new Michelin PA had handlebar buzz

Feb 3, 2009
61
0
SW Iowa
I had a new Michelin PA installed by local Honda shop and now have a very annoying handlebar buzz from 20-35 mph. Anyone ever have this problem? How did you fix it? Did they get balance wrong? Used external weights. A bad tire? What caused it to do that? I am going back to installing dealer and see what they say. Hopefully they may take it off and rebalance. What do I try next? bigred.
 
Usually, if something is balanced poorly, the vibration will just keep getting worse as you go up in speed. Vibrating at a specific speed only, is a resonance. When you have them check wheel balance, you may want to check bearings also. Make sure brake isnt rubbing too.
 
Usually, if something is balanced poorly, the vibration will just keep getting worse as you go up in speed. Vibrating at a specific speed only, is a resonance. When you have them check wheel balance, you may want to check bearings also. Make sure brake isnt rubbing too.

i have the the same buzz that is getting more pronounced as the tire is wearing. Tire has 10,000 miles. Tire was rebalanced and it is still there. Going to try something different next time.
 
I have the exact same Buzz. Started when the Michelin was installed. I have installed and reinstalled the axle 3 times, had new bearings installed and I replaced the front brakes. Nothing has helped. I have approximately 1000 miles on the tire and it seems to be getting worse. I have checked for any cupping of the tire and it is smooth. I am also using Centramatic balancers. At highway speeds it is perfect. I am now starting to just feel a tiny bit of buzz in the handle bars. Tire ? Maybe. I've just about run out of ideas!
 
I have the same buzz with the reverse mounted MPA I'm using, I'm figuring its the nature of the beast.
 
I have experienced the same buzz with the MPA but it seems to be getting better as the tire wears. I had it on the 1500 also. Thinking it is something to do with tire design.
 
Yep, me too.. I have the same buzz with the Michelin PA. I had it put on just prior to triking and had the buzz from the start. Hasn't changed with being triked. Figure I just have to live with it as I cannot afford to have a different tire put on or have it switched. I think I will try the Bridgestone next time, just to see the difference.
 
I had the same buzz with two MPA's, one running forward and one running in reverse direction. The buzz was at all speeds (where I could feel it) above 40 mph. That's why I now run BT-45 in forward rotation.
 
I have had two Michelin's installed (mounted in the proper tire rotation direction for safety reasons) and never had the problem. However, I have seen where the installer did not get the tire bead properly seated and caused a slight vibration. Had to return to the installer and have him dismount and remount and the problem went away. Check it out and good luck.
 
Mine did the same thing. Eventually I got lucky and it cupped and it was replaced with a BT45 Bridgestone. Some people are more sensitive to the buzz and some roads make the buzz worse than others. I just found it totally annoying considering how smooth the wing is.
 
I had the same buzz with the Mich. PA, last tire went to the Bridgestone BT45 mounted in reverse and do not have the buzz with it. Actually like the ride and handling of the Bridgestone over the Mich. --- just sayin
Ride safe and ride often.
 
I had a new Michelin PA installed by local Honda shop and now have a very annoying handlebar buzz from 20-35 mph. Anyone ever have this problem? How did you fix it? Did they get balance wrong? Used external weights. A bad tire? What caused it to do that? I am going back to installing dealer and see what they say. Hopefully they may take it off and rebalance. What do I try next? bigred.
The MPA has an aggressive tread design, the buzz is the nature of the beast according to most all pro-installers I've talked to. Just roll your bike/trike slow on a smooth surface & you will "feel" the tread on the front tire. Big advantage of the tire is miles, biggest disadvantage is buzz from aggressive tread usually from 10 > 35 mph. I'm new here but that's my 2c from my research. BTW, my trike has the same issue. :Dorag:
 
Installed a MPA on my trike 2010 CSC Cobra XL and it rode harder than a rock. Had Traxxion fork springs 1.2 in the forks with 15 wt oil per Traxxion rcommendation. Way too hard. Took off the front forks and installed Progressive springs with 7 wt fork oil and installed a Brigestone BT45 and what a difference. Smooth. I have centramatic balancers on the wheel so no need to have it balanced. Like the stone much better. Smooth and no buzz. These trikes sure get expensive to change things. I hope I live long enough to get everything changed to my anal satisfaction.




 
I know I have bad hearing, but after reading these posts about a 'buzz' the MPA produces, I guess my hearing is worse then I thought, lol. :AGGHH::laugh:

I have the MPA mounted in reverse and I never noticed any buzz nor vibration in the handle bars. Maybe I'm just lucky (or deaf). ;) How-ever due to all of these observations, the next time I have to replace the front, I'll also go with the BT-45.
 
It doesn't take much out of roundness or radial runout to feel vibration. You may have a tire that is out of specks in that regard. I had a car once that had to have its tires trued everytime they were replaced to fix that and I suspect it had a rim out of round.
 

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