Tyre choice?

[HxPaul]

Check the steering bearings.By the way,what make of scooter is it ?

[Scooterdude]

Yes ever since I've had it I've been constantly tightening and loosening the steering bearings, originally when I did the rebuild I used Scootopia bearings top and bottom not noticing how badly made they were, well after the first few rides it quickly became evident that the balls of the top race were skipping over the top of the seat as the seat was not cut properly, so then I put the old bearings back in which to fair are in very nice condition but no matter how tight I do them up they seem to loosen back off and the shaking sound can be heard again in the headlamp unit.... but no matter what I do the turning action always seems a bit stiff even when loosened off. I'm beginning to think the fork tube could be bent? It's a series 3 btw.

[HxPaul]

Scootopia are among the best you can buy.I suspect you may have fit them wrongly,have you got "The Complete Spanner's Manual" by Sticky.If not,its the best investment you could make.In the second edition of the manual,on page 224 it has all the instructions on how to fit the bearings.

[tonydevon]

I rode bikes and trikes for over 20 years before I got on my first Lambretta, was actually surprised that it was nothing like as bad as I had expected

R1 rear shock with correct spring helped it.

I loved the contitwist race that I had on mine, yes on so the rear would need replacing quite quick, but I didnt see the issue with £35 odd quid when I have had to replace £200-£300 rear tyres in about the same mileage on sports bikes and chops etc

[eden]

Ive done 3 back tyres this season already, 2 scoot smart which don't last as long as conti twist sport.

[tonydevon]

I seem to remember that my twist race were lasting about 500-600 miles on the road, roughly a month of commuting for work as I was using it, with some fun rides down to bude thrown in

I figured that yes a new back tyre every pay day was a bit odd, but then I have had to replace bike back tyres in less LOL, but the grip that they gave in wet or dry, that was worth every single last penny, buy a few at once to save carriage etc and job done

[Chris in Margate]

Have you checked the engine mountings? When they are worn you get a very "skittish" back end.

[Scooterdude]

Yes fitted new BGM mounts a week or so ago, made no difference to the handling problem apart from making the scooter rideable in respect of vibrations.
I've ordered some more steering bearings top and bottom from another supplier this morning, if they make no difference I will have to whip out the forks and mount them in a lath and check for run out with a dial gauge, then if they are bent I may get a set of those scamardi forks I've seen......on the other hand if they are streight I'm not sure what to do next??

[Burnside]

You've checked the obvious things like no play (or very little) in your rear hub? You should be able to take both hands of your handlebars and the scooter still rides straight, if it pitches to one side then there's definitely something wrong somewhere!

[warts]

... and problems at the rear can make themselves felt at the front and vice versa.

Have you checked the alignment?