I've had the 30-40 mph decel wobble on my 09 Heritage for a while now waiting until this winter to swap out the front tire. (tire has 16000 miles on it)

About a month or so ago I started noticing a slight wobble feeling while accelerating from a stand still. The wobble feeling goes away around 20 mph.

Today I finally got it on the lift and spun the front wheel.
I can actually see the wheel wobble, tire and rim.

Can a bad tire cause this visible wobble or is it perhaps a bent rim, loose spokes or a bad wheel bearing?

I'm going to replace the tire regardless due to the miles and age.
But I'd like you guy's and gal's opinions.

 

It could be any of the things you mention, but my guess is loose spokes caustin the wheel to become untrue. I had to get the wheels on my 06 Heritage trued a couple of times the first year I had it (bought new in Aug 05). I finally ended up installing mag wheels on it about a year after I bought it. Problem solved and IMHO, the bike looks better

 

Do a search, my bet is bad bearing or bearings...since 08, tons of failures...I have had 2, second at 65mph which did 1200 bucks damage...my suggestion, get them out and replace with timken or all *****...whole set of quality bearings is less than 50 bucks...Ride safe.

 

If you can see the wheel is out of line spinning by hand how does the brake disk look is it spinning straight or does it follow rim movement? Reason is if the brake spins true then that means hub and bearings are probably true which points to spokes and outer rim.

 

Buy a new tire, take it and your wheel to a shop have them true your wheel,check bearings, mount tire and balance it. Maybe tighten your steering neck bearings some also.

 

The brake disc spins true.
Looks like I may have excessive "runout".

I'll put the bike back on the lift and see if I can measure how much runout I have.
I'm not sure if I can accurately measure the runout while the wheel is on the bike but I found the spec is .080".

Perhaps I'll pull the wheel this weekend and take it in to get a new tire put on and the the wheel trued.

thanks,

 

That's a good Idea.. Don't try to tighten the spokes Ur self - Unless U have a good knowledge of how to. A rim can be messed up real easy if done wrong.

Also have them to check the wheel bearings.


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"ting" the spokes with a screwdriver. You will be able to hear the loose one(s) buzz.

 

.080, REALLY??? My book specifies .031, which to me is still too much.

 

I certainly don't want to put out erroneous information so I double checked on the data.

Page 514 of my Clymer's manual states the spec is .080 in or 2.03mm.