The right side of my VFR750 front tire is worn waaay more than the left. I don't make a habit of doing clockwise circles, either. Is it possible that I subconsciously corner much harder when turning right?

It could be possible though I've never seen that problem with street riding. I think it is possible that people will be better at turning one way then the other, meaning they may not corner the same way when going one direction vs. the other. If this was the track, I'd say it's very possible. At daytona when they used both high banks, the left side of the tires wore out way faster because there were so many fast left handers. At willow springs, its the opposite since all the fast corners are right handers.

Also check the alignment of your rear wheel. This could affect how you turn the bike differently left vs right. Then again it could be the tire itself with a manufacturing problem, too but that seems pretty unlikely. Do you ride the same route to work everyday? Cross winds? Unevenly loaded saddlebags? I dunno. It's definitely weird.

The tire has 7K miles on it so not premature wear, but definitely heavier on the one side. I don't ride the same route constantly. I'm gonna say either manufacturing or that I corner harder when turning right. If I had to bet, I'd say a softer compound on the right side.

Throttler22

Thomas Kinzer - 03 October 2008 11:41 AM

Also check the alignment of your rear wheel. This could affect how you turn the bike differently left vs right. Then again it could be the tire itself with a manufacturing problem, too but that seems pretty unlikely. Do you ride the same route to work everyday? Cross winds? Unevenly loaded saddlebags? I dunno. It's definitely weird.

Assuming you haven't dropped the bike hard enough to bend the frame or the swing arm(s), I agree about the misaligned rear wheel. In cars, having the rear wheels out of alignment -- particularly when you have a solid rear axel -- the result is an unequal wheel base and a condition called "dog-tracking." Because the thrust angle (the direction the wheel or wheels are pushing the vehicle) is not aligned with the bike's centerline, it is trying to turn to one side all the time. If you didn't instinctively counter-steer, your bike would slowly turn in a circle. Or fall over.

Instead, you are constantly turning the front wheel just slightly to correct for the out-of-centre rear tyre. The result is, the bike is going down the road slightly sideways. The rear tyre is worn evenly because it is going straight, relative to its own centre line, if not that of the motorcycle. The front wheel, on the other hand, is constantly fighting this imbalance; thus, it is constantly "turning," even though you appear to be going straight down the road.

This can be difficult to detect while you're riding. One way of figuring this out, or at least strengthening your suspicions, is to have a riding buddy follow you. He aligns his bike with the centre of your bike -- visually keeping you "straight ahead" as he slowly comes up from behind. If he starts from some distance on the shoulder of the road, then finds himself coming up behind you as you ride closer to the centre line, you're probably dog-tracking.

Another method would be to put a long indicator, like a braising rod, that is mounted 90° to the handle bars. If you go on the road and the rod is pointing anywhere other than straight down the centre of the bike, you may have trouble.

If you suspect this is what's happening, have the shop check the rear wheel's alighment to the centre line of the bike. It may be off by a couple of degrees, which would cause the "dog-tracking" effect. This can be confirmed by locking both wheels "straight ahead," then very carefully measuring the wheel base on both sides. If it's unequal by a few millimeters, there's your problem.

Mind you, this is not anybody's fault. If you had your tyres changed, it's possible the mechanic didn't quite get the rear wheel square to the bike. Or if the chain/belt side axel nut wasn't properly tightened, the chain/belt
tensioner may have slowly pulled the axel out of alignment over the course of several thousand miles -- slowly enough that you didn't notice it happening.

The fix is easy enough; take the bike to the shop and have them check the rear axel and the handle bars for squareness to the centre line of the bike. Since you say you have over 7,000 miles on your present set, it's time for some new tyres, anyway.

Another, less likely thing to check for is how true the wheels are. If one of them is bent, that could also cause the tyres to wear unevenly. That would have to be done by a shop familiar with trueing wheels, and if one of yours is out of round or has a side-to-side bend or shimmy, you may have to replace one or both.

Hope I didn't worry you too badly.

