street-ier tires

[Lee Dodge]

Wasn't there a recent posting related to Craig's List searches? If you know of it could you forward that posting to me.? Thanks, Lee Dodge [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rowe Elliott]

Thanks Rev, I did indeed work on the head shake issue, including setting a slight drag on the steering head bearings, after, (as advised here in archive search) adjusting tire pressure, going w/o fender, setting rear suspension, putting in new front springs, etc. Tightening the head bearings was the only thing that appeared to help for me, until I changed the tires, on both my '06 and my son's '05, but in neither case did it completely cure the problem. W/ Kenda 270's I started to get shake at 70-75 before setting the drag, and maybe 75-80 after. This was better enough for me for a while, but I was getting ready to try push the fork tubes 1/2" extended when the 761's cured the problem for me. After scuffing the new tires in, I tried them out at speed the first day and eventually got to 110 mph indicated (tail wind) w/ no trace of wobble. One thing I noticed about the KLR head shake that I haven't seen any one else comment on, is the rider control feedback component of the phenomenon. When I gradually accelerated into the speed range where my bike started to oscillate, I could induce a mild head shake. If I subsequently removed one hand from the handlebars, the head shake would go away. Replacing the hand, shake again, remove it again, shake goes away. Even a firm finger from the free hand to the bars could induce it. I'm not advocating a bunch of ya'll run out, induce control problems, and then start playing "look ma, no hands" , but it was consistent for me, and the technique of going to one hand helped me out a coupla times when I got into some wobbles in traffic on the freeway. My working hypothesis is that the wobble is. at least in part, squirmy tread blocks 'walking around', and that a less rigid grip on the handlebars allowed the tire to find a more stable path. The bigger tread blocks of the 761's may be why it is now gone for me. I had noticed that Avon Roadrider tires were available in the stock sizes for the KLR, incl. the 21" front, and wondered if anyone has tried them? These are, of course, a dedicated street tire, bias ply, tube or no. For the price and on dry pavement, I love the Kenda 761's, but as I say, they seem quite slippery when wet. Rowe

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Rowe Elliott" wrote: > > > > Anybody out there ever try Avon Road Riders on KLR? I've got about 7k miles on Kenda 761's and, though they've got a ways to go yet, I'm starting to look around. My riding is 99/1 or 99.9/0.01 street /dirt, primarily mixed freeway commuting. I like the 761's fine except wet pavement, where they are scary, on dry they let me corner like a fiend. The 761's cured the head shake/speed wobbles on my '06 completely, and for that alone I love 'em. > > Rowe > > > Rowe, > Good that you have found a tire that works for you. > Although, you should not have a head shake/wobble--indicative of additional adjustments needed. smile. > > Have you also checked your steering head bearings? > If the front wheel flops over easily side to side when the front wheel is not touching the ground (bike supported in the center) they are to loose. > > It is adjusted by the big nut under the center of the handle bars. Remember, you will need to loosen the triple tree bolts before you tighten the steering head stem nut. Use your Clymers for the exact procedure and torque specs. > > revmaaatin. off to feed the cows.... >