Front Wheel Shimmy

Bugsplat49 · Jan 30, 2012

My new to me 05 w/MT conversion had 11k miles when I purchased. Noticed on ride home it had a bad shimmy around 57mph. Front tire cupped bad so replaced with Pilot rear reversed on front. Had dealer service bike at same time. Added DynaBeads to all tires in hope it would solve problem. Seems to be not nearly as bad but it is still quite bothersome to me. It starts around 60mph and dissipates around 65 to 70 mph. Dealer could not find anything wrong. suggests I get rear tires checked for balance and roundness. He thinks it is transferring from a rear tire.

Anyone have a similar problem in the past? I ride my neighbors trike and it is as smooth as glass at those speeds.<br />
Any help will be appreciated.<img src="images/smilies/shrug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Shrug" class="inlineimg" />

Gorilla · Jan 30, 2012

Check the steering neck bearing for tightness. Needs to be tighter then a 2 wheeler.

Gold Rush · Jan 30, 2012

<div class="bbcode_container">
<div class="bbcode_quote">
<div class="quote_container">
<div class="bbcode_quote_container"></div>

<div class="bbcode_postedby">
<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Bugsplat49</strong>
<a href="showthread.php?p=96212#post96212" rel="nofollow"><img class="inlineimg" src="images/buttons/viewpost-right.png" alt="View Post" /></a>
</div>
<div class="message">My new to me 05 w/MT conversion had 11k miles when I purchased. Noticed on ride home it had a bad shimmy around 57mph. Front tire cupped bad so replaced with Pilot rear reversed on front. Had dealer service bike at same time. Added DynaBeads to all tires in hope it would solve problem. Seems to be not nearly as bad but it is still quite bothersome to me. It starts around 60mph and dissipates around 65 to 70 mph. Dealer could not find anything wrong. suggests I get rear tires checked for balance and roundness. He thinks it is transferring from a rear tire.

Anyone have a similar problem in the past? I ride my neighbors trike and it is as smooth as glass at those speeds.<br />
Any help will be appreciated.<img src="images/smilies/shrug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Shrug" class="inlineimg" /></div>

</div>
</div>
</div>I think your dealer is on the right track. Steering head bearings usually manifest as head shake in the vicinity of 40 mph. My MT also has some shimmy or vibration about the speed yours does. After I lubed the U-Joints the other day I ran the bike with the rear wheels off the ground. I did notice a little rear wheel hop and that just might be the problem.

Woolie · Jan 30, 2012

most front end shake problems are at low speed, it could be a balance problem.

Marty · Jan 30, 2012

do above checks and check rear wheel bearings as well as wheel alignment on rear, toe inshould be 0. and check rear axle to front steering shaft at center should be same side to side.

Bugsplat49 · Jan 31, 2012

Thanks to everyone for suggestions. Will have trike checked out again this weekend.

John Luciano · Jan 31, 2012

Front tire pressure. Should. Be. 41 rear around 20

Bugsplat49 · Feb 1, 2012

I am running with 42 psi front and 24psi rear.

Sarge · Feb 1, 2012

4.5 rake,Centramatic balancers, roller bearings in the neck and "full monty" traxxion fork overhaul did the trick for me. Except for the crown in the road it goes straight with no vibration or cupping of the tire. It's a little pricey to have it all done but if you do any kind of riding it is well worth the investment.

Bugsplat49 · Feb 1, 2012

Ouch !! I certainly hope I don't have to go through that expense to get rid of a shimmy in the front tire.<br />
<br />
Has anyone used 'Bar Snakes',' lead shot' or even 'BB's' in the handle bars with any success?

Gold Rush · Feb 1, 2012

Bugsplat49 said:
Ouch !! I certainly hope I don't have to go through that expense to get rid of a shimmy in the front tire.

Has anyone used 'Bar Snakes',' lead shot' or even 'BB's' in the handle bars with any success?

Ya Know, it just occurred to me. We know you have an '05 but I only guessed it to be a GL1800. If it is I don't think any or the weights you speak of will be usable. I'd be willing to bet you will end up finding the shimmy is caused by the drive train or rear wheels.

