Wobble after tire change. Please Help (Update)

[moreira72]

I know this has been discused before, but this is my situation. 1999 Interstate 26K
I had metzelers on the bike when i bought it from PO. The bike ran as staight as and arrow and very steady at above 100 mph. Very smooth and quiet tires IMO
I found a nail in the rear tire one day, and was not comfortable with putting a tire plug or patch so i bought a new 200mm Metz for the rear(replacing a 180mm).  The bike started to wobble the very next day I took her out above 75mph.
There are no rubbing marks on the rear tire, so I know it is not rubbing on swingarm or inside rear fender.
I followed the correct mounting procedure (torque four drive bolts after axle bolt etc).

After reading all the posts here on this issue, This is what i have done.


Nut cage mod.
Replaced front tire with new Metzeler Radial
New wheel bearings front and rear
New Shock bushings top and bottom
New Dampers in rear wheel and replaced the 3 o-rings
Removed all wheel weights and installed Dyna Beads
2oz in the front tire
3oz in the rear tire

I did not change the swingarm bearings, or steering stem bearings because I believe if they were bad the bike would have wobbled with the old tires and it didn't.

IMO the rear tire is defective, because the wobble started after i installed it.

What do you guys think? Should i buy another tire? Should i call Metzeler or the dealer were i bought the tire (BikeBandit.com). Do they warranty a MC tire after its been mounted?
I have only put about 700 miles on rear tire and 200 miles on front

Or is there something that i overlooked?

Thanks for any Input/Help

Paul
VRCC 33494

[Westsider]

IMO the rear tire is defective, because the wobble started after i installed it.




+ 1  or its not seated properly, but slim chance of that


and you have the light spot on the tire (marked) at the valve stem right?

[Ricky-D]

You can take the wheel and remount the tire 180 degrees different.

Lubricate the bead generously when mounting and filling.

If that doesn't make any difference I'd say the tire is crappy.

***

[moreira72]

I'm gonna call Bikebandit.com customer service and see what they say.

I will post what happens

[fudgie]

PSI ok?

[sutterhome]

does it wobble at a certain speed? if slow and its under 35 mph try to see if wobble goes away if you lean one way or another.from past experience bad tire

[Michvalk]

Have you lifted the bike and spin the tire by hand? You sometimes can see an out of round tire that way. I always spin my tires on the rims with the axel suspended between two plastic buckets to check the tire before remounting it on the bike. I have found a couple of bad tires that way BEFORE they were on the bike

[Skinhead]

Did you remember to put the spacer in when you changed the bearings? 

[moreira72]

PSI is 42 in the rear tire & 40 in the front.

Slow speed and up to about 75 it's good, above 75mph it starts wobbling.

Slight wobble when i lean the bike to the right in he twisties.

I called Bikebandit Customer Service, the guy called metzeler on three way. I have to ship it back to bikebandit, they will ship it to metzeler for inspection. If they find the tire to be out of round or defective, then they will credit bikebandit, and bikebandit will send me a refund or a new tire. guy at bikebandit said it could be 3 to 4 weeks.

He already sent me a return label and RMA #

I think i am going to buy a new tire locally, and then take the refund when they issue it.

I dont want to wait a month or more for a tire, and i don't have a spare.

[moreira72]

Did you remember to put the spacer in when you changed the bearings? 

Yes, There were no left over parts when i was done. lol

I have changed many MC tires before

[GOOSE]

that is the exact reason that i buy all my tires locally.  even with a good deal out of town....if i have a problem then i'm stuck with all the headache of back and forth.  any money saved is not worth it.

[moreira72]

that is the exact reason that i buy all my tires locally.  even with a good deal out of town....if i have a problem then i'm stuck with all the headache of back and forth.  any money saved is not worth it.

Amen Brother. Not to mention all the labor as well. I removed and installed the wheel three times in the last couple weeks. And I have an Interstate, so i had to remove the bags and brackets. It's a big pain in the A**.

[fudgie]

that is the exact reason that i buy all my tires locally.  even with a good deal out of town....if i have a problem then i'm stuck with all the headache of back and forth.  any money saved is not worth it.

