03 fazer 1000 - new tyre bar wobble

[ratty1812]

just had a pair of avon storm2 ultra fitted to my 03 fazer1000. Had the bike for nearly 4yrs with michelin pilot road 2 on, not chaned anything else and have now noticed a wobble at around 45mph when slowing down. This is worse when i lift my hands away, not normal i know but just testing . Tested on different roads. Been back with tyres, rebalanced and then new set fitted with no joy.  Any ideas please?

[tomjimtom]

Mine does it too, although I can't really feel it if I've got both hands on the bars.

An ex Ducati race mechanic told me it is because my stearing head beariings weren't done up tight enough, not something I was bothered with, but might be worth a look?
someone will probably be along with something more useful though

[b1k3rdude]

Got back to the shop and have the tyres removed and your old ones or a different set of tyres back on. Some tyres just don't work on some bike and leaving them on is asking for an accident to happen.

I had a set of Dunlop 2.05 back in the day on my ZZR1100 and at anything above 70mph I would get a vicious speed wobble.

[Falcon 269]

What pressures are you running?  Some tyres can be pressure-sensitive and throw up decel wobbles like yours as a result. 

I also concur with the advice to check the steering head bearings.

I did 7000 miles on Storm 2 Ultras with no issues like yours.

[sadlonelygit]

sometimes it just happens.
there is a natural oscillation point between 35-50mph on most bikes where the bars give a little wiggle rolling down.
if you are unhappy with it either:
get the shop to check the balancing and runout of the tyre on the rim
not ride no handed.

remember certain tyres have stiffer/softer sidewalls and therefore behave differently, perhaps a bit more rebound may cure it.

[Falcon 269]

sometimes it just happens.
there is a natural oscillation point between 35-50mph on most bikes where the bars give a little wiggle rolling down.

Couldn't agree more with all of your post. 

[slimwilly]

It always happened with my old VFR, so i never loosed go of the handlebars on slowing down.

[ratty1812]

Thanks to everyone for your advice.
 b1k3rdude - this the second set and both sets have been rebalanced.
I dont usually let go of the bars but was just testing, stupid i know :-(
As far as tyre pressures go, well went to see a mechanic freind of mine, he checked tyre pressure and found the front to be 5psi to soft and the rear 5psi to hard. Thought the tyre shop would have known the correct pressures!! also, he released the spindle clamps on the front wheel, bounced the forks to reset the spindle and retightend them..Hey presto- no wobble.  :-) Happy now, will let you know how the tyres go ....

[PieEater]

Big fan of the Avon's myself, would be interested to hear how you rate them in comparison to the PR2's in terms of handling. I can only compare them to the equivalent Bridgestone's and to me they offer a quicker yet more controlled turn in meaning more confident cornering, and they give ~10% better mileage.

[b1k3rdude]

• Thought the tyre shop would have known the correct pressures!! also,
• he released the spindle clamps on the front wheel, bounced the forks to reset the spindle and retightend them..Hey presto- no wobble.  :-) Happy now, will let you know how the tyres go ....
• I dont usually let go of the bars but was just testing, stupid i know :-(

• Ah yes, fucking tyre shops.... no always specify the pressure you want. personally I run 36 front and 38 rears (solo) and 41 (2 up) regardless of tyre choice.
• Jesus christ!, how the fuck did the tyre place manage to twist the forks in the yolks for fucks sake..~>
• Its not stupid, if the bike is well maintained and the wheels balanced you should be be able to release your grip on the bars at any speed within reason.  For example doing 'ahem' miles per hour I am ample to hold the throttle with my thumb and my index finger while traversing a curved stretch of the motorway(so a mild 20+ degree lean) and the bike and the rider were perfectly stable.

And on the subject of said tyre shop I would check they haven't chipped and scratched the wheel rims.