Problem with front BT020

I'm having a little problem with my latest set of Bridgestone BT020's (my second set).

While riding over portions of Hwy 85 here in Silicon Valley, the front end goes into headshakes when I
hit the rain-grooved tarmac.

My first set of BT020 tires never had this problem.
I've checked my tire pressure numerous times and
the tread looks fine, with no cupping so far.

Has anyone else had similar problems?

 

!Re: Problem with front BT020

I had bt020's on my 00vfr and rain grooved roads made the front end pretty wobbley also,I had a st1100 with new Dunlop 205's everytime I got in the draft of a semi or even a smaller truck the front end would do the wobble, turned out the tire had separated belts in it!

 

SEPARATED BELTS!?!?!

I'm heading over to the shop that installed them and bring this subject up.

Perhaps Bridgestone would pro-rate the front tire?

Thanks a million!

-Jason-

 

Check your steering head bearings. They may just need to be snugged up. Or worse.

Perhaps they need removed/inspected/replaced.

If so, plenty of folks have praised the tapered roller bearing style in the steering head as opposed to the OEM ball bearings. They do require a little different setup as far as tensioning the steering head, but are said to impart more stability to the machine and be far more durable than ball bearings.

Doubtful anything is wrong with the tire, but I'd take a look at it anyway, just to rule out anything freaky.

 

Oh, and the BT 020 has a tendency to track with rain grooves, pavement irregularities, etc due to the central rib on the tire. The BT 010 does not have this "feature" and is stickier to boot.

I contacted Bridgestone's M/C tire engineers myself and they said that running a BT 010 front and a BT 020 rear is acceptable.

 

A BT010/020 combination sounds like a sweet setup!
Thanks a million for the suggestion. ;D

 

I too have that problem on my 99. But it also felt like the shop had added a steering dampner with the tires. Have gone to Metzler Sporttech M1's and now have no more rain groove or dampner problems.