold a ruler or other hard object against the front edge of the fender and rest it on the tire, then spin the wheel, if there is a high spot it will be evident. Mine was 2MM out of round, I could actually see it bouncing without the straight edge.

Jim

[blkvlk777]

thanks for the reponses so far.  I will start checking let you guys know. 

[Robert]

Check the steering head bearings and for tightness.

[txhood]

This is a very common problem with goldwings.  Some people improved it by changing the steering head bearings to tapered bearings and increasing front tire pressure.  My wing would wobble badly when tires were worn.  The solution for me was very simple-- I did not take my hands off the handle bars while driving 40 mph.

[roboto65]

Before you start replacing parts change the tire almost bet my paycheck thats your problem most of the time this is it from what I have seen and felt my self !!!

[blkvlk777]

I did raise it up and check for tightness / slop - everything seemed pretty tight and not able to move anything.  Steering head seemed tight and smooth.

My front tire pressure was at 40.5lbs - I normally keep it at 42psi.  I will get the pressure up to try next. 

I probably have another 5k miles to go on this front tire (or at least I am going to try) so I will probably live with the issue (as long as it is indeed the tire).   Again everything is tight and smooth under acceleration - I only found this issue on decelerating with my hand off the bars.

Glad to hear others at least have stumbled across this issue as well.  Leaving for the weekend so will not be able to do more trials until Sunday. 

[Sodge]

Probably a broken belt in the tire, if they are anything like car tires. Best case, it's a tire balance problem. If it is a broken belt, I wouldn't ride out the 5k.

[PAVALKER]

I second the steering head bearing issue. ....  probably loose at least or could be indexed like mine were in this post...

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,7813.0.html

[SteveL]

Bad tire. You can do allthe things they tell you. Air pressure, fork neck, etc etc.. it's a bad tire.

Trash it.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Keep your hands on the bars. Lots of bikes do this, Goldwings, Valkyries, ST1300's the list goes on.

Unless it is uncontrollable i'd just hold the bars as you decel.

Raymond MHO

[fstsix]

Do you you have Avon Venom on front ???

[blkvlk777]

YES - AVON on the front.

[fstsix]

Oh boy another tire bashing thread. Well at about 30-35 mph wobble 3 years now dam front tire has 15000 on it and cant wait for it to be replaced. I know why is it still on my bike because it is a good wearing tire and after 6 rear tires in 28000 miles i am sick of pulling tires all the time. BTW last new tire is Goodyear triple tread on rear fixed that problem.Also My friends Ultra Classic does same thing !!! Not just a Honda problem. If i could get some pictures posted on this thing soon I put my first car tire on my CB 750 in 1975 29 years ago 45.000 miles on it back then. Good luck and it should be safe to ride like the other fella said keep hands on the bars.

[Ken Tarver]

if you haven't found a cause.....check for a deformity/severe cupping/bulge of the REAR tire

[Papa-Russ]

I have been having the same problem on my 99 I/S.  I did not have it on my 2002 Standard.  It is driving me crazy.  It happens all the time at around 35 mph, not only on decelleration.  I installed progressive suspension all around, new wheel bearings (front and rear), All Balls Steering Stem Bearings and new tires.

Still have a severe wobble at 35mph.  I just don't buy the line "They all have this problem"  Any suggestions I haven't tried?

Papa-Russ

[jmann]

My last Avon front tire did the exact same thing. The wobble really only was noticeable at low speeds if hands were taken off the bars. Nothing at higher (>25mph) speeds at all. No tire run out and had it rebalanced twice. When it wore out and I had it replaced low speed wobble went away.

[Fritz The Cat]

Cupped rear tire will cause this. Quite common on the GW. It will even wobble with your hands on the bars when it gets really bad. Had a buddy riding behind me once when it did it and it scared the poop out of him. I knew exactly what to do (speed up or slow down) so it didn't bother me. But the firsat time I experience this is scared the poop out of me too.

[old2soon]

I have been having the same problem on my 99 I/S.  I did not have it on my 2002 Standard.  It is driving me crazy.  It happens all the time at around 35 mph, not only on decelleration.  I installed progressive suspension all around, new wheel bearings (front and rear), All Balls Steering Stem Bearings and new tires.

Still have a severe wobble at 35mph.  I just don't buy the line "They all have this problem"  Any suggestions I haven't tried?

Papa-Russ

The problem both times on my I/S was shock bushings. Cure=R and R shock bushings. But at the same time look your tires over carefully. RIDE SAFE.

[steve 3054]

Every time I had this, the front tire needed replaced...if there were tread left I delt with it... till I replaced it, then problem went away!!!
This normally only happened on my Ultra.

[BonS]

My last E3 front tire did it from new. I put up with it as long as I could stand it and just put on a new Avon. Problem solved. Dyna beads in both. It's not Dunlop, it's not Avon. It was just a bad tire IMO.

[Jess from VA]

Almost certainly the front tire........  probably fine to ride it full life, but it will wobble (with hands off at slow speed) until replaced. 

Had the same symptom on other bikes multiple times (not the Valk with Metzlers), vanished with a new front tire every time.

[hairyteeth]

I had the same problem with my E-3 front tire. Installed centra-matic tire balancers and it's gone.
Hairy

[Papa-Russ]

My front tire is an AVON.  Both have been AVONs.  I recently had a flat on rear, out of town, and had to replace with a Dunlop E3.  Wondering if replacing front with a new Elite 3 may solve this problem.  Rear cupping can not be a problem as rear tire is new.  I have no vibration at high speed.

Papa-Russ