SENSITIVE HANDLING

[ohiojack]

I replaced my front tire with a IRC. It has a weight cap code of 74, which is heavier then my old dunlop 404. My problem is that the bike is super touchy. Sometimes the front seems to be almost bouncy. Any ideas? I'm getting somewhat use to the handling. My front forks need the oil changed, I'll get to that this winter. ohiojack

[Avidrider62]

In Nascar , 1/2 lb of air equals 50 lb of spring. Could be like bike tires too. Air pressure, by tire or Kawasaki recommendations?

[Mr Jensee]

Tire recommendations on here has been the Dunlop Elite3 tire. I know nothing about the IRC tire but if the sidewall construction is soft and pliable the bike won't handle well. That is why the 404 is not recommended.

[Avidrider62]

I'd think the harder the side walls, or a rear tire placed on the front, will make the bike bounce more. Think of what low air in the tire does, less control, soft. I had a rear tire on the front on my cruiser, kinda liked it, firm feeling given to me

[Lance McCaw]

I'd think the harder the side walls, or a rear tire placed on the front, will make the bike bounce more. Think of what low air in the tire does, less control, soft. I had a rear tire on the front on my cruiser, kinda liked it, firm feeling given to me

My bike had cheap cheng shin tires when I got it. The bike was all over the rode like I was drunk. Installed the Dunlop Elite 3s like most everyone else does and she tracks straight as an arrow now. Had the bike 3 yrs now.

[Coastvoyager]

Bouncing...sounds familiar. I have a new to me 00 running a 404 up front. I just did the fork oil and springs and it still bounces at time like no bike Ive ever ridden. Just weird IMO.

[voyager55]

The 404's are TERRIBLE tires. Change them out asap to say a E3 & you'll have a new bike

[ekap1200]

Hello from NJ, The Voyager front end is a tricky beast... There are quite a few factors that will cause an uneasy feeling. Your post is a bit confusing to me, "super touchy" to me sounds like it may be the fork brace. Many overlook the ( inserts ) that are in the plastic fender. Carl Leo recommends these be at the least looked at every time the front tire is removed for tire replacement. They will crush and render the fork brace from being a metal to metal contact. Check out my post named
" front fender tip of the day "
Such a small part can be easily overlooked to be a cause of " super touchy " steering feeling. And if they have been over tightened they are sure to be crushed . They are just thin steel that is formed to a sleeved/washer and made to stand proud of the plastic by just a few thousanths of an inch. There is enough room to just take the four bolts out of the fork brace with the tire on and remove them to inspect. Bouncy feeling would 'to me' indicate that there is not a whole lot of fork oil, or too thin a viscosity, and it is rebounding to quickly.
You didn't say in your post what type of suspension you have on this . Is it a stock air suspension or the progressive springs in the front and rear ? I can only assume you did check the wheel bearing when the tire was replaced. So we can rule that out as a cause. Different tires can cause issues along with air pressure. Did it do the same with the old tire ?
Anyway do yourself a favor and check the inserts first, not only will they render the fork brace to have issues 'but' they will start to crack the fender around the four holes that the inserts set in. Because if crushed the force is now bearing down onto the plastic. And that will cost a lot more than the inserts. It could be your tire also as many have stated before, hope this is not the case as you have just purchased this IRC tire, If a larger load tire is what you want, the AVON Cobra tire is also a load rating of 74.
Hope this helps you out Gene Kap.

http://www.amervoyassoc.org/forum/viewt ... ext#p58336" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ekap1200]

Here is another tip to those strange ( sensitive handling ) issues.
As you all must know by now the right side frame is bolted on . I have found some with the bolts darn near 3 turns loose on the top fasteners. No way of knowing for sure until you remove the plastic and the air/dam at the valve cover.
Good time to do the cruise control cable adj at that time also. Gene K.

[ghostler]

Interesting discussion, good wealth of knowledge here. I'd think that increasing tire pressure to maximum stated on tire label might help with a spongy tire. I run my Pirelli MT66 Route at full stated pressure and it has a stiff sidewall, no tracking problems here. At full pressure, speedometer tracks accurately when compared with GPS. Perhaps handling might improve if problem front tire pressure was increased similarly?

Advice mentioned here helps, know now that there are some caveats to certain tires. Lately Cheng Shins have only been available in dirt bike models, but there are other newer off brands that have appeared.

The rural New Mexico and Texas Panhandle roads have been the ultimate front end test. My progressive springs provide much smoother front end handling over bumps and marginal road paving. Cost was definitely worth the upgrade. Hard to believe these springs need no air pressure.

[ghostler]

I replaced my front tire with a IRC. It has a weight cap code of 74, which is heavier then my old dunlop 404. My problem is that the bike is super touchy. Sometimes the front seems to be almost bouncy. Any ideas? I'm getting somewhat use to the handling. My front forks need the oil changed, I'll get to that this winter. ohiojack

Now that I got 500 miles under my belt, the new fork progressive springs have eliminated the wheel hop over patched rough pavement stretches and dive during hard braking, front end height has been restored. Improvement in performance is unbelievable, this is a definite worthy upgrade. (Note, this is with the Pirelli MT66 Route tire.)