Amen Brother. Not to mention all the labor as well. I removed and installed the wheel three times in the last couple weeks. And I have an Interstate, so i had to remove the bags and brackets. It's a big pain in the A**.

You dont have to remove the bag brackets, just the bags.

[sutterhome]

I wouldn't know if my bike wobbles over 75,tire bad, balance bad or rim bad take your pick.I you were smooth sailing at 75 with old tire, I would be leaning towards 1ST 2. I had a bad new tire last year, bike would start shaking at 28 would smooth out if you leaned off center a bit.Its a pain in the but on off,on off...new tire Brigs and shes was all good,,well still have not gone 75 ;-0

[Ricky-D]

PSI is 42 in the rear tire & 40 in the front.

Slow speed and up to about 75 it's good, above 75mph it starts wobbling.

Slight wobble when i lean the bike to the right in he twisties.

I called Bikebandit Customer Service, the guy called metzeler on three way. I have to ship it back to bikebandit, they will ship it to metzeler for inspection. If they find the tire to be out of round or defective, then they will credit bikebandit, and bikebandit will send me a refund or a new tire. guy at bikebandit said it could be 3 to 4 weeks.

He already sent me a return label and RMA #

I think i am going to buy a new tire locally, and then take the refund when they issue it.

I dont want to wait a month or more for a tire, and i don't have a spare.

What if they send the tire back, saying it is all right. ?????

There is such a thing as coincidence, and it can be something else causing the wobble.

***

[moreira72]

PSI is 42 in the rear tire & 40 in the front.

Slow speed and up to about 75 it's good, above 75mph it starts wobbling.

Slight wobble when i lean the bike to the right in he twisties.

I called Bikebandit Customer Service, the guy called metzeler on three way. I have to ship it back to bikebandit, they will ship it to metzeler for inspection. If they find the tire to be out of round or defective, then they will credit bikebandit, and bikebandit will send me a refund or a new tire. guy at bikebandit said it could be 3 to 4 weeks.

He already sent me a return label and RMA #

I think i am going to buy a new tire locally, and then take the refund when they issue it.

I dont want to wait a month or more for a tire, and i don't have a spare.

What if they send the tire back, saying it is all right. ?????

There is such a thing as coincidence, and it can be something else causing the wobble.

***

What else do you think it could be?
The bike was perfect at highway speeds, and the next time i took her out after tire change it wobbled.
Before mounting wheel on bike, i spun it on a pair of jackstands with the axle to balance it. After adding weights, the wheel never stopped in the same spot. so i know the wheel was balanced ( I have balanced all my MC tires this way in the past, and never had a wobble or balance issue)

I was on a group ride this past Sunday (Polar Bear Tour) The guy behind me said he could see the back of my bike wobbling.

I keep going back to a defective tire!

[sutterhome]

tire seated evenly ? But I would think this would show up before 75mph.Take tire into dealership and have them balance it. Would be my last suggestion.Been there what a pain.But mine was a defective tire.

[moreira72]

I removed the wheel from the bike today, and before removing tire to send back to bikebandit.com
i placed the wheel on my balancing jig. I spun the wheel 10 times and each time marked were it stopped with blue painters tape. it stopped in 10 different spots. so it is balanced. Next I checked the wheel for out of round. So i spun the wheel and it is straight and true. I then spun the wheel to check the tire.

I did see a little up and down movement on the center-right side of the tire tread surface as the wheel spun. Maybe the reason it wobbles when I lean the bike to the right, and at highway speeds.

I think the tire is defective

So i removed the tire off the wheel, printed the return label that bikebandit emailed me, and  dropped it off @ UPS

I should have an answer from them in a couple of weeks

[Ricky-D]

I removed the wheel from the bike today, and before removing tire to send back to bikebandit.com
i placed the wheel on my balancing jig. I spun the wheel 10 times and each time marked were it stopped with blue painters tape. it stopped in 10 different spots. so it is balanced. Next I checked the wheel for out of round. So i spun the wheel and it is straight and true. I then spun the wheel to check the tire.

