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Wheel tenderness
Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2011 11:52 pm
by brico
I am new to BMW Rockster and BMW's unique suspension. My Metzeler RoadTec tires are inflated to 32PSI front and 36 PSI Rear, both 50% worn out with a reasonable grove left in each tire. Rear tire is somewhat more "flatttened/worn out" in the centre but still Ok to ride. What i have noticed is that when I am passing on some uneven road surfaces which are parallel with the direction of travel I feel a noticeable shake/feedback in my handlebars that i did not use to feel on my previous bike which was Aprilia Shiver, a naked street bike with usual sport bike suspension. I have my suspension set at medium setting. Is this normal for BMW? It feels as if my tires are overinflated and as if the ground is slipping under the tires?? This is at 50-60 kmh/ 30-40 mph speed during normal commute. is this ormal afer switching to BMW suspension?
Re: Wheel tenderness
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 1:46 pm
by riceburner
brico wrote:I am new to BMW Rockster and BMW's unique suspension. My Metzeler RoadTec tires are inflated to 32PSI front and 36 PSI Rear, both 50% worn out with a reasonable grove left in each tire. Rear tire is somewhat more "flatttened/worn out" in the centre but still Ok to ride. What i have noticed is that when I am passing on some uneven road surfaces which are parallel with the direction of travel I feel a noticeable shake/feedback in my handlebars that i did not use to feel on my previous bike which was Aprilia Shiver, a naked street bike with usual sport bike suspension. I have my suspension set at medium setting. Is this normal for BMW? It feels as if my tires are overinflated and as if the ground is slipping under the tires?? This is at 50-60 kmh/ 30-40 mph speed during normal commute. is this ormal afer switching to BMW suspension?
I'd say this was normal for having low tyre pressures..
Metz recommend 36 front, 42 rear for the BMWs.
The suspension works fine, but it does take a little getting used to - especially if the Shiver is a softly sprung bike (I've not ridden one).
Re: Wheel tenderness
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2011 4:03 pm
by omg1010
I would say that is normal. It all depends on the made of the tires and the size. Common sense say that the thicker the tires (180 as opposed to for example a 160 tire) the more the bike wants to follow and worn-out tracks in the road. Get yourself a new set or change the manufacturer ...
Brgxs
Oliver
Re: Wheel tenderness
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 6:30 am
by grwrockster
I've tried a few different tyres on my rocksert and I ran metz Z6 recently. I think it's perhaps the tread pattern of the Metz Z6 - I noticed a tendency to 'track' grooves or the 'grain' of a section of tarmac laid so there were lines in it running roughly parallel to the direction of travel with the Z6 rear. Not badly, but just a bit more than other tyres I've run.
So, I don't think it's the bike, just a product of the tyre tread pattern. I found it to be just a vague sensation and something I adapted to and it didn't bother me. I dare say it might be a bit more noticeable when the tyre is starting to sqare off with use, and running it at a lower than recommended pressure might exaggerate the feeling too.
I'd definitely agree with RB - run them at the recommended 36/42. The tendency will be less and it'll handle better (probably improve tyre wear too). Although not the ultimate in grip, the wear was pretty good and I'd happily run Z6 on my rockster again (in fact I still have the front Z6 on - a bad puncture killed the rear when only half-worn, or it'd still be on there too).
I hope this helps.