Have you inflated your IRC front tire to its maximum stated on tire casing to see if that helps? Set fork air pressure to maximum allowable? New oil replacing 14 YO black ooze restored hydraulic action to factory, helped prior to the progressive springs.

[forestfarm]

I notice the "uneasy feeling" on my front end as well.Whenever riding over a small object such as a rock on the road or acorn or tar snake,the front end will really get your attention in a hurry.My tire is good,inflation good,just changed out the fork oil with the correct amount.It has the progressive springs up front .The old stuff looked like dark amber maple syrup.Its a little better but I will definitely pull off the fairing and check out the torque on the hidden frame fasteners.I plan on buying the superbrace over the long cold new Hampshire winter.

[cushman eagle]

I notice the "uneasy feeling" on my front end as well.Whenever riding over a small object such as a rock on the road or acorn or tar snake,the front end will really get your attention in a hurry.My tire is good,inflation good,just changed out the fork oil with the correct amount.It has the progressive springs up front .The old stuff looked like dark amber maple syrup.Its a little better but I will definitely pull off the fairing and check out the torque on the hidden frame fasteners.I plan on buying the superbrace over the long cold new Hampshire winter.

Have you checked the steering head bearing torque?It should be 95 inch pounds.That can make a big difference in the handling as well.

[roadkingrich]

I just changed tires and have a kenda up front. I put a bridgestone on the rear. I wish I'd have only changed the rear because now the bike feels like I'm riding on tar snakes all the time. All bearings and frame bolts are good and before the tire swap the bike rode perfect. Don't remember what used to be on it.
Last summer I pulled the end of the trailer hitch off and found the bike rode squirly. Not sure how that could make a difference, but once I reinstalled it the bike rode fine again. It kinda rides that way again now and I can't figure out for sure what I've done wrong. What is back there to stabilize the rear end if no trailer hitch is there? I've taken the front wheel off 3 times and the back wheel twice. New bearings in the front. I hate to buy a front tire to guess if that's it but after this weekend that may be exactly what I do. Tire pressures are at the top limits and I've also tried lower pressure. Everything and I do and I mean everything appears to be correct but it kinda freaks me out to ride it. It will not ride straight for anything. Any ideas?

[the2knights]

This my opinion only, but I would think it is front tire at this point. Of course all motorcycle are sensitive to changes on the front end, but out of all the touring motorcycles I have ridden the XII has to be the most front sensitive I have ever had. The change you experienced the 1st time could have been just as simple as yanking about 5 pounds off the back of the bike and amplifying what ever issues could be going on with the Kenda front tire.
A lot of riders here prefer the Dunlop E-3. I used to have them as well.
I went darkside a couple of years ago and hated the way the front end felt. Have switched to the Commander 2 by Michelin. I have been very satisfied with that tire, and for those still using motorcycle tire on the rear it works well on that end of the bike as well!

[ghostler]

Had Kenda Challenger tires on both front and back of my old 1987 Suzuki LS650 Savage. Tires were okay under dry conditions, very spooky under wet conditions. Rode it on limestone paved roads that are very slippery when wet; during rain I could scratch in 2nd gear with that lower powered bike (33 HP). Tires were squirrelly on wet non-limestone asphalt roads, too. Tires have extra hard rubber, which wear great but don't have much traction. Pirelli MT66 Route tires made a huge difference there, also had good success with my 2001 XII. I'll never ever use another Kenda tire unless I'm without other choices.

I suspect the issue may be related to the Kenda front tire, IMO.

[roadkingrich]

I get the feeling I may have got what I paid for and shouldn't have skimped on tires. Still don't knowe for sure but I'm getting a good idea. Hopefully I can tear into it tomorrow.

[823JIM]

I have Kenda Kruz tires front and rear, I am not noticing any real handling problems. The bike tracks straight and does not wiggle around at highway speeds. May be a little twitchy on tar strips, but would not call the unusual. Have not rode in any heavy rain yet, but lite rain and mildly wet roads don't seem bad.
Never really rode bike with any other tire, had wore out Dunlops on it when I bought it last fall. Rode fewer than 60 miles on them, so I do not have any thing to compare to.
I bought the Kenda Kruz based on review on line. Have around 1600 miles on them. Time will tell if I continue to be happy with my choice.
Had a 500 Kawasaki triple that was squirrely as H and it wound up being to large of a rear tire, dropped one size and it all calmed down.

[forestfarm]

Installed the superbrace and finally had a chance to ride the bike.Front end feels more stable.Didnt ride two up but riding alone the bike feels great.The paved road i live on is bumpy as hell due to too many half assed attempts at patching the asphalt.My Harley roadking handles the bumps just fine but the voyager still feels like a bucket of bolts.It doesnt seem to have any real damping in the forks.I did change out the fork oil and it has the progressive springs .I would like to know who on this forum is making the beefy fender washers for sale? When installing my superbrace i found that one of the washers was missing.Only three were intact,painted into the fender.The bike had been repainted years ago by the P.O.I just put a heavy washer there for the time being until I locate a source of the heavy washers.I could make them myself at work but sometimes its easier just to have them appear in my mailbox.

[Mr Jensee]

Ohiojack, if the tire has a ribbed tread pattern, that can also lead to a squirrelly feel on some road surfaces, particularly on metal grid bridges. the E3 Dunlop has none. Just a thought.