I did see a little up and down movement on the center-right side of the tire tread surface as the wheel spun. Maybe the reason it wobbles when I lean the bike to the right, and at highway speeds.

I think the tire is defective

So i removed the tire off the wheel, printed the return label that bikebandit emailed me, and  dropped it off @ UPS

I should have an answer from them in a couple of weeks

That's it!   You are correct.

Hope the manufacturer sees it your way.

Merry Christmas.

***

[moreira72]

I removed the wheel from the bike today, and before removing tire to send back to bikebandit.com
i placed the wheel on my balancing jig. I spun the wheel 10 times and each time marked were it stopped with blue painters tape. it stopped in 10 different spots. so it is balanced. Next I checked the wheel for out of round. So i spun the wheel and it is straight and true. I then spun the wheel to check the tire.

I did see a little up and down movement on the center-right side of the tire tread surface as the wheel spun. Maybe the reason it wobbles when I lean the bike to the right, and at highway speeds.

I think the tire is defective

So i removed the tire off the wheel, printed the return label that bikebandit emailed me, and  dropped it off @ UPS

I should have an answer from them in a couple of weeks

That's it!   You are correct.

Hope the manufacturer sees it your way.

Merry Christmas.

***

I hope so too.

I will post follow-up after i hear from Metzeler or Bikebandit

Merry Christmas to all.
And a Happy New Year

Paul
VRCC 33494

[sutterhome]

or you send the tire my way ...never go 75.good luck you should get a new tire.I doubt they will mess with this.Say the tire breaks up while your riding it just after they sent it back to you as a good tire. Big liability issue for them.

[moreira72]

The wobble is gone!!!!!!!

I haven't heard back from Metzeler on the tire i sent back. They only received it on Wednesday, so I figured they may take a week or so to get to it and test to see if it is defective.
So i found a used tire with 70-80% tread left for $75, 180/70/16 Metzeler and it was local and I can get some riding in while i wait for Metz. So i got it on thursday, and mounted and balanced it the same way i always do.
Put the bike back together, and took her out on the highway. I cruised at several different speeds for over 1/2 mile each. 70,75,80,85,90, and then pulled her all the way to 115 and back down to 80.
I rode for over 25 miles, and it did not wobble at all.
I only hope Metzeler finds the tire I sent back defective and send me a new one.
When they send me the new one i may just keep it until this used one wears out.

The only difference is the tire that wobbled was a 200/60/16. So they will be sending me a new 200
I'm almost affraid that the bike wobbled because of the wider tire.
And affraid to mount the 200 and get the wobble again

[Challenger]

I had a 200 metz on my STD for the 6000 miles that it lasted, No complaints, No wobble at any speed and handled great, just could not justify the price for  so little mileage.   

[fudgie]

Ran 200's for 8 yrs, 5 tires, with no probs.

[moreira72]

Well i Finally heard back from BikeBandit.com
Metzeler found the tire to be defective, and issued a RMA claim to Bikebandit, and then Bikebandit credited my Paypal the full amount $221.60 minus shipping ($8.95).
So I got $212.65 back and the wobble is gone!!!

[Hook#3287]

Wow, what a trip!   I quess the answer for that problem is to check every tire mounted very closely before installing on the bike, something I've never done in about 12+ tires, but will start with the next.

Metz should give you an extra tire for the hassle, just to keep all of us happy.

[Daniel Meyer]

Wow, what a trip!   I quess the answer for that problem is to check every tire mounted very closely before installing on the bike...

Unfortunately most often you can't see any problem till it's mounted and aired up.

Sometimes the problem doesn't manifest till you run it a few miles.

[pistolchamp]

If not, mixing radial and bias tires can cause all kinds of problems.  Go to the darkside, car tires are just better then bike tires.

I just changed from a Michenlin Hydroedge 205/65R 16 to a Falken ZE512 in the same size and I love them both.

Kent

[YoungPUP]

No problems here yet. D404 Bias up front and Radial E3 out back ,and no flaming death yet...