'Squirrely underfoot'

[Vermontster]

Can anyone give me some feedback on an experience I've had several times...

I've noticed that the bike sometimes feels like it's floating and 'greasy' underfoot after I've been riding for awhile. Maybe related to a road surface change or perhaps the tires?? We've had some re-surfacing happening around here on some of the roads I travel. I think/sense that I'm not moving the steering and am consistent with the throttle when I notice this happening. It feels like the bike is wanting to wander around, and its a bit unnerving.  I slow down but it still wants to squirrel around some. Anyone else experience this?

[Moedad]

Could be a few things, but at least one of them can be road surface. In my area there are very shallow "troughs" (for lack of a better word" in the asphalt from heavy traffic that aren't readily visible and riding in these can give you that floating feeling as you drift in and out over the borders of them (can't even say they have "edges" but you sure feel them). You only see them if the sun is at a really low angle like first thing in the morning or at sunset and then only if the sun is perpendicular to the road. Do you notice if it happens on the same road or in the same place on a particular road?

I'm assuming your air pressure in your tires is good and your wheels aren't ready to fall off.

[martian]

Step 1 is to check your tire pressure.  Improper tire inflation will cause this type of behavior.  Next check your axle nuts (front and rear) and make sure they are tight.  Also do a visual on your front forks for misalignment or bends and check your rotor(s) for warpage.  On your rear wheel check for alignment in the swingarm and check to make sure one of your rear shocks isn't blown.

If you don't find anything with those checks let us know and we'll go from there.

EDIT:  One more thing.  How old are your tires?  If you still running the stockers from 198x then that is most likely your problem right there.  20+ year old rubber is hard as concrete and handles even worse.  Ask me how I know...

[Vermontster]

Thanks for these ideas... Tire pressure is steady 32 psi, and tires are new as of last fall. The non-visible road troughs could definitely be a culprit. I can certainly feel the bike respond to the visible ones. Maybe the new asphalt is 'troughing' due to high traffic but not showing up yet...? Axle nuts are solid.

Re: tires -  I can't find recommended tire pressure anywhere on the rubber. I've scanned with a flashlight, read every bit of lettering. Nothing! I'm at work and forget the name of the brand. What the...? 

[LOKi]

If your in the 30's then you should be OK. It might wear faster on the low side than the high side but not make it handle bad.

[Custom82Hawk]

i think the things he's describing are different from what you're describing martian.  if he's going any speed at all, i'd say 20+ mph, then it would go from feeling greasy to feeling like a bad shudder.  i could be wrong, but i've experienced those things, and they do make ya feel squirelly at low speeds, but once you hit that 15-20+ mph mark, they get even worse.