front wobble

[SENSAI]

Right I finally bought a 94 T@ recently.Its the bomb excep....t yesterday i noticed a vibration comming up through the forks into the handle bars.Just got new tyres so im presuming the front wheel bearings were checked.I did the usual tests,ie;putting her up on the centre stand and pushing the front end to see if steering head bearing is ok,no movement;
Turned the front wheel to the side and tried the wheel bearing test(pulling and pushing wheel) and it seems fine.theres loads of freedom in the steering so its not to tight but something must be loose cause when im going around bends she fights me and on a straight run if i take my hands off the handle bars they wobble from side to side.
I checked the distance from front axle to back on both sides and its more or less the same give or take a 16th of an inch!so forks are straight.
Normally id say wheel bearings.Its a conundrum!!Im bringing it back in to get them checked as its under warranty.I hoping that the guy who did the tyres missed out on checking the wheel bearings but if he checks and they're fine, is there anything im missing out on.theres no buckle in the wheel either??????!!!!
any advice greatly appreciated.....

[Lutin]

It seems that front wheel wobble is the topic of the week at the moment. There's plenty of discussion of the Transalp forum about this.

What to suggest that you haven't already checked?

What tyres are they? Are they at the correct pressure?

[SENSAI]

thanks lutin,
the tyres are at 32psi and are trail wings bridgestones

[ChrisH]

I had the same thing on my '99 TA. If I took hands off the bars it got very bad - dangerous. I posted a question here about it but no real answer, anyway I was changing the front tyre from a Tourance (which I'd always used ) to a Heidenau (recommended ) and the bike was suddenly completely different. Steering was way more precise, the wobble went completely and I can happily take hands off the bars and the bike tracks perfectly true. That was the only change I made - hard to believe but I won't put another Tourance on the front again. It's worth a try to change the tyre... maybe you got a duff one.

[SENSAI]

nice one chris,
just a question,who supplies those tyres and did you change the back one to a heidenau also or leave the taurence on,
im going to suggest that to the mechanic tomorrow
cheers mate

[steveR]

I have had a lot of experience with wobbly front ends... ooo..er Missus, but only really when heavily laden.

My two pennyworth:

Tyres, yep a worn front Tourance is a wobble creator, I fitted a new one and the probs went away.

Tyres 29/29 and 33 rear if laden suits me.

Rear suspension settings are critical and it was a revelation on how much my bike improved on a recent trip to france with a much increased pre-load. I could take the hands off the bars at any speed. On a trip around France in April, the load on the bike created a horrible head shaking shimmy at about 25mph which was a sod on roundabouts in the wet!!

I wouldn't think that your tyre fitter would check the bearings for one second!! Did he balance the tyre after fitting, I dont normally do this I have to say (I always fit my own tyres) but some folks reckon a judder from the front can be started from out of balance wheel/tyres.

I have now purchased a DIY wheel balancer hub so i can check in future

[SENSAI]

nice one steve,
i figure you're right about the bearing check.there are weights on the front wheel,by accident or on purpose ill be checking today when i see him.
im definitely getting the tyre changed also.apparently the bridgestone trail wings are the worst for wobble brand new though it may be.
i really appreciate all the help and advice guys im well armed now when i see him today.
this trail bike forum is the business

[Adam]

I've just started having exactly the same problem. Guessing it is the tread of the tyres as seeming to be a common complaint.

[StumpyFingers]

We used to get horrible wobbles on the Bedford Mk/MJ army trucks when the tyres were fitted. Each wheel used to jump as if it was square, Even did it if the were correctly balanced. So it could be the tyres are not 100% round.

[Adam]

This is precisely the problem. I have had a good old look at my front tyre and you can clearly see that the wear pattern is uneven due to the central strip of tread not wearing as quickly as the strips either side. When you consider that the centre strip of tread is zig-zagged it gives a really 'lumpy' feel as dips in the tread.

Needless to say I will be changing my brand of tyres!!!!