2008 Sportster with a laced 21" front wheel, noticed a vibration between 50-60mph. Vibration happens when I let off the throttle, and lightly loosen my grip on the handlebars. Front wheel out of balance? Kinda freaked me out....thoughts?

 

sounds like a wheel out of balance. 60mph is when wheel imbalance should be most prevelant...

 

Put Dyna Beads in the front and rear tire and you can do away with wheel weights.

 

Talked to two dealerships today about this issue. One told me that the front wheel vibration is found at lower speeds 30-40mph, and that the higher speed vibration I described sounded like the rear wheel. The second dealer said I should be running 40psi on the front, and 36psi at the rear, to try more air in the front and see what happens. The only thing I've changed on the bike was adding the 21" laced wheel up front. Read a lot of posts on this today, people talked about cupped tires etc. and of course the use of Dynabeads. Front tire only has around 400 miles on it, ran my hand over it in both directions, no cupping. What's the deal? Who do I believe? Is there any truth to any of this. My gut tells me that it's the front wheel, could need truing and a balance.

 

Why not take it in and get it balanced? Then go from there if it was not balanced properly or it does not take the vibration out...

 

I was a front end mechanic for years when I was in highschool... If the vibration is heavy at 60mph then its a wheel balance issue. 55-60mph is the vibration sweet spot for a tire. If you have any balance issues you will find it at that speed. I would start with your gut instinct because it doesnt matter what tire it is... if your out of balance your going to notice it at those transition speeds.