Keep us posted please.

skuuter · Feb 1, 2012

Gorilla said:
Check the steering neck bearing for tightness. Needs to be tighter then a 2 wheeler.

Definetly do this since You removed the cupped tire and it got "better".....ThumbUp

extreme10 · Feb 5, 2012

Have you thought of a seeley steering damper? They really do help where any steering problem arises.

Bugsplat49 · Feb 6, 2012

Anyone have a pic. of one? Installed would be best.

muskie · Feb 7, 2012

Check an see if the bottom bolts on your ladder bars are tight.

rayjulb1 · Feb 8, 2012

I have the exact problem with my trike. It has the MT conversion. Speeds below 55 there is no shimmy. Between 60 & 70 there is a noticeable shimmy. Smooths out above 70. Front tire has 6k miles on it with no apparent cupping. Put 2 oz. of ceramic beads in front tire and had tire balanced. Helped some but did not eliminate problem. Been told to put front tire on backwards or get bias ply tire. Haven't done this yet. Still looking for a solution.

Bugsplat49 · Feb 8, 2012

I have a new (Rear) pilot installed backwards on mine and it has the shimmy just as you described.

Montana Lee · Oct 2, 2019

my experiense with MT

Bugsplat49 said:
My new to me 05 w/MT conversion had 11k miles when I purchased. Noticed on ride home it had a bad shimmy around 57mph. Front tire cupped bad so replaced with Pilot rear reversed on front. Had dealer service bike at same time. Added DynaBeads to all tires in hope it would solve problem. Seems to be not nearly as bad but it is still quite bothersome to me. It starts around 60mph and dissipates around 65 to 70 mph. Dealer could not find anything wrong. suggests I get rear tires checked for balance and roundness. He thinks it is transferring from a rear tire.

Anyone have a similar problem in the past? I ride my neighbors trike and it is as smooth as glass at those speeds.<br />

Any help will be appreciated.<img src="images/smilies/shrug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Shrug" class="inlineimg" />

Years ago, I had a Motor Trike that did the same thing. After a month of changing tires, balancing to no affect, I finally found out that one wheel was seriously out of round. Once found MT sent me a new one free. It's easy enough to prove if it's round or not. After that was changed out the trike went another 100K with no problem .

Slider4434 · Jun 23, 2020

Front end shimmy

Bugsplat49 said:
I have a new (Rear) pilot installed backwards on mine and it has the shimmy just as you described.

Bugsplat49 said:
My new to me 05 w/MT conversion had 11k miles when I purchased. Noticed on ride home it had a bad shimmy around 57mph. Front tire cupped bad so replaced with Pilot rear reversed on front. Had dealer service bike at same time. Added DynaBeads to all tires in hope it would solve problem. Seems to be not nearly as bad but it is still quite bothersome to me. It starts around 60mph and dissipates around 65 to 70 mph. Dealer could not find anything wrong. suggests I get rear tires checked for balance and roundness. He thinks it is transferring from a rear tire.

Anyone have a similar problem in the past? I ride my neighbors trike and it is as smooth as glass at those speeds.<br />

Any help will be appreciated.<img src="images/smilies/shrug.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Shrug" class="inlineimg" />

I have a 2010 Tri Glide, never noticed a shimmy until I got it serviced, now at low speed I can get a shimmy, tire pressures were changed to normal pressure and shocks as well, I have heard 40 in the front and 20 in the rear is typical, I haven’t changed the pressure yet but I think I’m gonna

Slider4434 · Jun 23, 2020

Front end shimmy

I have a 2010 tri glide, never noticed a shimmy until I had it serviced and they changed tire pressure as well as shocks, now at low speeds it will shimmy at times but get some speed up and it goes away, I’ve heard 40 psi in front and 20 in rear is best for a trike, I’m going to drop the pressure in the rear first, my shocks are at 30 psi, it does make sence. As it would change the rake a degree or 2