I know it has been said before but...

[Adam]

Problems with bar wobbles and vibrations through the front end...

Well I had my deathwings replaced today as they were fairly worn and the front end was handling like a barge compared to the usual precision. I had a set of anakees fitted. This seemed to resolve the bar wobbles but the bike still felt lumpy and the guy who fitted the tyres explained. The wheel construction itself is extraordinarily light weight and not really up to the daily rigors of pot-holed and speed bump ridden roads. He also said it can happen to a front end if you hit a bad pot hole, but for the rear to be suffering with the same is very unusal!!

Anyone got any ideas on wheels that are a bit less lightweight/flimsy?

[Snaphappy]

What you feel at the front is not necessarily coming from the front.
Haw are the rear Bearings, Shock, swinging arm bushes, shock preload. Or from the front -bearings, headstock I'm sure more will add to the list

Have you got a centre stand, if so get it up and have a good feel, grab the rear wheel when off the deck with your hands at 2 and 7 o'clock and see if there is any side movement same at 10 and 4
is the wheel straight, hold a pen or something on the swinging arm gradually move it closer to the wheel while spinning the wheel by hand it should touch evenly all the way round

[SILVALP]

Ive long pondered the thought of cast wheels conversion - anyone seen this done ? I know not the best solution for off roaders but for mainly road users its an idea ive wondered about.

The alloy rims fitted my Guzzi California are excellent - they have i ribbed design to give extra strength - cant rem who makes them at mo thought

Later Guzzi's got crap rims though

[Austin]

what snaphappy said, plus tyre pressures and loading of the bike - top boxes and panniers can upset things.

There is a scientifc explanation to this - to do with cones and trail and angles and how far ahead the front axle is from the CoG and stuff like that - never understood it really. I think its a case of experimenting really.

When I fitted Dunlop D607s my head shaking all went away.

On my Vara though with Conti trail attacks it is awful - but I just live with it.

[Adam]

I had a really worn pair of trail wings on. They were changed to Anakees, which seemed to reduce the severity of the 'symptoms'. At the time of the wheels being balanced, you could physically see the distortion in the rim and the tyre going up and down as it was being spun round. This is why i suspect the rims.

In view of me being more likely to come across a large volume of ruddy speed bumps than run the Dakar, I was thinking cast wheels would solve this issue.

I note what you say about the suspension etc, however to see the variation in the tyre was impressive, also explains why it is more noticeable at slow speeds.

[iainnic]

you could always get the wheels to a wheel builder and get them re centered - cheaper than cash or new options !

[Adam]

you could always get the wheels to a wheel builder and get them re centered - cheaper than cash or new options !

True enough, but getting the rim rebuilt would only be a short term fix, it wouldn't prevent the same from happening again...

[ADE THE BLADE]

What you feel at the front is not necessarily coming from the front.
Haw are the rear Bearings, Shock, swinging arm bushes, shock preload. Or from the front -bearings, headstock I'm sure more will add to the list

Have you got a centre stand, if so get it up and have a good feel, grab the rear wheel when off the deck with your hands at 2 and 7 o'clock and see if there is any side movement same at 10 and 4
is the wheel straight, hold a pen or something on the swinging arm gradually move it closer to the wheel while spinning the wheel by hand it should touch evenly all the way round

its all getting a bit smutty again. lol

[MandoBear]

True enough, but getting the rim rebuilt would only be a short term fix, it wouldn't prevent the same from happening again...

Not quite so - wheels that have been adjusted and tensioned by a skilled and experienced wheel-builder will be stronger and stay true for longer than ones which have trued up by the tea-boy.