Front tire cupping

[easyrider]

Noticing a slight bit of cupping on my front tire left side of center.Is this due to more left turns or balancing or other ?Appreciate comments.

[Mel46]

That is usually because of improper tire pressure. Honda has a "recommended tire pressure" plate(sticker) on the bike on the left side under the glove box.

[gn2]

Could be camber of the road.
Try driving on the left side of the road for a few thousand miles and see if the right side of the tyre matches the left.

[easyrider]

Pressure checks are good. Thats an interesting thought on the road camber.

[Mel46]

This is what Google says about cupping on motorcycles and scooters:

When braking is applied to the front tire, the load transfer over-flexes the tire and increases the tendency for cupping and uneven wear. ... Under inflation and overloading of motorcycle tires are significant causes of cupping and uneven wear, particularly in association with hard braking ...

That says a lot.

[NADman]

If it's non directional-try turning it around.

[easyrider]

I believe it is rotational.The cupping is only on one side.If braking was the cause wouldnt the whole tire tread be cupping?I cant recall any real aggressive braking .Could it be defective tire??

[davenowherejones]

Really cheap suspension on the Forza. There is only one small clamp at the top of each fork. My clamps were not very tight.

I think the front suspension is adequate for 30 mph but not for 80 mph top speed of the Forza.

I bet most front wheels are also out of balance. I put Ride-On tire sealer/balancer in mine but I don't think it does much for the balance. Maybe a little.

My front CityGrip looks awful. Not a smooth wear pattern at all.

I also have a tire pressure monitor on my valve stems that reports via bluetooth to my iPhone. The temperature and pressure varies quite a bit during the day. The rear tire gets very hot since it is right next to the muffler.

I wonder if the right side of the Forza is the same weight as the left side. Muffler (heavy) on right side. Clutch and variator on the left is probably lighter. Both brake disks are also on the right with the muffler.

[springer1]

Dang !!! There's no bottom triple tree on that front end ???

[davenowherejones]

Dang !!! There's no bottom triple tree on that front end ???

None, you are right.

But it goes 80 mph!!!

[springer1]

Dang !!! There's no bottom triple tree on that front end ???

None, you are right.

But it goes 80 mph!!!

Well who am I to argue with Honda but ..... I guess it’s just another example how old I (and my assumptions about chassis design) are. Considering our litigation- prone society, I doubt they’d sell an unsafe design.

[easyrider]

I guess Ill ride out this tire until it gets too choppy to live with , then I ll replace it with another brand name and see if the condition is repeated.If so I will do a further look at the forks,balancing,.Could be just the design and weight distribution up front.

[gn2]

Dang !!! There's no bottom triple tree on that front end ???

Wrong way round, there isn't a top one.
The Silverwing FJS600 doesn't have one either.
Weighs around 40 kg more than a Forza and can easily maintain 90mph two-up with luggage.

[davenowherejones]

My front Michelin CityGrip has a fair bit of cupping. I have been running at the recommended tire pressure.

I am going to replace my worn out CityGrips with Mud and Snow Heidenau K66 scooter tires just for a silly expensive experiment.

I am also going to increase the tire pressure in the front to 29 psi which will also be the rear pressure.

ps Does the Forza show 1xx,xxx after 99,999 km or does it go back to zero?