Strange "wandering" feeling at rear wheel??

[FredL]

I appreciate you all taking the time to post your thoughts, thanks.
I will try lowering the front tire pressure a bit, I was going on the manufacturers recommendation (continental) and some reading on posts about my particular tires "liking" higher pressures. I have checked my forks for leaky seals, no sign of a leak. I'll probably pick up a MC stand this weekend and check out the wheel and swing arm more thoroughly (man I miss a center-stand!) I'll post more as I figure this mystery out!

[KitNYC]

FYI, you can fit a center stand to your RS. It was about the first thing I did for mine. Triumph part number for the kit is A9758003, or you can fit a stand from a 955 ST as long as you get all the hardware.

Cheers,
-Kit

[FredL]

Ok, So I am now running 36f/42r, rode to work this morning which is about a 30 mile ride. I also checked the mounted direction of the tires, arrows point to forward rotation. I think it is related partially to the road surface, because I feel it more on smooth pavement than on rough. At one point, while riding about 55 at the end of the JFK causeway bridge it squirmed left-right-left enough to make me pull over and see if I could move the wheel or swingarm by hand. Nothing moves even the slightest bit! This is a wide open area, with bays on both sides, so I am beginning to think that wind is a factor as well.
I have been riding for 30 years, and have never felt a bike so affected by wind however, I know it blows us around, and can surprise us when it gives up and we've been counter leaning to maintain direction, but this is different, and unacceptable. I plan on raising the bike somehow today and giving everything a good inspection, more to follow...

[nehpetsthegrey]

Hi. I dont know how many miles you have put on your new tyre, but being an old fart I was always told that when fitting a new tyre on any sort of rim/wheel it should always be pumped up to at least 60psi and then let down to the required pressure. That way any fitting distorsions and damage would show and the tyre would snap home properly. The only other things I can suggest is that you still have traces of lubricant/ release agent on your tyre. Or, you now have a tyre that is far more sensitive to wind and road, and believe me some tyres are VERY different to others.

[Tripps]

I also have an 02 Sprint, I completely agree on your comment about the wind, it's phenomenal how easily blown around it is. That aside, I've never felt any looseness in the back like you describe, with different tire brands, and up to 145 mph, though my R3T has the same symptoms at 120+.

[jvswan]

I've felt the tire drifting as you explained. I have felt it quite a bit since I first noticed it. It is kind of a disconcerting "floating" under the back side of the bike. It is kind of weird. I've checked all the stuff folks have mentioned, but it still happens. Only going slow, and usually when I'm downshifting or slowing down for a turn. I think it has more to do with road surface topography than anything else. Minor grooves or warps in the road surface causing the back wheel to track slightly, perhaps. I have Conti Road Attacks, and they are very soft. I wonder if the soft compound in the tire could also affect it.

Odd thing...

[Mickea]

Originally Posted by jvswan

I have Conti Road Attacks, and they are very soft. I wonder if the soft compound in the tire could also affect it.

I just swapped back to conti road attacks from sports because of wear but have noticed that contis do seem to like to track things a bit, not bad but enough to notice.
rgds Mick

[SS313]

What kind of tires did you have before? I have this kind of sensation when I run Dunlops of any sort. I haven't run Conti's but it could just be the tires tracking in grooves on the road (fyi bridges seem to be the worst for this in my area). My PR3's don't do this very much, if at all, but the Metz's that were on it when I got it did. The OEM Dunlops on my Sportster were about the worst. It would feel like I had just hit a patch of mud sometimes but the road was clean and dry. Also how many miles do you have on the Conti's? You may still have some of the release compound left on them and that makes them a little slick until you wear it off.

[FredL]

" kind of a disconcerting "floating" under the back side of the bike."
CHECK!!!!
That IS the feeling, I have decided it is a combination of new tire+surface irregularity+ very likely WIND (I really have only felt it in wide open windswept areas)+and possibly minor front wheel damage. I went to the local shop that mounted my Contis and they were happy to put the bike on a center lift. We thoroughly checked both the front and back wheels and tires, back was right and tight, no unusual movement of the wheel or swing-arm at all, we spun the wheel and it showed no bumps or uneven spots, true and round, we checked for lateral movement, or impact damage of the wheel as well, no observable runout or warpage. The front was much the same, head-race smooth and free of play or "notchiness" wheel spins round and true with one small exception, we noticed a bit of wheel damage, maybe a millimeter and a half max of lateral bend to the wheel itself over about 30 degrees of rotation. I dont think that small amount of damage accounts for what I'm feeling, but it can't help. We have a shop here in Corpus that will true the wheel for $100, which I plan on doing next paycheck. Till then I am going to ride with confidence that nothing is getting ready to fall off my bike, and see if I haven't been making much ado about nothing. I have only owned this bike for a month or so, I have always done my own maintenance and repairs, having been a professional mechanic for one chapter of my life (German cars and all motorcycles) and tend to treat my bikes kind of like aircraft, everything right and tight and wire-tied where applicable! I think an element of mistrust of the previous owner has shaded my confidence a bit, which will fade as I go over the bike and torque every fastener, lube every joint, and get acquainted generally with this beast of a bike. I can tell it will be great, but I NEED to go over it with a fine toothed comb before I feel a high level of comfort i guess, call me crazy!
I'll post back after I have 500+ miles on the Contis and have done the front wheel repair, Thanks again to all who posted, I truly appreciate your insights!

[thap8riot]

I have ridden in some pretty good Santa Ana winds here in SoCal but never felt like my rear tire was floating or drifting. The bike making slight direction changes due to the high wind, yes, but the rear tire always felt planted. I can't say I have ridden in those conditions with a brand new tire though, but that would freak me out for sure.