Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: jailcop on July 29, 2011, 06:08:13 PM
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Got the new tires on today Pirelli Angel ST’s but now I’ve noticed a problem. At between 38 and 50 MPH there is a vibration in the bars (I call it head shake). If you let go of the bars they will wobble back and forth. Not enough to cause a tank slapper but it’s annoying. With your hands on the bars you feel the vibration. Could this be air pressure?? I was in a hurry so I couldn’t go back to the dealer today. I did notice that the front tire pressure (according to the bike monitor) says 35Psi rear is 41. Got home just in time to beat the rain so I can’t change the pressure now but could this be the problem. Never had this on this bike and this is the 3rd set of tires. First Pirelli’s though.
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35 PSI shouldn't be enough to cause that much vibration, I would guess that the tire isn't balanced properly or the dealer didn't tighten down your axle.
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How many miles on the bke? When was the last time you had the steering head tightened? Not uncommon with new tires to find out it is time to service the steering head.
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How many miles on the bke? When was the last time you had the steering head tightened? Not uncommon with new tires to find out it is time to service the steering head.
9000 miles. Not sure if it was ever done.
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If it wasn't there before you took it in for tires, it is related to the tires or installation. Take it back to the installer, ask them to re-balance. Check axle nut is properly tightened. If neither, could be a bad tire. It happens. In any event, your insatller should help.
At 9000 miles, not likely the steering head, but wouldn't hurt to check.
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Mine was loose from the get-go so it being 'loose' from the plant is not out of the realm of possibilities here. But definitely, a new tire can show up issues with the head bearings. A 'bad' tire can do that as well, though. Had one on a C10 that exhibited similar symptoms. Those symptoms went away after it was replaced.
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You might also double check that the bead seated all the way around on both sides of the tire. If they got in a hurry and didn't use enough tire lube, it could still seal but not seat. That would cause a wobble.
Also take a look to see if they lined up the red dots on the tire with the valve stem. I did that on mine, and never had to move the wheel weight from the previous tire.
Since front tires are pretty narrow in width, if it's out of balance side to side, then it's probably a bad tire.
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:offtopic:
Hey Jim, I finally got it (your signature / catch phrase). Guess I've been a little slow lately... :)
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=2834.msg35107#msg35107 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=2834.msg35107#msg35107)
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Ah....Grasshopper..you are learning...soon you will be able to snatch the rock out of my hand. And then, you can have my job.
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Ah....Grasshopper..you are learning...soon you will be able to snatch the rock out of my hand. And then, you can have my job.
Ahh, umm, no thanks. Keymaster of the loony bin? Not sure there is enough praise to get me to do that. Glad you're doing it, because I would be punting the riff raff left and right.
Keep up the good work. :)
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:rotflmao:
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Do all of the above. You will find the root cause. Both times I had issues with isolation it bearings needed adjustment.
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Finally had to a chance to take the bike for a ride tonight. First I pumped the tire pressure up to 41 in the front it was at 34. The head shake is still there. I also noticed on the highway at 60 it’s more like a vibration. You feel it in the bars but if you let go they won’t really wobble like at low speeds. Also when you lean into a corner the feeling is still there. I’m going to take it back to the dealer tomorrow. I checked everything else I could out and all looks correct, I think it’s either a bad tire or incorrect balance. The weights are on there and nothing seems to me out of round. Steering head bearing is a possibility but I don’t think so because of the way it feels at 60+.
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Probably a bad tire then.
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Mine was loose from the get-go so it being 'loose' from the plant is not out of the realm of possibilities here. But definitely, a new tire can show up issues with the head bearings. A 'bad' tire can do that as well, though.
+1. After I mounted my Angel's I noticed an unsettling oscilation at high speed. Tires were perfect, they just had a different damping than the OEM stones, thich was masking a not correctly tighten stem bearing.
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Just finished a 425 mile Sunday ride up to western N.Y. 97 .41.31. Rio Dam rd.old Plank Rd. Hartwood club Rd.48 South.Oakland vally Rd.Kennel Rd.Brandt Rd. back to 209 then South. Neversink Dr.Then back to P J .Then back to Long Island. There was some of the nicest roads I have been on this year so far. Back to the Angels .Great tires not a slip or any complaints at all .Back is gone away and new set will be here tomorrow.M
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So I took to bike to another dealer (owned by the same company) to have my tires checked out. They found the front tire was ¾ of an ounce off, thought great that’s the problem. No, the bike still shakes and wobbles. I went to the other dealer on the advice of the one that did the work because it’s closer but not a Kawasaki dealer. So now they want it down there, OK that’s fine except there 45 miles away and I really am uneasy about the way this thing rides and handles. The worse part is they want it for a few days so not only do I have to drop it off but I have to find a ride home(or have it taken on a roll back). At least I work this weekend so I won’t be able to ride.
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i would take all the weights off and try that. Thats what cured mine.
