New Avon Front Tire rubbing fender when turning left.

[Nukeranger]

I was wondering if anyone else experienced this and has a solution?

I replaced my front tire after 10,000 miles and the new tire rests on the lower front fender on the right side when parked with the handle bars turned to the left. I first noticed this when backing up into the garage and turning the handle bars to the left when I heard the rub and it became hard to backup like applying a small amount (I mean very small amount) of brake. Enough rub that I straightened the front wheel out for free easy rolling and the backed up again.

I noticed the clearance is very close between the fender and tire. I have considered riding and letting the tire wear fix the problem on it's own. First time, it generated some heat on the fender but I adjust the fender and still get a rub but no heat. I know the tire rub is on the outside right side of the tire. I think this also happened about 7500 miles ago on the original tire but it wasn't enough to bother me. Pulling the lower fender outward to the right helps.

It does not rub when riding and if it rubs in a left turn I have not noticed it.

Huw

 

[woodbutcher]

might be able to get some clearance by loosening and readjusting the fender at the mount. there is not much wiggle room but maybe enough.

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Do you have more room on the other side? Can you put a few small washers on the opposite side between the fender and the bracket to pull it out more on the side thats rubbing? Shift the fender a bit?

You could try albeit carefully to pull that side of the fender out. It is steel it should bend slightly.

 

[Nukeranger]

Eric,

I can't do anything with washers as you can see by the picture below. Is your Ridgeback fender mounted different?

But, thanks

Huw

 

[Nukeranger]

I have tried for the third time to move the fender to the optimal position and still have a little rub. I am glad I did look closer because I found the left side fender chrome socket bolts touching the tire taking some rubber off. So, I took all four socket bolts out and ground them down so they don't stick out of the fender into the tire area at all. I want to say I took off about 1/8 of an inch.

 

[Nukeranger]

I tried varying the tire pressure between 40 and 44 psi with no difference so I left it at 42 psi. I am wondering if this new Avon isn't just slightly wider! The fender has always been bad ass close. And, I think it touched a bit when at 2500 miles.

 

[Jwooky]

Are the forks "racked" a little bit perhaps?

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Eric,

I can't do anything with washers as you can see by the picture below. Is your Ridgeback fender mounted different?

But, thanks

Huw

Are you saying you can't do anything because it's so close on the other side? Why can't you put a washer/shim between the fender and the bracket?

For example lets say your tire is rubbing on the left side of the bike. If you put 1/8" washers/shim on the right side it will shift the fender 1/8" to the left on the side that is rubbing.

 

[Nukeranger]

I see what you are saying Eric. I'll go try it out.

 

[bruce]

Ok maybe i am not reading something right, but your tire should not rub. did you check your wheel bearings, are the spacer on front wheel the same on both sides. the spares on my K9 are the same - but i do not no on yours, if they are different maybe you have them on wrong side. is the tire mounted the correct way - I am pretty sure they are a directional tire ( which means it can only be installed one way to be correct - I no the rear is, I just mount one on my bike.

 

[Nukeranger]

So, here is what I have learned:

Putting a spacer on the right will only squeeze the fender and make it worse. So, I have adjusted the fender to get minimal rub with the handle bars turned to the right. On a hunch, I measured the front tire width and found that it was 96.5 mm wide vice 90 mm. So, Avon may have provided the extra width which doesn't help me. But that extra width will be gone in a few months of riding and big left turns. That 6.5 mm is about 1/8 inch on each side.

The spacers are right, the wheel bearings are fine but I'll probably change them next time, and the wheel is rotating in the right direction. The tire actually rubs on both sides so aligning the fender was a 4 time attempt to get minimal rub.

Curtk and I are riding tomorrow. So, I'll measure his tire.

Huw

PS Dam British Tire manufactures. And, I can say that because I was born in England.

 

[boomer4444]

i have the same problem, i thought it was from leaning against a cabinet all winter, i had a sheet over bike and parked it in corner and turned front wheel to hide it from kids- wife- neighbors-drunks etc ,some how a cabinet got slid in the garage into the bike, guesing i had stumbleitis after a long night and cabinet was better than bike or concrete and must have slid into fende?,is it possable to bend back out?

 

[Brew]

Well, all I can say is I'm using Metzelers and don't have that issue on the front. But seeing as how you have a 330 azz, I guess that won't help!

 

[Nukeranger]

Well, I have discovered my mistake. I apparently wasn't paying attention when I ordered the tire a few months back which was a 90/90-21-54H. The right tire is MH90-21-54H which is 80 mm wide vice 90 mm.

I least I learn something new every day! So, I ordered another tire to put on before the summer. It is a Cobra and comes next monday. I'll keep the other as a spare because it does work and will be good in a pinch.

Huw

 

[Brew]

I would be leary about keeping that tire as a back-up, that fender could get one good snag and you'll be doing loop de loops. Just keep that in mind...

 

[Nukeranger]

Rob,

Yeah, you're right. I'll probably label it "Yeah, Knucklehead this is the wrong tire for the Dog". It takes less than a week to get a new tire and mount it. So, it probably won't go back on the bike. Also, I still have the original tire that has tread life left but the born on date was 6 years ago. At least I have four options if I want to ride and find a flat: Fix it, Put the old tire on, put the 90mm wide tire on, or don't ride.

Huw

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Rob,

Yeah, you're right. I'll probably label it "Yeah, Knucklehead this is the wrong tire for the Dog". It takes less than a week to get a new tire and mount it. So, it probably won't go back on the bike. Also, I still have the original tire that has tread life left but the born on date was 6 years ago. At least I have four options if I want to ride and find a flat: Fix it, Put the old tire on, put the 90mm wide tire on, or don't ride.

Huw

Could always ride without a front fender - Old skool look

 

[Nukeranger]

Nice,

5 options.

Thanks Eric

 

[ground pounder]

Huw you could probably tweek your forks to line the tire up with the same gap on front and back of fender. Just loosen the fork brace and pinch screws on the triple trees. hold the front tire between your knees and turn you handle bars the way you need to straighten the gap up. when set tighten the bolts and you should be good to go. Hope this helps! Good Luck !

 

[Nukeranger]

Yep,

I have my fender tweaked just right so there is no rub when straight and only a slight rub when turning left.

Thanks,

Huw