Speed wobbles solved?

Ok so i was at my buddies house. There is a Motorcycle shop right across the street i know the guys pretty well. I asked him about my wobbles and the first thing he did was look at my tires. He said my tires are flat meaning that there is a flat spot in the center of the tire and too much chicken strip.

Does this sound legit to anyone? and if so what kinda new tires should i get i was looking at the bridge stone battle axes

 

I tried batlaxes on my 900, still got the front one thou it's a bit "scolloped" the rear wore out too fast for my likeing. It wore flat in the middle, didn't get speed wobbles, you just had to push it in the corners to get over the flat spot then all of a sudden it would lean over when it got onto the curved part. Running a Dunlop? D404 on the back now and it's great, lots more rubber to wear out, but hasn't formed a flat spot yet.

 

I had speed wobble with brand new Avons 2 years ago. Started at 75, felt like drafting a big rig, an occilation 2x per second that pushed the bike about 2".
The tires eventually "broke in" but will be replaced due to sidewall cracking when they were only a year old.

I like that- - "chicken strip" :lol:

 

So could this be my problem? A flat spot causing the wobble?

 

81, I am also having this problem, but the wobble starts around 35 mph. When does yours start?

I have been looking into various causes and come up with nothing. I am hoping it's an easy fix like getting a new tire.

 

Of cause check or change the tires. But:
- High speed wobbles - check the steering head bearings. Should move absolutely smooth, soft spots = wobbles.
- What about the front brakes are they running freely.
- Swinging arm bearings, NO free play allowed.
- Try heavy tire pressure 33 psi front, 36 psi rear - does it make a difference.
- Wheel bearings NO free play allowed.

 

if the flat spot were the problem, it would be a new one to me
a new set of tires my stop the problem but it may just be covering up another problem
make sure everything else is right first

 

I have checked all my bearings and everything. They all check out fine. The guy at the shop said it could be the flat spot in my tires. I need to check my tires pressure and see what its at that is something i havent tryed yet.


Lax My wobbles start at rouhgly 75-80mph

 

I have had wobbles caused by bad tires. In fact when I bought my latest XJ 4 years ago the PM had put new tires on 6 months earlier and very few miles. Experienced bad wobbles. Replaced head bearings, wheel bearings, swingarm bearings, balanced the tires, etc, etc, etc.
Finally replaced the tires and problem solved!
It may be the issue but maybe not. If the bearings have not been replaced....its time.

 

My 750 wobbled quite badly. Have just solved it, I had a slow puncture so was riding with the pressure way below what it should have been. Just had the tyre fixed and it now handles like a different bike.
That will teach me to check the simple stuff first.
Regards,
Pete

 

81, your wobbles are very likely caused by incorrect tire pressure. the flat spot is also caused by incorrect tire pressure. that's what the guy was trying to explain. Mine say 42psi on 'em and when I run them with closer to 50lbs of air I get more buzz in the bars. Once I really got scared thinking my head bearing was going. The front end was shimmying something fierce. I checked my pressure and the front was down to 30psi. I filled back up and they were fine.

It's a little harder to tell on a bike because other factors effect it too but tire wear patterns are JUST like on cars. More wear in the middle and not on the outside means over inflated. Too much wear on the outside and NOT in the middle means under inflated (which will make you wreck before you notice any odd wear). Again, other factors cause this to vary. Spend a lot of time on the slab? sure you'll wear the middle first.
One MC joke is along the lines of "spend more time carving up the twisties, leaned hard over. You'll get to use the sides of the tire too. you paid for all of them didn't you? why just use the middle?"

 

Hold on now. You shouldn't inflate tires to the pressures embossed on the sidewalls, those are MAXIMUMS.

A front tire at 30lbs is running on the hard side for all but the biggest bikes.

Recommended tire pressures are listed in your owners' manual; those are the pressures necessary, NOT the maximums printed on the tire.

 

I stand corrected, mine have 42 listed as max and "35 recommended, check owners manual" embossed on them. It's been a late night.