Ducati Monster Forum

I purchased a new front tire, but didn't notice before I took the wheel off how easily it turned.  Should it spin as freely as the Rear tire does.  Mine spins a little less.  I checked the bearings the they are good, and it seems that if have the wheel any looser I will have a bit of play between the spacers.  I don't why I didn't look at how it was before I took the tire off [bang]

Well a couple questions 1st.

What year?
And Calipers on or off?

If it's  an older Duc with the speedo drive - that makes for some drag

And if the calipers are on, then there's probably going to be a little drag for the pads too.

Are you talking about with or without the calipers installed?  Either way, as long as the axle is back in and everything is properly assembled and torqued, I think you'd be fine, as long as there is no serious binding .  FYI, that bit about pumping the forks a couple of times before tightening the pinch bolts is important to align everything.
Like I said, if it's not binding I wouldn't worry about it.  If the calipers ARE installed, there you go.  It's just the pads dragging.

I gotta learn to type faster.   [cheeky]

Calipers on, 2005 S2R.  I'll take the calipers off it it's still bothering me tonight.
Thanks for the help guys [thumbsup]

Don't worry, be happy.  Like I said "spinning less than rear wheel" is no problem.  Binding, scraping, or NOT spinning = problem.

With the calipers on, mine won't do more than a single rev, if that.  (Usually because I mess up and squeeze the brake when the calipers are off, and I have to screw with them to get them back on! :P)

I'm in the same boat as dlearl.  MY front won't go more than 1 time round if I spin it by hand and let it go when the calipers are on.  If it doesn't turn smoothly, like you feel a binding, grinding or crunch - then you have an issue.  If it turns smoothly, but you hear a bit of 'swwwwwsh' - that's cool it's just the pads skimming the rotor.

You're not saying that you loosened the front axle to try to "fix" it, are you?

If you are comparing the rate of spin to the back with the chain on, and it is stiffer with no binding then you have a problem.

No I took the wheel off to confirm that the bearings were not damaged.  I did not ride the bike with the front axle loose.  Thats what they mean in nascar when they say the front end is loose right? [laugh]

So both of your wheels spin at the same rate when your bike is raised?

No, the rear is restricted by having to also rotate the chain, whereas the front has only the friction of the bearing seals and hence spins much easier.