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Front Wheel Shimmy

S

scubadown

Member
I have a 2013 ST-L. It has about 10,000 miles on it and the original Kenda front tires. It has a shimmy which seems to be getting worse. Above 40 mph, after gong over a small bump in the road the front wheels shimmy or vibrate, even making the handlebars shake. After awhile it seems to settle down, back to normal. As I mentioned, this seems to be getting worst over time.

Today I jacked it up and everything seems tight. The tires are not at the wear bars. Any suggestions? New front tires maybe?
 
scubadown said:
I have a 2013 ST-L. It has about 10,000 miles on it and the original Kenda front tires. It has a shimmy which seems to be getting worse. Above 40 mph, after gong over a small bump in the road the front wheels shimmy or vibrate, even making the handlebars shake. After awhile it seems to settle down, back to normal. As I mentioned, this seems to be getting worst over time.

Today I jacked it up and everything seems tight. The tires are not at the wear bars. Any suggestions? New front tires maybe?
Click to expand...

IF - IF you had no shimmy , vibes etc. until recently .... I suspect a belt in the tire is the issue ..... Kenda's have the WORST defect record of any tire I know of .....this is not an un-common occurrence with Kenda tires ...... good luck .... Mike :thumbup:
 
.

Mike is right about the Crapenda tires. Also check the tie rod ends and other suspension components ( off the ground ) for any looseness.

Good luck with this. My :spyder2: came brand new with defective tires that had to be replaced ( on the dealers dime ) with in 2 days of receiving my :spyder2:/

Lew L
 
All the above is true. Frontend shimmy at 10K miles is less likely a mechanical issue as it is more likely tire related problem. Alignment and well balanced quality tires should solve your problems. If a tire, quality or not, starts becoming out of round it will only get worse with time. It will never get better.
 
Thanks. Where can I find a set of 165/55R15? I've tried looking around on the internet and they seem all sold out. Heck I would setting for a new set of Kendas!

Actually I did find a pair of Vee Rubber VTR-350 Arachnid Tires but I have never heard of them.
 
scubadown said:
Thanks. Where can I find a set of 165/55R15? I've tried looking around on the internet and they seem all sold out. Heck I would setting for a new set of Kendas!
Actually I did find a pair of Vee Rubber VTR-350 Arachnid but I have never heard of them.
Click to expand...

I just checked TIRERACK and they are shipping Vredestein " Quatrac " 165/60-15 ( almost everyone here is using this size ) they have SIX ..... it's one of if not the BEST Spyder tire ..... good luck .... Mike :thumbup: .... PS, the Vee rubber tire is no better than the Kenda's
 
Could be lost weights. I have over 45K miles on Kendas and no problems. After 5k miles I replace the weights with Dana Beads. Could also be loose lug nuts. Just don't blame the tire as there are other reasons that cause a problems. I wouldn't touch a cheap car tire.
 
Not sure where in Florida you live. FWIW, many here have run with great results, Federal Formoza for front tires.

Not expensive, great grip, balance easy and ride well on Florida roads.
 
BLUEKNIGHT911 said:
I just checked TIRERACK and they are shipping Vredestein " Quatrac " 165/60-15 ( almost everyone here is using this size ) they have SIX ..... it's one of if not the BEST Spyder tire ..... good luck .... Mike :thumbup: .... PS, the Vee rubber tire is no better than the Kenda's
Click to expand...

Thanks. No problem with 165/55 versus 165/55? Wheel fender is pretty tight.
 
No problem. If you have another Spyder around, try trading tires and go for a ride. We have a spare set and have done that many times. While the OEM are off, I’ll throw them on the balancer. Sometimes, it’s a weight missing, a broken belt, a bent rim. The funniest one was missing 2 lug nuts!!! Client claimed that the lugs were torqued down and everything! Sometimes, we miss the obvious. Has it been aligned? Are the front tire pressures within 1/2 pound of each other? Do you have lots of stuff in one saddlebag? Have you checked the rear shock? Just running down the checklist! Scuba, there are so many Spyderfolks in FL. Reach out! Joe
 
Flamewinger said:
Could be lost weights. I have over 45K miles on Kendas and no problems. After 5k miles I replace the weights with Dana Beads. Could also be loose lug nuts. Just don't blame the tire as there are other reasons that cause a problems. I wouldn't touch a cheap car tire.
Click to expand...

:hun: .... I guess you missed the OP saying " He raised the front end and CHECKED everything and it seemed TIGHT " ..... and IMHO the only way the front would " Shimmy " would be if the tire had 10 + weights ( not un-common on a Kenda tire ) they ALL fell off. ..... Mike :thumbup:
 
BLUEKNIGHT911 said:
:hun: .... I guess you missed the OP saying " He raised the front end and CHECKED everything and it seemed TIGHT " ..... and IMHO the only way the front would " Shimmy " would be if the tire had 10 + weights ( not un-common on a Kenda tire ) they ALL fell off. ..... Mike :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I guess Joe from Squared Away didn't as well.
 
"Not expensive, great grip, balance easy and ride well on Florida roads." Ride well in mexifornia also.
 
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