I experianced it when I rode the demo bikes at he Harley shop. Thats why I went with the soft tail with the balanced motor. At idle at red light my mirrow stays still and you can actualy see what is behind you.
I too nitice some vibration when I'm at a stop light on my FXD. However the ride quality and hadeling far out-weigh the vibration at idel. Great bikes!
Mornin' Topsail, I saw your post and wanted to let you know I'm within two weeks of taking possession of a '99 FXDX. I'll post my opinions once I have them. My bike has 10,000+ miles but the handlebars are HD Buckhorns with stock cables and wiring (no BarSnake). The original owner and I had a long talk about the bike and he claims the bike is like most of the other guys here with Super Glide Sports...Harley rumble at flight idle with a smooth as glass ride at 70. Having owned a '94 FXDL I can tell you that IF your bike has not been Dyno tested and tuned for optimum performance you might pick up slight harmonic vibrations in the bars at different speeds. You clearly state 'Bar Shake'....What speeds, what gears, and what RPMs are you experiencing the shake? Is the shake only during straight line riding or is it more pronounced in turns? Also, since the engine is rubber mounted you have to look at the other parts of the bike that might contribute to handlebar buzz or vibrations or even 'shake'. Suspension, air pressure in both tires(Double check this especially on a 2 month old bike!!!), belt adustment, proper torque on all hardware including your handlebar stuff...mirrors, switches, foot pedal mounts, type oil used throughout the bike, etc. Long winded reply but I fly for a living. Check everything twice. Never assume the guy who set up the bike prior to you riding away didn't possibly have his mind on getting lucky that night. Hopefully every little bit helps. BTW Harley bought back my 94 after 3 years. Treated me real well so I'm getting back in the saddle. JP
Quote:
ORIGINAL: Topsail
Just bought mine about 2 months ago and love it so far.
About my only complaint thus far is the bar shake.
I know it's a Big-Twin but it still seems excessive.
Anyone else experience this?
__________________
Stephen JP Ingley
CW4, USA-Ret.
John 3:18
yeah, I just got mine and it's an 01 with 6k on the clock. I too get a small vibration at idle but not having a balance engine is going to give some back. I do agree once is out of idle and over 20-30 miles the vibration fades away. I'm having mine checked tomorrow for any thing that could be wrong with it, just got it yesterday and I do love this thing. I get some vibration (more than I was expecting) in 1 st gear and that I'm more concern, but that's why is going in as well. let you know from some super pros on what's up. Jay
yeah billy, I'm on tonight for just a bit, I did have the bike checked out yesterday and the vibration is normal an an idle or coming on to 1st going to second, but coming from a ZRX kawasaki, is certainly feels a little more rumble vibes than the ZRX, so now I have a Jap and an all american sport bike. I can't really compare both bikes, they are so different I have to learn to enjoy the fxdx more, making some minor mods, to smooth levers and added a super seat that was for only wide glides and it fitted just great that I found on ebay, all I had to do was simply drill the attachment screw on the rear one more inch towards the rear and it changed the feel right away. begining to like it much more. How do you like yours?
Just bought mine about 2 months ago and love it so far.
About my only complaint thus far is the bar shake.
I know it's a Big-Twin but it still seems excessive.
Anyone else experience this?
Mornin' Topsail, Finally got my '99 FXDX yesterday afternoon and I promised some feedback once I had some miles on the bike. Unfortunately, my wife and I only put 5 miles on the bike before her feet fell asleep from the vibrations/shake, rattle and roll. All vibrations and shake occur at all RPMs and speeds. Since the bike came out of the mountains I am looking at a 175 Main Jet. To lean for Sea Level here in Pensacola. Stock is a 185 Main. I thought that since the bike was advertised with a 'Complete Pre-Owned Service...' and 'in Excellent Condition' that with 10,288 miles the HD 10K service would have been performed. Looks like the only work done is an oil change and a new battery without any paperwork to back it up. Assumption is indeed the mother of all screw ups....
The bike also has fairly new Dunlop 401Fs on laced wheels instead of the Dunlop K591 Sports. HD used the 591 Sports for the 99-01 years and switched to the 401Fs in 02. Don't know yet if that matters but having had a 94 FXDL for 3 years I know how the Dynas' are supposed to run. Harley rumble at flight idle and then smooth as a baby's butt at cruise. This bike is not supposed to run rough in all 5 gears up to 55. Never had a chance to make it to the I-10 and 70mph...to rough. I'm dropping the bike off at Pensacola HD before going offshore tomorrow for a re-jet and dyno precision tune. I'll change the original plugs today with HD Golds. I'll ask HD Service to take the bike for a spin AFTER the re-jet and Dyno Tune. IF the bike still runs rough I have serious other problems with the selling HD Dealership. Hopefully that will NOT happen. For right now you are NOT alone in the shake department. This 'slight shake/vibration problem' obviously puts the priority of replacing the defective rear camshaft bearings on a short hold for now.
The HD Owners Manual has the laundry list of things to do on a 10K mile service one of which is to replace the fork oil and repack the front and rear wheel bearings. I couldn't help but wonder if 3 weeks of being tied down to a pallet VERY securely with 6 year old fork oil didn't add to the vibration problem. The rear shocks are set at 3 and the tire pressure is right on at 30 in the front and 38 in the rear (two up riding). It's possible that the biased ply tires even have a slight 'flat' spot after sitting on the pallet for so long. It's also possible that the tech installing the tires didn't quite get the laced wheels to balance out exactly right. Out of tune, Dunlop Harley tires BUT not OEM replacements, past due 10K mile service, etc...all maintenence issues that will be addressed over the next 10 days.
I'll keep you posted.
Ride Hard, Ride Armed, Ride Safe,
JP
PS 3 Motorcyclists have been killed in NW Florida in the past two months. 'At fault driver did not SEE the motorcyclist coming down the road and pulled out in front of him'.
__________________
Stephen JP Ingley
CW4, USA-Ret.
John 3:18
This customized FXDX is a dealer-owned bike with only 1000 miles! Williams Harley-Davidson's factory trained technicians installed a Jim's 120ci race motor. Recently upgraded to 131 ci, redlines at 7200 rpm, 51mm carburetor, Screamin' Eagle Race Ignition and clutch, Thunderheader exhaust, Dyno with 133 HP at the rear wheel, Makes 135 foot pounds of torque starting at 3000 RPM's, Wide Glide fuel tank, Bombay bars with stainless-steel braided lines, chrome upper controls, chrome lower legs, Billet grips and pegs, Mini-tach/Speedo combination, LED fuel gauge, digital oil dipstick, chrome three-spoke wheels and sprocket. Sport adjustable suspension. The Bike as big 640 cams in it, shakes went idling. The problem is getting the HP to the ground. The bike weights 636 pounds. This is my sport cruiser
Any other FXDX owners out there?
