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I wanted to let everyone know of an expereience I recently had and what resolved it in case you have the same problem, or do in the future. I run an 2009 Can-Am Renegade 800-X for those that don't know. On that machine, I have ITP Terracross XDs. The quad has about 600 miles on it and the front end has never snagged a tree or anything.
Immediately after putting the new tires on it with ITP beadlock wheels, I noticed at 20-40 MPH, the front end would whobble like all get-out and going around a turn at that speed would really require you to hold on with both hands. Not a good feeling. Obviously, the first thought for me, as is for most, was tires that are out of round. So, I called ITP almost insistant that my front tires be replaced. After the sales manager I was speaking with talked with me for awhile and tried to convince me it wasn't the tires, he then consulted with their head engineer. Although the Engineer agreed that it was possible that they could have had a bad run and they may be out of round, he would want them in hand to do some tests, then cut them open to see if possibly some chords got laid in the wrong place, etc. This sounded very time consuming to me and I cannot do without my quad for what seemed to be like it would be weeks worth of research. They were helpful in that they were willing to work with me and send another pair to me in the interim so I would not have downtime, but asked that I try one thing first.
The Engineer said that they have seen on quite a few occassions at demo events they were doing, on different machines, and especially the Can-Ams, the exact same thing as I was describing. He said most times, it is a front-end alignment issue where the front wheels are towed out. This combined with a more agressive tire installed, makes that front tires try to get traction erratically, thus causing the handlebars to shake. So, he asked that I check my alignment and let them know.
Well, life happens so it was about 1 1/2 weeks before I could get back to them. In the meantime, they called me 3 times and emailed twice to see if the alignment fixed it and said the Engineers were eager to know what I found. Well, I finally got the time to check the alighnment, and it was indeed towed out. I aligned it and took it for a test run. By George, they were right. No shake and no shimmy in a straight line or around turns.
All along, I figured it was more of a game of trying to blame Can-Am other than their product, no offense ITP. In the end, it was a simple 5 minute alignment that resolved my delimma.
Buster
Immediately after putting the new tires on it with ITP beadlock wheels, I noticed at 20-40 MPH, the front end would whobble like all get-out and going around a turn at that speed would really require you to hold on with both hands. Not a good feeling. Obviously, the first thought for me, as is for most, was tires that are out of round. So, I called ITP almost insistant that my front tires be replaced. After the sales manager I was speaking with talked with me for awhile and tried to convince me it wasn't the tires, he then consulted with their head engineer. Although the Engineer agreed that it was possible that they could have had a bad run and they may be out of round, he would want them in hand to do some tests, then cut them open to see if possibly some chords got laid in the wrong place, etc. This sounded very time consuming to me and I cannot do without my quad for what seemed to be like it would be weeks worth of research. They were helpful in that they were willing to work with me and send another pair to me in the interim so I would not have downtime, but asked that I try one thing first.
The Engineer said that they have seen on quite a few occassions at demo events they were doing, on different machines, and especially the Can-Ams, the exact same thing as I was describing. He said most times, it is a front-end alignment issue where the front wheels are towed out. This combined with a more agressive tire installed, makes that front tires try to get traction erratically, thus causing the handlebars to shake. So, he asked that I check my alignment and let them know.
Well, life happens so it was about 1 1/2 weeks before I could get back to them. In the meantime, they called me 3 times and emailed twice to see if the alignment fixed it and said the Engineers were eager to know what I found. Well, I finally got the time to check the alighnment, and it was indeed towed out. I aligned it and took it for a test run. By George, they were right. No shake and no shimmy in a straight line or around turns.
All along, I figured it was more of a game of trying to blame Can-Am other than their product, no offense ITP. In the end, it was a simple 5 minute alignment that resolved my delimma.
Buster
