Now what??

[McRuss]

I recently installed a new ME880 front. In doing so I damaged the ABS speed sensor ring (do not ask!)...So found one on Ebay and stuck it on. I rode about 600 miles with the damaged unit, just had to be careful at sub 5 mph speeds as it got grabby. Anyway, replaced it and now I have a 'wobble' feeling. I can only describe it as the pulsing in the bars that signals an oncoming high speed wobble. I've experienced this on numerous occasions on several bikes but only when a.) overloaded and underinflated in the rear or b.) a badly cupped front tire. Neither of these is the case. I pulled the wheel and checked the balance again and it is spot on. I also checked the tire pressure several times, 42 front, 45 rear. I'm pretty sure the 'oncoming wobble' feeling was not there until I replaced the speed ring but not positive. BTW, the wobble comes on anywhere from 45 to 75 or 80 mph, doesn't seem to get worse, better if anything, with speed.

I'm out of ideas, some help would be appreciated as I'm afraid it is going to prematurely wear out my new 880.

[UncleMark]

I can only describe it as the pulsing in the bars that signals an oncoming high speed wobble. I've experienced this on numerous occasions on several bikes but only when a.) overloaded and underinflated in the rear or b.) a badly cupped front tire. Neither of these is the case. I pulled the wheel and checked the balance again and it is spot on. I also checked the tire pressure several times, 42 front, 45 rear. I'm pretty sure the 'oncoming wobble' feeling was not there until I replaced the speed ring but not positive. BTW, the wobble comes on anywhere from 45 to 75 or 80 mph, doesn't seem to get worse, better if anything, with speed.

I'm out of ideas, some help would be appreciated as I'm afraid it is going to prematurely wear out my new 880.

When you R&R'd the ring, did you by chance rebalance the rear wheel/tire?

Lemme explain... I made a major mistake and put a BT021 on the rear of my '06' LT. Several people out there are saying "That was an asinine thing to do." And it was... for 3K I road that tire... got the same feeling you might be experiencing right now... a sort of speed wobble between 45 and 90 mph... almost like the rear end is about to come around on you or the front end doesn't quite feel like it's in touch with the road. If that's the feeling, then a rebalance of the rear wheel (and if you didn't do it yourself, remove and remount the rear tire pre-balancing the rim first and then the rim and tire) might cure the wobble.

I just put 880's on the LT. Did the whole shootin' match... now at 90 mph, she tracks like she's on rails...

My $.02...

[dwsdad]

Could be that new ring threw the balancing off just enough to cause the wobble. Try pulling the wheel and checking the balance. It's hard to believe the ring would cause that, but I reckon anything is possible.

[cfell]

Russ...
Sure sounds like a problem tightening things down... make sure there is no "side to side" movement...

I can't imagine the ring causing an imbalance.. it doesn't seem to weigh much and is closer to the axle....

[McRuss]

When you R&R'd the ring, did you by chance rebalance the rear wheel/tire?

Lemme explain... If that's the feeling, then a rebalance of the rear wheel (and if you didn't do it yourself, remove and remount the rear tire pre-balancing the rim first and then the rim and tire) might cure the wobble.

I just put 880's on the LT. Did the whole shootin' match... now at 90 mph, she tracks like she's on rails...

My $.02...

I balanced the rear tire when I put it on about 6k ago. Haven't touched it, dont know what replacing the speed sensor ring on the front wheel would have to do with rebalancing the rear wheel.... But the feeling is a pulse in the steering that will go to a high speed wobble if grip on the bars is relaxed. And I'll stick with 880s, have had my fill of BTs!

Doug, I did pull the wheel and re-check the balance after I installed the new ring and noticed the problem. Balance is as good as I've ever achieved.

Channing, everything was torqued to spec when I put it back together. At least everything I had loose. And you are right, the ring is featherweight and I dont see it being a factor. But I checked it anyway. I'm really stumped.

[cfell]

Russ...
I'm thinking you mayhave a problem with the tire.... spin it watching for variations... something's definitely not right...

