So while going through my current project, I took the rear wheel off my breakout and am noticing all the crud caked on the axle, spacers, etc. I've had the rear tire changed a few times at the dealer and am certain this has never been addressed. I know enough enough to throw some anti-seize on the components before putting it back together. Do you clean all that crud off?

 

I did, then reapplied anti-seize.

 

 

That should have been cleaned off before the dealership greased the wheel bearings each time they changed the tire. They did grease the bearings each time they changed the tire, right?

 

If the bike rode fine before the new tire I would suspect something to do with the tire or reassemble of the axles and spacers.
I dont think it was necessary to adjust the head bearing.

Did you check the axle nut torque?

 

Six year old thread, hopefully they have it figured out by now.