Personal experience with exact same problem tells me you got bad balance job.
Yes you can even get 2 bad balance jobs in a row.
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i would take all the weights off and try that. Thats what cured mine.
Personal experience with exact same problem tells me you got bad balance job.
Yes you can even get 2 bad balance jobs in a row.
The only weight on the front tire now is a 1/4 ounce.
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The only weight on the front tire now is a 1/4 ounce.
well why dont you pull it and see if it gets better or worse?
You could mark the spot and put it back if it got worse but i suspect it will smooth out ..Also go back to recomended PSI. The lower pressures seem to amplify out of balance errors.
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well why dont you pull it and see if it gets better or worse?
You could mark the spot and put it back if it got worse but i suspect it will smooth out ..Also go back to recomended PSI. The lower pressures seem to amplify out of balance errors.
I'm going to pull the weight tomorrow and try it. PSI was changed to 42 front and rear but nothing changed.
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If you ran the front tire at less than 42 pounds air for any speed or lenth of time, check tire for cupping. It doesn't take much at low pressure to cup them and it may be slight and very hard to see.
if you suspect they are slightly cupped, you may be able to run them with a little too much air. May ride rougher, but won't may eliminate the nasty results you're ridng on now.
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If you ran the front tire at less than 42 pounds air for any speed or lenth of time, check tire for cupping. It doesn't take much at low pressure to cup them and it may be slight and very hard to see.
if you suspect they are slightly cupped, you may be able to run them with a little too much air. May ride rougher, but won't may eliminate the nasty results you're ridng on now.
The tire was new. 0 miles. Dealer set it at 35, I changed it to 42 thinking that was the problem. There is only 100 miles on the tires.
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The tire was new. 0 miles. Dealer set it at 35, I changed it to 42 thinking that was the problem. There is only 100 miles on the tires.
Oh, oops. My apologies.
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Got home just in time to beat the rain so I can’t change the pressure now but could this be the problem. Never had this on this bike and this is the 3rd set of tires. First Pirelli’s though.
Be very careful in the rain. I was warned by Motorcycle cops that rain them last winter (Portland Ore) They said the tires were really unstable on wet surfaces. Had an unpredictable slip. I was about to buy a set but changed my mind after discussing the the tires with them. They now run Mich Pilot P2s and like them. Since these guys ride year round except during ice, I trust their feed back.
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I had the same problem (turned out to be bad tires) with two Avons. It will be interesting to know the outcome.
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Not happy. I told the dealer I can’t drop my bike off this week because I have no way to get home. They want it there for a few days. They think it’s a bad steering head. They want $100 to come pick it up. I said it’s NOT going to be a bad steering head maybe the torque is not correct but it’s not going to be bad at 9000 miles. I still insist it’s most likely the tire and that’s not my fault. I can’t even take it to another dealer to check it out because if it ends up being the tire they have to be the ones working on it. Not sure what to do from here haven’t rode the bike in a week but I have a ride this coming weekend.
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Not happy. I told the dealer I can’t drop my bike off this week because I have no way to get home. They want it there for a few days. They think it’s a bad steering head. They want $100 to come pick it up. I said it’s NOT going to be a bad steering head maybe the torque is not correct but it’s not going to be bad at 9000 miles. I still insist it’s most likely the tire and that’s not my fault. I can’t even take it to another dealer to check it out because if it ends up being the tire they have to be the ones working on it. Not sure what to do from here haven’t rode the bike in a week but I have a ride this coming weekend.
There picking it up tomorrow. My insurance will pay for the pick up then if it turnes out to be someting they did or the tire they won't charge anything. At least that's what they said we shall see.
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You are doing the right thing.......anything that even remotely reminds me of tank slappers will put me into a fetal position.....long live mid-80's XL-600's ::) ::)
Mike
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The dealer called me tonight (Montgomeryville Cycle) and there telling me that 3 people drove the bike and there not feeling anything wrong. I don't get it, how are they not feeling this. I told them take it to 50MPH on a nice road and let go of the left grip and look at it. The bar will be shaking back and forth. You can feel it with out letting go but just trying to make it easy.
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Be very careful in the rain. I was warned by Motorcycle cops that rain them last winter (Portland Ore) They said the tires were really unstable on wet surfaces. Had an unpredictable slip. I was about to buy a set but changed my mind after discussing the the tires with them. They now run Mich Pilot P2s and like them. Since these guys ride year round except during ice, I trust their feed back.
I ran these through the Winter here in Pittsburgh and am still running them and they have great wet weather characteristics. Okay, for that matter, they did okay in snow.
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The dealer called. They said hey, we think your front tire is bad were going to replace it. (no kidding). Going to pick it up now. Wish me luck.
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did you ever pull all the weights?
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did you ever pull all the weights?
Yes, only the front one..No change.
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New front tire is on and the bike is smooth as glass.