slight rear wheel wobble tire balance or?

[whatsitmatter]

I had new tires and sprockets put on my bike. I've only had it for short while, bought bike used. Took it on a couple trails before putting the new tires/sprocket/chain on (had shop do it).

When I got it back, my friend said there was a slight wobble to the rear tire, I thought it was just tread on tire (it's a 70dirt/30road tire). I never noticed this before and was first time I had someone riding behind me with this particular bike.

I had them ride it and I did notice that the rear tire wobbled a litte, more so when going slow but less if any when going faster..

I couldn't really feel the difference when riding it to be honest - but needs to be fixed as it'll cause uneven wear.

Question- is this because shop didn't balance tires ( I called shop and they will look at it again) - or something maybe more severe to frame / swingarm that could cause this?

Its an older 2004 WR450, was ridden hard but kept up , guy would grease the bearings, use synthetic oil, etc. But think he was a racer so the bike has probably taken a few hits.

Thanks for any input as to what is most likely causing this.

[kawi380]

I'm not sure a shop would actually balance a dirt bike tire unless you specifically asked them to. I have installed hundreds of tires over the years on my dirt bikes and have never balanced a single one. You may have a bearing problem or some bent up stuff but I don't think balancing a knobby is going to make much of a difference, but I could be wrong.

[123devinzz1]

is it a side to side or a up and down wobble?

[whatsitmatter]

Wouldn't a motorcycle shop be more likely to balance tires then say an automobile shop? Seems like it would be more important for a two wheeled machine vs 4...

Regardless, I take my car to walmart to have tires rotated (not asking for tire balance) -- when I got the car back I noticed it had a small weight on two and they said they balanced them..

The bike has all the Baja stuff installed and a license plate, so I'd imagine it would get the same treatment as a normal motorcycle change of tires.

Though the previous owner was a racer, I don't think he raced this bike but was his trail bike... The bike was kept up well, stored inside and like I said, he greased bearings after every couple rides, changed oil/filters, etc. Maintenence stuff.. But I'm not naive to say a Trail Bike will have it's fair share of hits, but you aren't landing on it from 20 foot tabletops either.

Thanks for the reply, guess I will find out in a couple days. Just hope there isn't an alignment issue with the Steel frame.. don't think it is as it's still rideable, just afraid of uneven wear on tire.

[whatsitmatter]

it's very slight diagnol ... ??? / \ <----something like that back and forth but much more narrow back and forth, I guess side to side?.. hard to explain =/

Edited July 19, 2013 by whatsitmatter

[usdualsports]

I would check to make sure your rim is true by putting something next to it and then spinning the rim. Make sure the gap doesn't get bigger or smaller. If that is good I would make sure the bead of the tire is poped up even all the way around on both sides. If it isn't I would take off the tire put about 35psi in it and bounce it a few times. While your check your bearings.

[FORMA MOTO]

Put your bike on a stand, and spin the wheel. Then you'll know.

You can true it your self.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf9q_jqcG9w

You can balance it yourself

[whatsitmatter]

Ok thanks --What exactly causes the tire not to be balanced in the first place? General wear and tear? What part on bike would I need to replace if I didn't want to put weights/balance? rims?

appreciate the insight

[FORMA MOTO]

Ok thanks --What exactly causes the tire not to be balanced in the first place? General wear and tear? What part on bike would I need to replace if I didn't want to put weights/balance? rims?

appreciate the insight

OK, now I'm going to be a a little insulting............those questions scare me a little bit, since you are going to ride this bike on the road, with apparently very little of the basic knowledge needed to keep you safe and others on the road safe, from your under-maintained motorcycle. I strongly suggest you get a service manual, and read it, especially the first section devoted solely to maintenance....which includes care and adjusting of your wheels.

Motorcycle wheels use rim locks on one side of rim...., and motorcycle offroad tires are not made with much precision, so the wheels are NEVER in balanced from the factory. All motorcycle wheels need balancing. Off road you just don't notice it much, but if you get going 50+ on a dirt road with unbalanced wheels, it makes the bike wander and bounce.

[Chas_M]

Ok thanks --What exactly causes the tire not to be balanced in the first place? General wear and tear? What part on bike would I need to replace if I didn't want to put weights/balance? rims?

appreciate the insight

If we are talking about wheels with single rim locks; then yes, they are way out of balance and will require 4-5 ozs of weight opposite the rim lock to balance the wheel.

If the wheel is wobbling back and forth from side to side, the wheel needs to be trued by adjusting the spokes.

[123devinzz1]

OK, now I'm going to be a a little insulting............those questions scare me a little bit, since you are going to ride this bike on the road, with apparently very little of the basic knowledge needed to keep you safe and others on the road safe, from your under-maintained motorcycle. I strongly suggest you get a service manual, and read it, especially the first section devoted solely to maintenance....which includes care and adjusting of your wheels.

Motorcycle wheels use rim locks on one side of rim...., and motorcycle offroad tires are not made with much precision, so the wheels are NEVER in balanced from the factory. All motorcycle wheels need balancing. Off road you just don't notice it much, but if you get going 50+ on a dirt road with unbalanced wheels, it makes the bike wander and bounce.

