Squirming rear tyre
 

I crashed my 01 SVS last week (wet road, cold tyres, going too fast and braking too hard - completely my fault) and now the rear tyre squirms when braking or slowing down.

The crash cracked the exhaust, sheered the rear brake lever off and bent the right hand side bar end, as well as cracking the plastics. I've fitted a new rear brake lever, put the bar end back on with a new bolt, welded the exhaust and glued the plastics.

Every time I brake, front or rear or both, I can feel the rear tyre squirming and starting to step out. It makes the bike feel very unstable and it's actually making me scared to ride it. I've checked the pressures and they're fine, the rear brake's not sticking and now I'm out of ideas.

All I can think of now is maybe the swingarm bearings are shot but I'm not sure how to check that - I don't have a rear paddock stand or a mate to help me get the rear wheel off the ground.

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Re: Squirming rear tyre
 

has the wheel been knocked out of alignment? Have a peep from the rear along the line of the chain, if its out of alignment you can often see it with the naked eye.

A rear paddock stand is no good anyway, you need something to lift the bike without using the swing arm, something like an Abba stand, a trolley jack under the engine or a set of straps to lifet the bike from under the seat by a beam above.

Re: Squirming rear tyre
 

Good afternoon.

Assuming all was well before your flying lesson I would, as you say check the swinging arm/front & rear wheel bearings etc.

Also, if the tyre took a clump against a kerb say, it could be deformed inside, which could cause the squirming due to flex in the tyres carcass.


Cheers.

Re: Squirming rear tyre
 

Thanks for the quick replies!

The chain's nice and straight so it doesn't look like the alignment. It's tossing it down so I'll have to leave the bearings for tomorrow - will try and find a neighbour willing to hold the bike on the sidestand so i can get the rear wheel off the ground.

Re: Squirming rear tyre
 

Are we sure the problem is at the rear? I know it feels like the rear is stepping out but sometimes problems at the front are felt at the back. I'm wondering if there could be a twist in the forks that's effecting their movement and when you brake and transfer the weight forward that's when you notice it. Another thing to check is the front wheel spindle, just loosen it and turn it slowly. If it's bent you will see movement at the top of the front wheel.

Re: Squirming rear tyre
 

Right, had to wait until today before one of my neighbours was free to hold the bike off the ground. Rear wheel bearings are fine, swingarm bearings are fine, rear brakes not binding.

Is it possible to check the alignment of the forks without taking the entire fairing off? Otherwise that'll be my next step. I do remember feeling that I had to keep the bars turned slightly to the right to keep the bike going in a straight line when I was riding it home after the crash - front wheel could possibly be out of alignment.

I'm also aware that this may well be all in my head given it's post-crash.

Re: Squirming rear tyre
 

Could it be the weather?
Took mine out the other night for the 1st sunny day after loads of rain and it was all over the place. Thought i was imaging it but my mate on his gixxer said the same. So my therory was it could be greasy after all the crap weather

Re: Squirming rear tyre
 

I always found it to be the other way round, first wet day after lots of sunshine is when the roads are really slippery.

Re: Squirming rear tyre
 

it may be worth lossening the forks off and haveing a gander for a notch around the bottom yoke (slide forks down about 1/2 inch its easy) found one on mine agter i binned it and had simaler issues

Re: Squirming rear tyre
 

If you want to check to see if one of the legs is bent the easiest way is to loosen off the clamps on just one leg at a time so that you can turn it in the clamps. It should turn freely, if it doesn't, or when you do turn it you see movement down by the front wheel spindle, then you've problems. Just don't forget to push the leg back down to the right height (same as the other one) and tighten it up before you loosen the other one!