• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

New avon back tire makes rear end feel like it's floatiing

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wheelbreak
  • Start date Start date
W

Wheelbreak

Guest
I just got new tires on my 1981 gs100ex. They were a bit over due. My old shinkos were long in the tooth with the back tire starting to square a bit.

I was sold by the shop on some avon road riders. The shinkos were the largest I could fit (using research on this site) though I don't remember the size. I went with stock size this time around because that's the size the avons were.

anyway I have about 70 miles on the new tires. When ever I get to about 60 miles an hour the back starts feeling like it's floating a little bit. I have checked the alignment, chain slack, and tire pressure and all seem up to speck. The interstate here has grooving that flows in the direction of traffic. It used to give the feeling of side movement when I first started riding on it (kind of like metal mesh draw bridges) but I think I have gotten so used to it, and I don't really notice anymore. Since getting the new tires I definitely notice just the back moving in a slight floating sensation.

could this just be a different feel from a different brand and size of tire? I doubt it could be the swing arm bushings as it just started suddenly with the new tires being put on and the tire feels very solid in the bearing department when I yank side to side. Any thoughts?
 
A lack of experience with that particular tire but i would guess that it is just a trait of the Avons.
I have many miles with Bridgestone BT45 and have always found them skittish on rain grooves and metal bridges.
I would also check the rear axlenut.
 
Sorry, I have not the slightest idea what you mean by a "floating" feeling.

However, the RoadRiders do have a somewhat "pointier" profile than many others, so they do feel different, especially if you are coming from old worn tires. They'll "fall" into corners far more quickly, and I know this spooks people sometimes. I've also heard people complain they steer much more quickly, or that the bike feels "twitchy". The plus side is that they can make a large, heavy bike feel much lighter.

Assuming everything is A-OK mechanically (please quadruple-check everything), you'll get used to them pretty quickly. And if you ride and corner hard, you'll love the newfound agility.
 
steve murdoch said:
A lack of experience with that particular tire but i would guess that it is just a trait of the Avons.
I have many miles with Bridgestone BT45 and have always found them skittish on rain grooves and metal bridges.
I would also check the rear axlenut.
Click to expand...

+1 on the rear axle nut.
 
I have about 20k miles on Avon roadriders ( 3 different sets) and I wouldn't describe the rear tire as floating unless there was something mechanical wrong on the suspension of the bike. I run my rear tire at 34-6 psi and the front at 32 psi. If the pressure is low, things will seem squirrelly (floating). Be sure to check your pressure daily until you are confident the rims/stem aren't leaking.

cg
 
When floating?
Going into a turn and they feel like they slip out a hair before grabbing?

Oops reread.

Seems a bit strange to me.
Would give everything a thorough inspection.
Front and rear, all bolts, shocks and mounts, swingarm and pivot bolt, frame, front suspension, front tire pressure and bolts along with rear. chain adjusters, everything listed in the above posts, and everything else you may think of.
I would not take chances with something like that until I have ruled out dangerous possibilities.

Would keep a close eye on the tire also if you decide nothing else is to blame.
Things like cracking of sidewall due to to much flex, rubber that looks like it is smeared due to heat, uneven wear, bubble spot in between rubber layers.
 
Last edited:
Crankthat said:
When floating?
Going into a turn and they feel like they slip out a hair before grabbing?

Oops reread.

Seems a bit strange to me.
Would give everything a thorough inspection.
Front and rear, all bolts, shocks and mounts, swingarm and pivot bolt, frame, front suspension, front tire pressure and bolts along with rear. chain adjusters, everything listed in the above posts, and everything else you may think of.
I would not take chances with something like that until I have ruled out dangerous possibilities.

Would keep a close eye on the tire also if you decide nothing else is to blame.
Things like cracking of sidewall due to to much flex, rubber that looks like it is smeared due to heat, uneven wear, bubble spot in between rubber layers.
Click to expand...


Above all...watch for cracking with these tires! Some have had nightmares with Roadriders cracking. I returned one rear tire for one made in 2014.
 
My new road riders (installed last week) seem to be the lightest (best way I can describe it) tires I've ran on the GS (bridgestones, kendas, gt501s in past). The bike doesn't seem to be made of lead anymore, apparently the pointier profile mentioned earlier. I know in the same size they were actually a fair amount taller than the GT501 I removed (had to deflate front and rear on centerstand and still had trouble installing, old tires came right out). I could imagine the ease in turning I've felt with the tire resulting in the things you've felt in your use. Still the best GS tire I've used in the past decade.
 
I did check the rear axle nut. Especially after seeing the tension nut on the right side had become loose :eek:!!


After my ride home from work last night, I agree with Steve, it's just the side to side sensation of riding on the rain grooves that I'm feeling. Cornering is really nice with avons. Maybe these tires are a bit more responsive to the roads surface then the shinkos had become. As soon as work slows down enough for me to take a day off to ride out of the city, I can see how they run on flat roads.

I will actively monitor the tread and tire pressure until I can be positive that's what it is. Thanks for the help!
 
70 miles is probably a bit early for the shine to wear off.. See what it's like after 200, by which time you've gotten used to them ..............:)
 
Wheelbreak said:
I did check the rear axle nut. Especially after seeing the tension nut on the right side had become loose :eek:!!
Click to expand...
Wheelbreak said:
For sure check that wheel is properly aligned.........As in.....why 'tension nut' loose.

My experience with the Avons on my 83 1100E is positive. No issues at all with hunting (floating) side to side on rain grooves. California freeways have thousands of miles of rain grooves. No issues either on metal bridge surfaces. No cracking issues either. Great tires for sure.
Click to expand...
 
Wheelbreak said:
After my ride home from work last night, I agree with Steve, it's just the side to side sensation of riding on the rain grooves that I'm feeling. Cornering is really nice with avons.
Click to expand...

Pretty much what Ive found. I run about 5 miles of concrete freeway with deep rain grooves and Im all over the road. Twisty smooth tar and Im scraping the center stand. Also running 34-36 back and 32 front. Bonus is good wet weather traction and braking.
 
In my experience - when I feel that "floating" rear wheel - It usually comes to under inflation .
Check pressures often - check them when cold, and when hot -
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top