Pax -- GW74 --

I do I have observed my tire wear over the years and I like left turns . I use the left side of the front tire more than the right. the "chicken strip" or the width of the unused edge of the tire tells the whole story. re check the tire pressures often and just ride on!

Mis-alignment would indeed cause a different wear, however most people are not aware that they turn harder/lean more to one side then another. If you are "right handed" you'll naturally be more comfy leaning left (hitting left, throwing left, shooting left etc) it's a natural body effect unless you practice

GreyWolf74 - 08 January 2009 11:38 PM

Thomas Kinzer - 03 October 2008 11:41 AM

Also check the alignment of your rear wheel. This could affect how you turn the bike differently left vs right. Then again it could be the tire itself with a manufacturing problem, too but that seems pretty unlikely. Do you ride the same route to work everyday? Cross winds? Unevenly loaded saddlebags? I dunno. It's definitely weird.

Assuming you haven't dropped the bike hard enough to bend the frame or the swing arm(s), I agree about the misaligned rear wheel. In cars, having the rear wheels out of alignment -- particularly when you have a solid rear axel -- the result is an unequal wheel base and a condition called "dog-tracking." Because the thrust angle (the direction the wheel or wheels are pushing the vehicle) is not aligned with the bike's centerline, it is trying to turn to one side all the time. If you didn't instinctively counter-steer, your bike would slowly turn in a circle. Or fall over.

Instead, you are constantly turning the front wheel just slightly to correct for the out-of-centre rear tyre. The result is, the bike is going down the road slightly sideways. The rear tyre is worn evenly because it is going straight, relative to its own centre line, if not that of the motorcycle. The front wheel, on the other hand, is constantly fighting this imbalance; thus, it is constantly "turning," even though you appear to be going straight down the road.

This can be difficult to detect while you're riding. One way of figuring this out, or at least strengthening your suspicions, is to have a riding buddy follow you. He aligns his bike with the centre of your bike -- visually keeping you "straight ahead" as he slowly comes up from behind. If he starts from some distance on the shoulder of the road, then finds himself coming up behind you as you ride closer to the centre line, you're probably dog-tracking.

Another method would be to put a long indicator, like a braising rod, that is mounted 90° to the handle bars. If you go on the road and the rod is pointing anywhere other than straight down the centre of the bike, you may have trouble.

If you suspect this is what's happening, have the shop check the rear wheel's alighment to the centre line of the bike. It may be off by a couple of degrees, which would cause the "dog-tracking" effect. This can be confirmed by locking both wheels "straight ahead," then very carefully measuring the wheel base on both sides. If it's unequal by a few millimeters, there's your problem.

Mind you, this is not anybody's fault. If you had your tyres changed, it's possible the mechanic didn't quite get the rear wheel square to the bike. Or if the chain/belt side axel nut wasn't properly tightened, the chain/belt
tensioner may have slowly pulled the axel out of alignment over the course of several thousand miles -- slowly enough that you didn't notice it happening.

The fix is easy enough; take the bike to the shop and have them check the rear axel and the handle bars for squareness to the centre line of the bike. Since you say you have over 7,000 miles on your present set, it's time for some new tyres, anyway.

Another, less likely thing to check for is how true the wheels are. If one of them is bent, that could also cause the tyres to wear unevenly. That would have to be done by a shop familiar with trueing wheels, and if one of yours is out of round or has a side-to-side bend or shimmy, you may have to replace one or both.

Hope I didn't worry you too badly.

Pax -- GW74 --

Another easy "applied" alignment test would be to have body position upright and neutral while riding and let go of the bars (maybe just cup the grips with very loose hands initially).

If the bike turns when you let go or you need to lean the bike to hold your line then you probably have an alignment problem.

Stupid question: is this one of the VFRs with the single-sided swingarm?

Yep, I think all the VFR750's have single sided swingarms, no? So that takes alignment out of it.

robertorolfo - 16 February 2009 07:07 AM

Yep, I think all the VFR750's have single sided swingarms, no? So that takes alignment out of it.

...or it means the problem is more than a simple adjustment might cure...