Tyres + Hot weather… weaving?

[Cyber]

Looking for some expert tyre advice. I’m pretty sure it is tyres rather than suspension.

Not used my bike in Spain for a few weeks, using it now and there is a noticeable weaving at slow speed, seems to be more pronounced at slow speed but at faster speeds it seems to lack confidence in the corners.

It is slightly more noticeably 2-up.

Tyre pressures are fine, 2.5/2.9 checked before riding BUT with temperatures are up to mid 30’s now, road temperatures will be well up into the 50’s.

Tyres are the Conti TA2 with a couple of thousands miles on them. They seem to be in good shape, nothing obvious.

No fault messages so I’m assuming the suspension is in good shape.
Any suggestions?

I’m not back in Spain for four weeks but be good to plan for new rubber if anyone has ideas on issues…

Cheers

 

[Bigcats]

Been a few of us with failing rear suspension

Though its quite noticeable as they become quite bouncy. This will make the bike act weird.

But I think you would notice it, as I said it becomes quite bouncy

 

[er-minio]

Also drop the pressure a tiny bit.

 

[MrC99]

No fault messages so I’m assuming the suspension is in good shape.

Which bike and what age & mileage?

Failing/ed suspension won't give a fault message but they do fail as others have said and, depending on whether front and/or rear and whether compression or rebound damping is going, could give the symptoms you describe. Especially if worse 2-up.

Other thoughts of things to check - if spoked wheels have you checked for spoke tension recently? Also check for wheel bearing failure (probably unlikely) and even brake binding or warped disks.

Given what you've checked it seems unlikely to be normal tyre wear. Have you been over any bad potholes recently?

 

[er-minio]

I forgot to add the other half of my comment
Have a look at telelever joint.

I had issue with mine at some point (hexhead) and the symptoms where weaving when getting off the throttle. Even though at medium/high speed in my case.

 

[Oldrat]

Check the wheel bearings. Front wheel off ground, hands on tyre, 9 o clock and 3 oclock position
Someone holding bars against full lock.

Any knocking. If so, brakes on and repeat, does it go away? If it does its the wheel bearing, if not then its higher up.

Repeat but with hands at 12 and 6

Just a thought.

If bike has been standing gor some weeks in heat, check for any deformity around the circumference

 

[g.s.john]

Check your swing arm bearings and your steering head bearings.

 

[Cyber]

Thanks all

I will answer in turn...

Just for some additional information, it doesn't seem to have been a gradually deteriorating problem. We did a few trips a couple of weeks ago and all was good, then almost overnight felt the weaving and as if the rear end was stepping out.

Been a few of us with failing rear suspension

Though its quite noticeable as they become quite bouncy. This will make the bike act weird.

But I think you would notice it, as I said it becomes quite bouncy

No noticeable bounce at all.

Also drop the pressure a tiny bit.

Tried that no difference.

Which bike and what age & mileage?

Failing/ed suspension won't give a fault message but they do fail as others have said and, depending on whether front and/or rear and whether compression or rebound damping is going, could give the symptoms you describe. Especially if worse 2-up.

Other thoughts of things to check - if spoked wheels have you checked for spoke tension recently? Also check for wheel bearing failure (probably unlikely) and even brake binding or warped disks.

Given what you've checked it seems unlikely to be normal tyre wear. Have you been over any bad potholes recently?

1250GS 2019

It's the cast wheels, no spokes.

Tyres aren't obviously squared off, no potholes. Surfaces are generally excellent.

I forgot to add the other half of my comment
Have a look at telelever joint.

I had issue with mine at some point (hexhead) and the symptoms where weaving when getting off the throttle. Even though at medium/high speed in my case.

Will do - thanks

Check the wheel bearings. Front wheel off ground, hands on tyre, 9 o clock and 3 oclock position
Someone holding bars against full lock.

Any knocking. If so, brakes on and repeat, does it go away? If it does its the wheel bearing, if not then its higher up.

Repeat but with hands at 12 and 6

Just a thought.

If bike has been standing gor some weeks in heat, check for any deformity around the circumference

Will do. Not back there for a couple of weeks but on the plane back yesterday I was thinking wheel bearing.

The bike lives for long periods in a garage so no direct heat. Day to day when I use the bike it's outside and yes in direct sun but the high temperatures have only been a 'thing' for the last couple of weeks.
I did check for deformity, nothing obvious.
I didn't check for the balance weight. Heat, adhesive, lost weights.... ?

Check your swing arm bearings and your steering head bearings.

Cheers - Will do!




Thanks all, not so helpful I'm not back there for a couple of weeks but I will keep all this in the list for checking...

Cheers

 

[RedRick Esq.]

combination of

Old tyres - always feel off when getting to end of life
Pressure changes as they heat up
Altitude ? mine behaved strangely at altitude in as much as they were low in a morning and didnt get up to correct pressures until very warm

if none of the above then bike fucked

 

[snelly]

As rick says above; mine feel sqiffy when down to 3 mil left ; they are not going to unstick or owt like that but you do have to ride round the feeling.