How do I know just how bitchin' my bike handles with the new suspension?

Let me tell ya'all, got 1500 miles on her with the set-up. Impressed right of the gate: I-90 where I live has these freakin' big ruts worn by rigs running studded tires in the winter time, would toss my bike all over, even with a steering damper. New suspension, barely notice the ruts. But here is the kicker: last Saturday went for a group ride, on the way home I start to notice a little bit of a wobble, but it was really windy, so hmmm. Next day, go with some friends, including one who just got a new BMW naked sport bike, and we tear up 300 miles of kick-*** twisty back roads.

The whole time I'm noticing this wobble, but I had to show the Beemer rider just what a Dyna is capable of ( they were impressed). By the time we get home, the wobble is so pronounced, that the other riders can see my bike moving around, but I can still keep it going down the road, barely. Turns out it was my rear wheel bearings, completely destroyed, and wasted the hub as well ( now I need a new wheel, probably 2 weeks to get one in). Anyways, I'm pretty sure with stock suspension, would have never made it, let alone been able to tear it up. Totally worth the time and money to upgrade your suspension, whether it be with Emulators, Ricors, cartridge inserts, etc. And those Sway-Away shocks are pretty damn good as well.

 

Yep best money I've spent on my bike was the front and rear suspension. It's unreal how much better the bike handles. I dunno if you are already running true track or sputhe but that made a big difference in the wobble as well. Obviously your shot bearings were the main cause of your wobble, but I'm a believer in the stabilizer links

 

yeah, I've been running a Sputhe positrac up front and rear for the last 20K, totally worth the money also.

 

Sorry to hear about the rear wheel. Stoked on the suspension. Tryna upgrade mine here soon...

 

For that kind of money, it better be good
Enjoy your smooth ride!

 

Thanks man, it is indeed a vast improvement over stock suspension with a steering damper and stabilizers.250 for the shocks; 'bout 320 for the springs and emulators. Not huge bucks, probably less than most people put into a pipe ( or a 'big name' set of aftermarket shocks ) . Add another 400 + for stabilizers, but I did the front first, and that was most of the gain, little bit of a let down when I got the rear, front stabilizer is like 70% of the improvement, and rear is a Royal PITA to install by yourself ( Sputhe will sell the front and rear individually).

As an aside, fairly damn stupid of me to ignore the wobble and push my bike like that. Not only would I have avoided the downtime of waiting for a new wheel if I stopped riding as soon as the wobble became apparent, as wheel hub likely would not have been destroyed, but letting ego and pride override common sense is a surefire way to become a statistic.

 

Latest Update. 2000 FXDL

 

Nice FXDX, Kenny. They did come with good suspension from the factory (unlike my FXDB); did you upgrade yours? Maybe you should start a thread on your bike