Front end wobble

[powergap]

I thought i would share my experence with you all it may help others
i got my Vara from the bike shop A1 Motos a Triumph dealer in York its 1999 and got 25000 on the clock ,anyhow got it home and first impressions where that it had a front end wobble!! agghhh i thought i have been sold a dud , on standing up and looking down at the front tyre it could bee seen to be moving side to side by about 1 1/2 inches at 30mph .agggh! the bloody wheels buckled i cried and promptly when back to the dealer and vented my frustation in a polite manner to the staff there,
they sent one of the mechanics on a test ride and he agreed that "it shakes its head a bit" so off came the wheel it was checked for balance and found to be perfect. the disks where checked and found to be straight, the bearings where all checked as was the wheel spindel,all ok
try a new tyre said the mechanic , so they fitted a new tyre for me under warranty and Hurrah the wobble has gone! the tyre was a Metzler tourance and had plenty of tread left ,new tyre is also a tourance but what a diffrence it really felt as though the bike was badly bent before.
i can now ride with confidence ,i was given good service by the shop but had they not test ridden the bike before selling it i wonder ?
alls well that ends well Mike

[davsato]

most tyres are shot long before the legal limit, but that does sound a bit extreme.
if you understeer a lot then you wear the corners off the tread pattern, and it can still look like theres plenty of tread left. maybe this is what happened?

[jasonbc]

I used to use soft luggage on my varadero and when loaded heavily if you took you hands of the bars at around 80-90 mph the bar would noticably weave, sometimes it was comical sitting there watching it happen and then showing the wife who was sat on the back. I tightened the head races up a little and that helped as they were a BIT TIGHTER it took a little bit of the slack out of the steering. I have recently bought hard luggage and in 3 weeks i am going from Camborne in Cornwall to J ohn O Groats in Scotland so it will be a good test for the new Hepco & Beckers as it will be a roun d trip of about 2000miles

[Skudd]

if I have my top box othe bars wobble from 40 mph to 120 mph without top box it is as solid as any other bike. When I have fully laden the bike with soft luggage and the top box it will shake it's head. Keeping tyre pressures correct and in good order does help.

[z-weiser]

I notice the top box bakes a big difference in winds!

which is a bit of a bugger as i never take it off!

i don't get a wobble though!

maybe i don't ride it hard enough!

Z

[MacP]

Maybe - I'm always ringing it's neck and worried about hitting stuff so no time to think about head shakes so less to worry about!

[davsato]

ive noticed on mine if its loaded up the front is very light. perhaps the wind around the top box has the same effect as a load.

[Snaphappy]

Tighten the rear shock load a couple of notches that will stop it squating at speed and keep the front load even

[Freerangestormer]

I have a similar problem (03 FI with 60,000 km on the clock), front looks OK on the smooth but jumps away from road markings, tar creases and any longitudinal groove or tram line like a scalded cat. I put it down mostly to the tyre which is Bridgestone, can't remember which one, on since I got her so I don't know how old it is. She is in for service now getting a front end overhaul and a set of Anakee's, so I will see how it goes with the front end rebuilt

[Mr NiceGuy]

I had that on OE Bridgestones tacking ever road defect changed to michelin road pilot nad no problems from there.