The XXorcist Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 I got some new tires put on my bike Avon 45/46 First ride out on them I get a really bad head shake from 35 to 65 mph. It fades away the more I got over 65, and you get a faint shake under 35mph I have checked the tire pressure with a digital talking gauge over and over again, I have double checked all nuts/bolts to make sure they are to the proper ft. lbs. for both wheels. I made sure my rear is even. I am down to two possible problems they grease monkey at the shop didn't balance the front correctly, or I got a messed up tire. My bike was flawless before tire change, but now suddenly has the shakes. Anyone had this problem or know what else to look for? Thanks for any input Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northman Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Can't say I've had this problem, but I did have a defective AV35 about 2 years ago now. Put the bike up on the centerstand, and have someone sit on the seat to raise the front tire off the ground. Spin the tire, while paying attention to runout, both lateral and vertical. Also pay attention to the rotors, to see if one of them is bent. Being as the shake is at lower speeds (below 60mph), and not above, leads me to believe that the tire is at fault, and not just balanced incorrectly. Balancing problems usually show up at higher speeds (60-80mph), while tire/wheel problems show up at lower speeds. Just because the tire spins true, doesn't mean it's any good, either. It could have a shifted belt, causing non-uniform deflection when loaded. Take it back to the dealer if you can't see the problem, and ask them for a replacement tire. Avon will be more than happy to replace it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in PA Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Is this a hands off decelleration shake or happens no matter what shake? That is a large speed range for "the shake" If my bike does it at all it is right at 40mph with hands off. I usually have a shake with worn tires, then none with new ones, so something is wrong. Go over everything like Chris said and also allignment at the rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XXorcist Posted February 10, 2004 Author Share Posted February 10, 2004 I will have to try the spinning the tire off the ground later tonight, and check it out. You feel the bars shaking with your hands on, and if you let them go while rolling :shock: man a tank slapper just wanting to smack the shit out of you. :shock: I got the tires off the net, so do I contact them, or Avon itself? Thanks for the info and help guys :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N1K Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 I had a similar problem... I went to the shop... Bike was silky smooth... Got the avons put on... left the shop... bike had a wobble between 40 and 50 Fine above and below... The only thing I could come up with as a solution was it was either the steering bearing, or the tire... Avon sent me a new tire, but I haven't had a chance to put it on.. I DID check the steering bearing, and they are indeed slightly notched... not bad, but a little.. I suspect that the OEM tire has that line right down the middle with helps it track 'true' Because the avon has a cross-over tread down the middle, I think it accentuates a wobble if there is one.. So while the true-tracking nature of the oem tire with the groove down the center was able to stay stable in-spite of the groove in the steering bearing... The Avon MIGHT be fine, and just the fact that it is not quite as stable as the oem tire (bt 57) it is affected by that notch in the steering bearing and wobbles at that speed range... I'll know for sure when I put the new avon on... (oh, I have tried to mess with the rear tire alignment also, but not sure if I have it right... But in any case, I tried a range of setting in the rear tire to see if it made any difference in the wobble and it didn't... So I assume one of the settings/adjustments in the rear would have been 'on' or at least I would have noticed a difference in the wobble (ie, better or worse) as I changed the rear alignement.. but didn't) So I think its the steering bearing causing mine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XXorcist Posted February 10, 2004 Author Share Posted February 10, 2004 I will also have to check my steering bearing when I get home. I didn't think to mess with it, cause just like you my bike was like riding silk till I got the Avon mounted on. I will check that and the tire to see if its out of round. If I don't get anything from them two things I am going to yank it off to take it back to the shop for rebalancing. (or take it to another shop to see what they come up with) If that don't work I am calling someone at Avon about getting a new front tire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
86gn Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 I picked up a slight wobble with the Avons also. It isn't the same all the time, depends on the road surface I think. I have had them on for 6k and it has been there since the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXTi Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 I've had absolutely no problems or wobbles with my 45/46's. I have about 1500 miles on them so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XXorcist Posted February 11, 2004 Author Share Posted February 11, 2004 I only rode down my own road for about 8 miles total. I might try and see about trying a different road surface. My only problem is me trusting my tires. If they got a wooble I am going to think something is wrong and not trust them, which isn't a very good thing when you don't trust the handleing or tires.. I personally wanna ride and think of the road and the area around me, not if my tires or good or bad. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkxx Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 It sure seems like a lot of people have trouble with Avons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redbird Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 I went through two Avon rears and one front (AV 35-36), never had a problem. Haven't tried the new ones, but I've heard more good than bad. If anything it sounds as though they may have some quality control issues, but they seem to be good about backing up their product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N1K Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 It sure seems like a lot of people have trouble with Avons. My money is on the fact that my steering head bearings are causing the wobble, not the tire... BUT... like Tim said... They are REALLY REALLY good about backing up their product. They sent me another tire free... (I just haven't had a chance to put it on yet) I think its very likely that the steering head bearings in an XX are part of the problem... heavy bike.... I've heard that the tapered bearings are much better, but the XX does not come with tapered bearings... And I REALLY REALLY like the AVONS for stick and durability.... And I would hate for their tires to get a bad rap because the XX has a vulnerability to having the steering head bearings going bad... The way I look at it, I don't mind if a company has an occasional quality control issue (which I'm not sure is the case here or not) but IF they do have a quality control issue (within reason) I'm OK with that AS LONG AS THEY MAKE IT RIGHT... and AVON WILL make it right FAST AND EASY. Manufacturing is manufacturing.. EVERY company has defects... NO company is defect free... A good company will "make it right" and not make the customer suffer because of a defect in their product.. AVON is a great company... I called them... They were ALL OVER getting me a new tire... And I didn't need to provide them any documentation other then the proof of purchase and proof of date of purchase. I had a problem, they didn't make me jump thru hoops... they got me a new tire... (and all of this without me even knowing there was anything at all wrong with the tire I do have) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XXorcist Posted February 11, 2004 Author Share Posted February 11, 2004 is there a replacment bearings for the XX that are tapered? Might be a good PM thing to do while cleaning my bike or changing the oil one day. