Rut loving front end

[wence]

I had bike and suspension all sorted until I put on a different tyre to normal.
The bike is now unstable in the front end and follows ruts badly(never used to).
Would this be tyres or do you think I have stuffed up something in the front end when changing tyres.
I did the usual , tighten 1 bolt to hold the axle , pump the forks and then tighten the rest..
I am in all sorts as the bike instills no confidence in the front end whatsoever when it used to be a missile.
HELP???
Cheers Mark.

 

[Nick]

The tire is the answer.

 

[wence]

The tire is the answer.

That was what I was thinking , such a shame as others use the same tyre on 450's and can't believe how well it sticks.
Oh well back to what I know.
Cheers Mark

 

[mountain thumper]

howd you change the tire? i mean rim wise, i dont know about seeking ruts, but ive seen people do things like stand on the tire to get it on the rim, and in doing so, bend the heck out of the wheel. ive had a couple of rock dented rims, and they make for a bad riding experience, really really wobbley!

 

[wence]

howd you change the tire? i mean rim wise, i dont know about seeking ruts, but ive seen people do things like stand on the tire to get it on the rim, and in doing so, bend the heck out of the wheel. ive had a couple of rock dented rims, and they make for a bad riding experience, really really wobbley!

I did kneel on the tyre to get it in whilst using levers but the wheel itself is no more wobbly than before.It just seems to get caught in ruts more than it did with the other tyre on it, ie. suspension seemed to soak up ruts before but now bike tends to find and stay in them.
Cheers Mark.

 

[Nick]

The answer lay in the fact that you only changed one piece of the puzzle and it changed the whole program.

 

[GMP]

Yes, go look where you've been last.

 

[wence]

Yes, go look where you've been last.

I will but I was hoping you guys would say something else like forks not aligned or similar?
Back to the tyres I can trust I guess.
Cheers for the help guys,
Mark

 

[skid jackson]

don't leave us hanging ...

What t t t t tyre, damn that was hard, gave you the trouble??
What tire is the old fall back

 

[cbutler]

don't leave us hanging ...

What t t t t tyre, damn that was hard, gave you the trouble??
What tire is the old fall back

That's funny I don't care who you are.I was starting to think that was how you spelled tyre tire sorry couldn't help myself.

I was wondering about what t re it was to

 

[wence]

That's funny I don't care who you are.I was starting to think that was how you spelled tyre tire sorry couldn't help myself.

I was wondering about what t re it was to

Well I was using Michelin enuro comp 3 and 4 for front and back and have now tried Trelleborg Maxi grip on the front and Super enduro on the back.
I think the tyre(tire) is a good tyre but for some reason does not suit my bike.
As I said my mates run the same tyre and say they feel like they are cheating as there is so much grip and positive feel.
Maybe it is just the tyre is too grippy for the already good gg front end.
I will give a less grippy tyre a go from them and if that doesn't work I will go back to the Michelins.
Cheers guys, sorry to leave you in suspense.
Mark.

 

[iancp5]

In my opinion the Michelins are about the best all round enduro tyre available. What were your mates using before?
I've never found anything as good all round. Some may last longer, some may grip slightly better on a particular surface but I think you'd be hard pressed to find anything significantly better. I've tried Trelleborg and didn't find them in the same class at all.

 

[wence]

In my opinion the Michelins are about the best all round enduro tyre available. What were your mates using before?
I've never found anything as good all round. Some may last longer, some may grip slightly better on a particular surface but I think you'd be hard pressed to find anything significantly better. I've tried Trelleborg and didn't find them in the same class at all.

I am tending to agree, did you find any weird front end issues when using them?
Cheers Mark

 

[iancp5]

I am tending to agree, did you find any weird front end issues when using them?
Cheers Mark

Just remember the bike seeming wrong at both ends. Less grip than I was used to so more wheel spin and more pushing of front. I can't remember specifics of ruts.

 

[wence]

Just remember the bike seeming wrong at both ends. Less grip than I was used to so more wheel spin and more pushing of front. I can't remember specifics of ruts.

Yes,
Sounds fairly similar.
Oh well if you don't try you'll never know I guess.
Back to what I can rely on.
Thanks for your help.
Mark

 

[Mad Mike]

I'm about to try the Dunlop D907F so i'll keep you posted on how that handles the SA conditions...

 

[wence]

I'm about to try the Dunlop D907F so i'll keep you posted on how that handles the SA conditions...

Cheers mate ,
I'll do the same if I can risk more injuries to detour from what I know.
As it is now..... 2 rides......2 very sprained thumbs and a broken clutch line.
Doh....

 

[Mad Mike]

Cheers mate ,
I'll do the same if I can risk more injuries to detour from what I know.
As it is now..... 2 rides......2 very sprained thumbs and a broken clutch line.
Doh....

Good stuff. Had a S12 on my 450 which was good and a number of the lads reckon the comp 4 is a good street legal tyre for what we have here...
Let us know how you go at any rate.

 

[GasGasser]

I find it hard to believe the tire would be the problem. It seems more like your forks aren't aligned or that something is overtightened or simply done wrong. Otherwise the tire must be defect because I don't think it really matters that much what tire you use. I use both a Pirelli MT 32 on summers and a BF Goodrich spike tire on winters and i must say I don't feel much difference, other than the weight.