It could be that the rear tire is now "acting up"... check it out carefully too.

I'd ride over and help, but you'll have it fixed by the time I get there...

If you want to tote it up here, we can work it over ....

[bustedknuckles]

I put on a new set on Metzlers a couple weeks ago. After 600 miles the new front tire went out of round. Had to have it replaced.

[McRuss]

I put on a new set on Metzlers a couple weeks ago. After 600 miles the new front tire went out of round. Had to have it replaced.

I'm thinking something similar as the balance is right on. I checked the run-out on the wheel and the brake disk, worst spot was about .005, within tolerance I think. Next will be to check tire for roundness.

How did you check/determine the tire was out of round?

[jzeiler]

How did you check/determine the tire was out of round?

I had a front out of round as well. Found it by jacking the front up and spun the wheel while I brought an object up close to the tire. You could see it going in and out. I ended up just comsuming that tire as the only problem I had was the "hands off" wobble. Next new one was just fine.

[cfell]

I had a front out of round as well. Found it by jacking the front up and spun the wheel while I brought an object up close to the tire. You could see it going in and out. I ended up just comsuming that tire as the only problem I had was the "hands off" wobble. Next new one was just fine.

Yup... you can put someone on the back to raise the front tire or chock from under the engine.

Since you will probably be working alone, I suggest the following:
- use some tie downs to strap the handlebars pointing straight ahead.//_tie off to the saddlebag handles
- hang a piece of tape off the front fender... make a mark on the tape that is "centered" on the tire.
- mark the tire in quadrants (to help you keep track of the spinning of the wheel you can do that by putting a piece of tape around the wheel left to right and tape to the wheel rim. Number the tape pieces 1-2-3-4/ a-b-c-d / einie-meanie-miney-mo (you can also mark the "center" of the tape to help with your alignment)
- slowly spin front wheel while in the front facing the wheel by the front fender... watch for variations.

[EncoreJoe]

Russ,

You wouldn't do what I almost did twice and have the newly installed tire installed with the rotation arrow backwards?

I'm sorry to ask, but it's easy to do and easy to check. I understand that can cause strange handling.

Joe

[McRuss]

Yup... you can put someone on the back to raise the front tire or chock from under the engine.

Since you will probably be working alone, I suggest the following:
- use some tie downs to strap the handlebars pointing straight ahead.//_tie off to the saddlebag handles
- hang a piece of tape off the front fender... make a mark on the tape that is "centered" on the tire.
- mark the tire in quadrants (to help you keep track of the spinning of the wheel you can do that by putting a piece of tape around the wheel left to right and tape to the wheel rim. Number the tape pieces 1-2-3-4/ a-b-c-d / einie-meanie-miney-mo (you can also mark the "center" of the tape to help with your alignment)
- slowly spin front wheel while in the front facing the wheel by the front fender... watch for variations.

Or....I can use my Harbor Freight 'run out gauge'. Neat piece of equipment, seldom used but very handy for things like this. I have a system in which I use two tie downs attached to the rear trunk rack. From one I suspend a floor jack, from the other, a tool box. Together they raise the front wheel. And I'll use your suggestion and tie off the handlebars to keep the front wheel steady - shouda thought about that earlier. I'm really eager to try these suggestions now, didn't think about the tire being defective. And I'm going to run out and check the arrows....I'm pretty careful since the one time I mounted one backwards; caught it before I rode on it though.

[McRuss]

I had a front out of round as well. Found it by jacking the front up and spun the wheel while I brought an object up close to the tire. You could see it going in and out. I ended up just comsuming that tire as the only problem I had was the "hands off" wobble. Next new one was just fine.

And I guess I'll just comsume mine....can find nothing out of whack. It is out of round....by about .030. Metzler considers it out of round at 1.3cm; not sure what that is in thousandths but certainly more than .030 I'm sure. It also has about .050 lateral variation, also well within specs I'm sure. I read somewhere that .080 is considered max for out of round on a car tire.

[cfell]

mumble mumble mumble... humahumahuma.... Russ, I don't know what it can be...