Topic: Addressing front end shimmy....new tires?

[Scott S]

 I've got a front end shimmy, mostly at ~40-50 mph. Not a tank slapper, but definitely a wobble. A little pressure on the bars mostly cures it.

 The bike (CB500) has new tapered steering stem bearings, new wheel bearings front and rear, the tires have been balanced (front tire twice) and the forks have new seals and fresh oil

 I don't see anything obvious with the swing arm bushings and the bike has never been wrecked, to my knowledge. I can't see/feel anything obvious with the front brake rotor...warpage, high spots, etc.

 I haven't done a "TRUE" alignment, but I use the marks on the chain adjusters and it all appears, to my untrained eye, to be OK.

 This leads me to the tires. I remember the rear having a high spot when I rotated the wheel on the centerstand. It would rub the floor in one spot. The high spot is now gone, but....
 The tires are also mismatched. I think I had a tire in the garage that was the right size, so I used it and purchased another tire for the rear back when I put the bike on the road.
 Shenko on the front (cheap) and Kenda on the rear (OK, I guess).
 
 I want some nice new tires. I don't need the be-all, end-all, top dollar road racing tires....but I would like to spend my money wisely and get something nice.
 I also plan to have the wheels trued when changing the tires.

 SO:
 1) Suggestions for a good street tire for a moderate rider in moderate conditions.
 2) Am I on the right track? Anything else you can thing of to eliminate the wobble?
 

[KingCustomCycles.com]

I have had Chen Shih, Shinko, and Kenda that were not even round when new.  Check that your bead is sealed evenly all the way around and if that isn't it, start shopping for a little better tire.  I have nearly abandoned cheap tires due to issues that are present when they are new, let alone performance, safety, and life expectancy.

[MotorFist]

I put Avon am26 tires on my 500 front and rear and have been very happy with them.

[Scott S]

 I won a set of Avon Roadmasters on ebay for my XS650 last year. There is a night and day difference between cheap tires and GOOD tires.
 The Avons soak up small potholes like they're not even there. The ride is phenomenal and the handling is superb. That sold me on GOOD tires from now on.

 Any suggestions for the 500/550's?

[6adan]

For tires I like  Brigstone S11. I have them on two of my bikes and have ordered another set for another bike.

[Scott S]

 There was another thread on here a couple of days ago and the poster was askng about tires for his '77 or 78 CB550. Someone posted a link to a website with really good prices on some Bridgestones. I can find that thread and I recently refreshed my computer, so my history is clean.

 Any links to places to get GOOD tires, cheap?

[bollingball]

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1291/MNGR/Tires.aspx

[cookindaddy]

I put new Bridgestone S11's on my bike, rear last year and front this year. The rear gave no problems but when the front was changed, the bike had a vibration that wasn't there before. It felt like the wheel was jumping up and down, the worst at 50 mph. I took it back to the shop that changed and balanced the tire and after doing a road test, the mechanic found that the bead was not evenly seated on one side of the tire so he broke it down again, reseated, reflated and rebalanced it. The vibration problem was gone. (like King suggested) There is a thin line around the tire that is visible just outside of the rim that you can use to see if the bead is not concentrically seated. It wasn't much out but obvious if you knew where to look.

[Scott S]

 After reading a few threads on here and talking to a local shop, I'm hoping that it's the rear tire or rim. It definitely has a high spot.
 As soon as work allows, I'll take it over to that shop and let them check the rim for trueness and check the tire, as well.

 The tires ARE mismatched front to rear, but that in itself shouldn't cause a probelm. If it turns out to be the tire, I'll get a matching Shinko to go with the front. Stay tuned....

[phil71]

Shinko=junko

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Should call them shanko, then you would know you were getting run through.

[BobbyR]

A lot of people including me like the BT45 Battleaxes.

[Tews19]

S11 got them on on my 550K and waiting for the rear to get in and then will have another set on my 550F

[Randy]

I just put an A11 bridge on my 500k2 and made sure the tire was centered in  the rim..The little raised edge was even all the way around the rim...The first time the guys brought it out..The raised edge was under the rim...so they fixed it... No wobble with my hands off..Road the canyons last night and it was great... Changing the rear next month...

[Scott S]

 While doing a "mini tune-up" this weekend, I adjusted a crappy, no name chain that I have and now the shimmy is much, much better.

 Obviously, I did two things:
 a) adjusted a (very) loose chain, and...
 b) aligned the rear wheel as a side effect.

 I already have a new chain on order and will take that opportunity to have that high spot on the rear wheel looked at when I change it.