And these wheels must be off quite a bit because even 1/2 of my tire not seated on the bead correctly wasnt enough for me to notice it.

I think this should be fixed before taking it on the road at those speeds

[whatsitmatter]

OK, now I'm going to be a a little insulting............those questions scare me a little bit, since you are going to ride this bike on the road, with apparently very little of the basic knowledge needed to keep you safe and others on the road safe, from your under-maintained motorcycle. I strongly suggest you get a service manual, and read it, especially the first section devoted solely to maintenance....which includes care and adjusting of your wheels.

Motorcycle wheels use rim locks on one side of rim...., and motorcycle offroad tires are not made with much precision, so the wheels are NEVER in balanced from the factory. All motorcycle wheels need balancing. Off road you just don't notice it much, but if you get going 50+ on a dirt road with unbalanced wheels, it makes the bike wander and bounce.

OK I will be insulting. How about you STFU. I have a life other then motorcycles. I ride my bikes hard and do the necessary greasing, oil, air filters to keep it running. I work full time and getting married in a few weeks. I'm BUSY. I can't learn everything there is to a dirt bike, read through a 100 page manual and figuring out every little necessity. It may be easy to you to change a wheel, but it would take me a solid 3-4 hours that I don't have nor the proper tools or expertise. And I did notice it before it became a larger problem.

Get a life bro. If you want to talk smack, do it in person and not on the internet forums. I'm asking for help about something that isn't my life. Is that hard for you to understand? I left here cause of gear heads know it-all asswipes like yourself. Cya- have fun posting more on these internet forums then riding your own bike. I'm sure you may know more about any given bike, but I'm sure if you came in my neck of the woods, the rednecks here would burn your ass down any trail.

To the other posters NOT named Krannie, thank you for the nice input and helpful advice... as for Krannie, go fk yourself with those 17,000 posts.. fkn jackwad. won't be back here

Edited July 19, 2013 by whatsitmatter

[bikedude987]

So you expect to get help from a community of people by acting like a spoiled teenager? I've never found Krannie's posts to be insulting, and the above mentioned one was not. It was blunt and truthful, but if you can't take the truth like a F'ing adult, please remove yourself from the forum.

We won't be helping you anymore anyway, would be my guess.

[mobgma]

Can a rim be so out of whack (taco'd) that it cannot be trued or balanced?

I have a rear rim that is bad. I worry it is because of the following:

1. I rode hard with very loose spokes.

2. I attempted to tighten my spokes in no order. I just tightened whatever ones probably throwing my wheel even more out of whack. (yes I know...stupid but lesson learned)

3. After I tightened them I unknowingly rode again not realizing the wheel was even more out of whack. Lesson learned.

4. I am left with a wheel that I may attempt to re lace, true and balance but am not sure if it can be achieved or not since it is so bad.

[FORMA MOTO]

OK I will be insulting. How about you STFU. I have a life other then motorcycles. I ride my bikes hard and do the necessary greasing, oil, air filters to keep it running. I work full time and getting married in a few weeks. I'm BUSY. I can't learn everything there is to a dirt bike, read through a 100 page manual and figuring out every little necessity. It may be easy to you to change a wheel, but it would take me a solid 3-4 hours that I don't have nor the proper tools or expertise. And I did notice it before it became a larger problem.

Get a life bro. If you want to talk smack, do it in person and not on the internet forums. I'm asking for help about something that isn't my life. Is that hard for you to understand? I left here cause of gear heads know it-all asswipes like yourself. Cya- have fun posting more on these internet forums then riding your own bike. I'm sure you may know more about any given bike, but I'm sure if you came in my neck of the woods, the rednecks here would burn your ass down any trail.

To the other posters NOT named Krannie, thank you for the nice input and helpful advice... as for Krannie, go fk yourself with those 17,000 posts.. fkn jackwad. won't be back here

Panties in a wad, even with the disclaimer.

Sorry dude.......I tried....

[beezer]

Some people you just can't reach.

[123devinzz1]

OK I will be insulting. How about you STFU. I have a life other then motorcycles. I ride my bikes hard and do the necessary greasing, oil, air filters to keep it running. I work full time and getting married in a few weeks. I'm BUSY. I can't learn everything there is to a dirt bike, read through a 100 page manual and figuring out every little necessity. It may be easy to you to change a wheel, but it would take me a solid 3-4 hours that I don't have nor the proper tools or expertise. And I did notice it before it became a larger problem.

Get a life bro. If you want to talk smack, do it in person and not on the internet forums. I'm asking for help about something that isn't my life. Is that hard for you to understand? I left here cause of gear heads know it-all asswipes like yourself. Cya- have fun posting more on these internet forums then riding your own bike. I'm sure you may know more about any given bike, but I'm sure if you came in my neck of the woods, the rednecks here would burn your ass down any trail.

To the other posters NOT named Krannie, thank you for the nice input and helpful advice... as for Krannie, go fk yourself with those 17,000 posts.. fkn jackwad. won't be back here

Sorry bud but you may have took that a little too offensively... And went a little overboard with the reply

[FORMA MOTO]

Sorry bud but you may have took that a little too offensively... And went a little overboard with the reply

Nahhhh....