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 There are many things that could be your problem: Tires were not balanced properly- I had Avons mounted onto my Bird then after making my own balancing stand found they weren't close to being balanced, this was the case with both a local "Schmedley" and also the local Honda "stealer". They were WAY off, so much so that I was getting a bad shake at anything over about 90 mph. I watch most shops simply spin them once then add weight and hand them to you without closely checking their weight amount or position, this is shitty work! Tires were not mounted right- This is common accurane with any make/ model of tire. This can easily be checked by spinning the tires and looking closely to see if there is anything more than a 1/32" difference at the bead area. If they're not straight balancing this won't help. Warped Rotor - Simply laying the wheel on it's side has enough pressure to warp your rotor. Be damn careful. Check this also by spinning your tire adn watching the rotor. IF bent - these can usually be straightened fairly inexpensively. Bad tire - this was not unheard of with some previous models by Avon but not with the 45/46 models. Highly unlikely but may happen. Avon is excellent in standing behind their tires as stated by Nik. Head bearings - Too tight, too loose, not lubed right, or worn out from neglect will all add to your problem. I have a set of the Avons on both my Bird and ST1100 and LOVE them! Must people get a wobble when first mounted but this subsides afer about 10 mph so I doubt this is your issue. Check the easiy stuff first and make sure you're running about 40 PSI in them. My guess is it's something simple and NOT the tires themsleves but constant riding on them with a problem will damage them... My buddy and I now have a tire station (Harbor freight for $60) in his garage and I made a balancer (seen on the internet and bult for about $10) so we do our tires ourselves now. No more shotty work and rim scratches! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwxx Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 I've gone through 40k miles worth of Pilot Sports and Diablos and have only noticed head shake on cupped tires. As suggested, get the front wheel elevated and check for runout. The shop may have bent your rim or disk when mouting the tire or the tire isn't seated right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XXorcist Posted February 11, 2004 Author Share Posted February 11, 2004 I am running 36F and 38R checked with digital talking gauge (sexy female voice) :wink: a dozen times to make sure it was correct. I plan on checking my tire really good this evening didn't get home till almost 10pm last night so didn't have time to do anything. My front tire was off my bike for about 2 hours at which time I never layed it down on the rotors. Will report later when i get everything checked out.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey_XX Posted February 11, 2004 Share Posted February 11, 2004 Just to add feedback: 3 *45 and 5*46 and no shake, ever. 38 Front/40 Rear. Hugo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XXorcist Posted February 12, 2004 Author Share Posted February 12, 2004 Well I checked the tire last night with a redneck method seeing if the tire is mounted wrong. I placed a can next to my front tire that was elevated off the ground and spun the wheel. I checked both sides of the tire and also the foot print to see if it was out of round. With the can sitting next to the tire sitting away about the thickness of a hair off a flys ass and the tire never touched it. So I yanked my wheel off took off my weight and letting the wife take it today to be rebalanced... So after alittle test ride this evening I will see if I need to call Avon.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N1K Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 did you check your steering bearings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXratedRC51 Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 I suggest that you get yourself a dial type air pressure guage instead of the one that your using. A good one can be had for under 20 bucks and it is money well spent. Another thing, I have heard of some people having similar shake issues when using a top box and it not happening when the box is removed. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XXorcist Posted February 13, 2004 Author Share Posted February 13, 2004 Ok, bearings are fine had plenty of time to waste since I had the wife take my wheel back to the shop today for it to be rebalanced. He added the same amount of weight to my wheel but placed it like a inch different on the rim. After telling my wife to not let them loose my wheel spacers.... guess what? I get home, and yep sure enough they took them off and forgot them :evil: (2nd time) first time I caught it before I left the shop. So my bike sits again another night in peices, :sad: Thanks for the tip XXratedrc51, I will have to look for a dial guage. The digital one only shows increments of .5 psi anyways. What kinda box are you talking about.. I am completely lost, maybe its called something different around here? Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northman Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 The digital gause is more accurate than the dial type, so stick with it. The box he's talking about is a luggage box, mounted above the tail piece, if you have any hard luggage. It can unload the front tire at speed, and induce wobble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXratedRC51 Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 I assumed that the digital guage was a cheapo wal-mart special. My bad. I agree, if the guage reads in .5psi increments, it is more accurate. What kind of shop forgets the wheel spacers? Makes me glad I bought that Coats 220 and do my own tire changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XXorcist Posted February 13, 2004 Author Share Posted February 13, 2004 This shop does, and this is the 2nd damn time also.. I am so tired of them, ready to pull my hair out. They always screw up something, but everyone else says they get good service. I order sprockets and they forget to order them, I orders brakes and they get the wrong ones. Maybe they just don't like me cause I wear a Honda Woody racing hat in there, and they are mostly Kawi's :roll: I don't have any luggage on my bike other than myself :wink: I got the digital gauge at home, and also have a regular guage I keep in my tool kit just in case I ever need while on a ride. I will let you guys know in a couple hours how my front wheel is after I get home and put it back on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XXorcist Posted February 13, 2004 Author Share Posted February 13, 2004 Ok, got home and put the wheel back on. Tighened everything back to the proper ft lbs. I guess that inch difference where he placed the weight made all the difference. My bike is back to normal Just wanna thank everyone for their help :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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