Got one for you, vibration coming from rear foot peg. Help

Hello all you smart people out there I have a 1980 xj 650 I have driven it 4200 miles this year and I am now noticing a vibration coming from rear foot pegs. The only time I feel it is if I put my feet on the rear pegs. It vibrates so bad it feels like I have an engraver on the bottom of my foot. It is so bad cannot keep my feet on there. I do not normally have a passenger so I never here them complain. I now am lost and have no clue what it could be. Anyone have any ideas.

 

How is the rear tire? Do you need a new one? Also is the tire balenced. There is a post somewhere about how to balence the rear tire.

 

Possibly the rear tire has gone out of alignment and is rubbing on the swingarm?

 

I'd lay a wrench on every Nut and Bolt holding-on the rear suspension.
Make sure somethings not loose.

Then, I'd evaluate the Shocks.
You don't think the Rear Shocks were made with some incredible scientific breakthrough that time cannot affect? Right?

You might just need New Shocks!
Maybe the ones you got need a wake-up.
Lube the Damper Arms with some Fork Oil or Brake Fluid.
Not alot.
Don't make a mess of things ... but, see if a bit of lube gets them moving.

 

Check the drive shaft universal joint, it may be going bad. I have havd them fail before and the symptoms sound familiar.

 

Aren't the mufflers mounted to the same large cast brackets as the passenger pegs on that bike? If so, I'd have a look at the exhaust system too, especially if it's a stock system as there are some rather large components underneath that could be loose...

 

Thanks everyone I will check out those things. But to answer what I can the rear tire is new (4120 miles on it) it could be out of balance due to wear. But I do not burn my tires so wear is minimal .I am wondering if it could be just road noise. I can put bike on center stand and put it in gear and move rear tire I do not notice the normal ujoint slap. It seems solid but could it be dry and if so can you grease that. (like regular automotive u joints)

 

Just keep your feet off the rear pegs - they're not there for you!

Sorry, it's late so I'm in smarta$$ mode. I hope the others get you fixed up.

Don't tell, but I occasionally use the rear pegs as well. Just make sure if your boots have laces, they can't get hung up back there.

 

Another thought is wheel bearings...