Terrible front end shimmy …….

[OJ UK]

This "Shimmy" has just started to occur on my 12 RTL in the past few weeks. We just turned 12k miles on the original Kenda tires, but put on over 1000 in the last month. It only happens around 43mph and the front end begins to wobble side to side very quickly. It goes away if I speed up or slow down. I'm not feeling/seeing any bushing effects and don't have anything in the tires. I do have 17 weights on the right wheel and only 6 on the left. None seem to have been thrown.
I've got to get my 12k maintenance so I'll have the dealer check it out.... Just strange (and good)that I find this thread right after it started...
I'll let you know what is found.

Good grief!! :yikes: 17 weights on one wheel!!! What was the guy who balanced the wheels thinking??!!
The least I would expect is him to do is to remove the tire and check it for centricity and try another tire.

 

[BajaRon]

This "Shimmy" has just started to occur on my 12 RTL in the past few weeks. We just turned 12k miles on the original Kenda tires, but put on over 1000 in the last month. It only happens around 43mph and the front end begins to wobble side to side very quickly. It goes away if I speed up or slow down. I'm not feeling/seeing any bushing effects and don't have anything in the tires. I do have 17 weights on the right wheel and only 6 on the left. None seem to have been thrown.
I've got to get my 12k maintenance so I'll have the dealer check it out.... Just strange (and good)that I find this thread right after it started...
I'll let you know what is found.

6 weights are at the upper end of what I would consider 'Reasonable' or maybe more like tolerable. 17 is in the insane range. Something is very wrong for a wheel to need that much weight.

 

[bmwlarry]

Well, I fixed it!! I bought a 2015 RT LTD!. Really, I did, but it turned out to be the top shock bolt was loose!

 

[NorCalBud]

6 weights are at the upper end of what I would consider 'Reasonable' or maybe more like tolerable. 17 is in the insane range. Something is very wrong for a wheel to need that much weight.

While I don't disagree with you one bit, that does seem crazy, I don't really think that is the direct problem. I've been using these tires like that for 2 years and only started feeling the "shimmy" for a few weeks. Unfortunately I never even noticed the amount of weights until just now.
I also had the DPS/Limp Mode alert this past weekend while on a ryde. I've never had any alarm before. I pulled over and shut the tryke down. I pulled out the manual and checked what the alarm was about, I started it up and it was gone. I checked for active fault codes, but that was blank. I rode several hundred miles this weekend without that occurring again. Perhaps I was riding the break, but I'm usually pretty careful about that. But I can't say for sure.
Coincidence...I hope so!

 

[elkk]

Check the Front Drive Sprocket

I just went through this with a friends 2008 RS and found the front drive sprocket was loose causing front-end shimmy between 20 and 30 mph. The whole bike shook at certain speeds. Hopefully not your problem but certainly worth checking to be sure it is tight. Just Saying....

 

[jerpinoy]

That was an expensive fix for shimmy a 2015 RT?:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[BajaRon]

Well, I fixed it!! I bought a 2015 RT LTD!. Really, I did, but it turned out to be the top shock bolt was loose!

Wow! That simple! Well, just goes to show that checking the simple stuff first is usually the best way to at least eliminate a simple fix.

 

[BajaRon]

While I don't disagree with you one bit, that does seem crazy, I don't really think that is the direct problem. I've been using these tires like that for 2 years and only started feeling the "shimmy" for a few weeks. Unfortunately I never even noticed the amount of weights until just now.
I also had the DPS/Limp Mode alert this past weekend while on a ryde. I've never had any alarm before. I pulled over and shut the tryke down. I pulled out the manual and checked what the alarm was about, I started it up and it was gone. I checked for active fault codes, but that was blank. I rode several hundred miles this weekend without that occurring again. Perhaps I was riding the break, but I'm usually pretty careful about that. But I can't say for sure.
Coincidence...I hope so!

Agreed. If 17 weights worked at one point something had to change for that wheel to be a problem. Still, they should never pass a Spyder through assembly with a wheel that needed that much weight to make it right. My only point was that if the wheel/tire combination was that far out. Normal wear might create a serious imbalance which might not occur on a wheel/tire assembly that was more harmonious to begin with.

In other words. If the tire were the culprit, that could mean a big chunk of weight in the tread (wear) area of the tire. The further out from center the imbalance is, the greater the weight needed to balance it. As that weighted area wears, the potential for a great deal of imbalance would occur.

Let us know what the actual problem is when you find it.

 

[NorCalBud]

The further out from center the imbalance is, the greater the weight needed to balance it. As that weighted area wears, the potential for a great deal of imbalance would occur.

Fantastic explanation BajaRon. That makes perfect sense and I fully agree with you. I'm gunna hopefully get her in for the 12k this week and get the tires checked as well.
I'll post an update when there is one....

 

[900Dave]

Well, I fixed it!! I bought a 2015 RT LTD!. Really, I did, but it turned out to be the top shock bolt was loose!

Is that all it takes?? I hope i get a shimmy real soon, then I will fix it the same way you did.:thumbup: Enjoy your new ride.:2thumbs:

 

[Bob Ledford]

My 2011 RT has developed a terrible front end shimmy from 41 mph thru 49 mph.

What could be causing it? You left out one important chunk of information. What is the miles on the tires.

like Bob D suggested a belt layer in a tire can cause you all kinds of grief in that speed range

My RTL dOes it tween 41/43@ 40 deg F and since it only happens then I don't worry about it. T

Laser alignment done
all front end suspension components tight and {\QUOTE]