Author Topic: Handle bar vibration - Help (Read 3410 times)

jbaptista · « **on:** September 06, 2018, 21:34:36 »

Happened to me today, I was riding 70 kms P/h and I held up my hands, and the bar started to vibrate.
The Tyres are not new, but they are not damaged, or slick. The tyre pressure is normal.
Any one experienced this?

Gassoon · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2018, 21:45:43 »

First, have another good look at your tyres (front especially), they may not have damage at first look, but might be suffering from 'cupping', or other issues

jbaptista · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2018, 22:03:57 »

They seem OK to me.
A bit used but I don't think it's enough to have this behavior.

Brockett · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2018, 22:04:19 »

What tyres do you have?
I had issues on my 2013 Glee until I had Anakee 3s fitted. Other tyres may be better but the stock tyres were horrid.

jbaptista · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2018, 22:07:12 »

bridgestone trail wing 101

The Border Riever · « **Reply #5 on:** September 06, 2018, 22:08:54 »

When you say the bars vibrated, I take it you mean "Shake" the bars are going back and forth and shaking? Then 99 times out of a 100 it's wheel balance! you say their not damaged or on the limit, But Gassoon has raised a valid point if they are cupped or have worn in a certain way they will be out of balance, just like the OE Bridgestone front I've just changed on my Wee at 5,000 miles, it could have went to probably 7,000 miles but I don't tolerate a front out of balance and changed it.
You have three options, Replace it, Live with it, Or remove the wheel and have it Balanced.......the choice is yours!!!!...

jbaptista · « **Reply #6 on:** September 06, 2018, 22:19:30 »

I'm not sure if the wheel is unbalanced, or the tyre is damaged.
Going faster I don't feel the shake that much, the shaking is less pronounced, has it's slowing down, the shaking becomes stronger and more pronounced. If it's unbalanced the same shaking should occur at high speeds with the same intensity or worst.

It could be the tyre, I'm not questioning that, and I do believe is what makes more sense.
But also wonder if it could be something wrong the the direction bar, rim, suspension ....

Griff2 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 06, 2018, 22:27:38 »

Not unheard of no matter what the bike. If the shake/shimmy is there from fitting a new tyre then a refit and balance can usually sort it, but if it occurs midlife in a set of tyres it is usually due to wear of some sort. However it might not always be the front wheel that is the culprit. I once had a GL1800 and when the back tyre squared off sufficiently the steering used to shimmy when I took my hands off the bars. So it was the rear tyre that was causing it. How do I know ? The front tyre was fine on the first occasion that I noticed the shimmy but the rear was shot, so I just replaced the rear on that occasion and the shimmy was gone !
As is suggested above unless there are any other undesirable handling issues I would live with it until it is time to replace the tyres. After all, 99% of the time Your hands will be on the bars

jbaptista · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2018, 08:05:47 »

unfortunately can't change the Tyres now. Where I live we don't have highways, just a speedway and lots and lots of curves. So my Tyres are not square.
I will look for Tyres, and maybe next month I can change it.

The Border Riever · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2018, 08:14:00 »

A rear wheel imbalance usually causes vibes through the whole bike and only shows at higher speeeds, This is classic front wheel imbalance, I've seen this question on so many forums over the years and the answer is re-balance or replace! A good few years ago I owned a Honda Blackbird and run Avon storm tyres as favoured by lot's of owners at the time, and the front scalloped quite badly and went out of balance half way through it's life, and as I fit and balance my own tyres I re-balanced it and was OK to the end of it's life!

jbaptista · « **Reply #10 on:** September 07, 2018, 08:32:15 »

Hmmm, thanks for all the advices.
I will balance the tyre, is cheaper than changing the Tyres ehehe.
Thanks ... I will let you know the outcome.

Mr Nick · « **Reply #11 on:** September 07, 2018, 20:25:36 »

Don't always assume the tyres are the issue: I get headshake on the KTM when I fit the top box - cost me a new front tyre that I didn't need before I sussed it out. Same on the Spada - something aerodynamic causing the issue, not tyre.

tony d · « **Reply #12 on:** September 07, 2018, 20:49:42 »

I have just replaced my annakee 2 tyres for avon storm 3d xm full road tyre a lot quieter but a bit twitchy at the back bounces round a bit

paulja · « **Reply #13 on:** September 07, 2018, 22:22:14 »

Check the bolts holding the bars haven't worked loose.

Griff2 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 08, 2018, 15:26:56 »

Quote from: Mr Nick on September 07, 2018, 20:25:36

Don't always assume the tyres are the issue: I get headshake on the KTM when I fit the top box - cost me a new front tyre that I didn't need before I sussed it out. Same on the Spada - something aerodynamic causing the issue, not tyre.

+1 on this suggestion. Top boxes especially when heavily loaded, do not agree with some bikes.

Olivier · « **Reply #15 on:** September 08, 2018, 20:54:31 »

I had a similar problem on an old motorcycle. When I released the handlebars in deceleration phase, it was going quickly from right to left (between 70 and 90 km / h only). There was a flat on the front tyre. Replaced the tyre, problem solved. Check yours by putting your hand all around the tyre on the center band.

ggreen1959 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 11, 2018, 13:10:34 »

Could be uneven tyre wear or maybe a loose fork yoke. Check the fork yoke bolts and also the wheel spindle bolts.

EYAL400 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 11, 2018, 13:42:34 »

there is a free play in the steering stem .

EYAL400 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 11, 2018, 13:45:45 »

one of the balancer could be missing .

bako · « **Reply #19 on:** September 11, 2018, 14:40:58 »

The ocilating effect could be the front wheel out of alignment, which is a pretty easy fix.
Also check both forks are set up the same and front brakes are working properly.
An out of balance front wheel usually causes vibration at a certain speed then stops as you accelerate.