High speed wobble on WG
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Stage III
Joined: May 2007
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High speed wobble on WG
I'm new here' but have been reading some good help stuff. I am thinking about buying a new wide glide. Went to a local dealer and rented an 06 WG to see if I liked it. I loved it except for one problem. At about 70 in a lefthand turn it got a speed wobble in the rearend. It felt like my butt was going in circles. Have any of you had a simular problem or is this standard for the WG. The bike I was on Only had 8,000 miles on it. In advance THANKS for the help.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Munford,Tn
RE: High speed wobble on WG
Had it happen to me when i had the rear shocks adjusted for two up riding. Went ahead and took some tension off the shocks and the wobble went away. Just something that happened to me. Good luck
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 242
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From: Duluth, MN
RE: High speed wobble on WG
Flyin brian, I have an '07 WG that takes 100 mph sweepers like its on rails. I expected more wobbling. My nephew had an '03 WG that did nasty tank slappers if he went through a bump mid corner at high speed. It needed a steering head bearing adjustment big time. Even after the adustment, it was a crappy handling bike. My '07 feels like a sportbike in comparison.
Tim
Tim
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,302
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From: SW Corner of NW Corner
RE: High speed wobble on WG
I think you are talking about the famous Harley *** wiggle. I think all the Dyna's experience this. There are some products out there to help, but i think they are mostly snake oil (I can say this since I've actually installed one 
).
There are a lot of contributing factores involved here. Many say if the bike is properly aligned (still haven't figured out how to do that on a Dyna???), fall away is adjust properly, tire pressure, shock adjustment, etc.. then you can get rid of it.
I also understand getting away from the stock Dunlop tire will help. I am just around the corner from getting a set of Metzlers for my bike... many people call the Dunlops "dunflops".
I have a buddy up the street with a bagger, and he rides with a lot of guys with baggers. He can out ride them in the twisties on his Metzlers, with them on their stock dunflops.... he swears by them
).There are a lot of contributing factores involved here. Many say if the bike is properly aligned (still haven't figured out how to do that on a Dyna???), fall away is adjust properly, tire pressure, shock adjustment, etc.. then you can get rid of it.
I also understand getting away from the stock Dunlop tire will help. I am just around the corner from getting a set of Metzlers for my bike... many people call the Dunlops "dunflops".
I have a buddy up the street with a bagger, and he rides with a lot of guys with baggers. He can out ride them in the twisties on his Metzlers, with them on their stock dunflops.... he swears by them
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Stage III
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3
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From:
RE: High speed wobble on WG
Thanks for the input, after this happend I checked the bike out. The shocks were on the lowest setting. But I did notice something that looked odd to me. The swingarm was mounted to the trans. If the engine and trans are on rubber mounts whould this allow the swingarm to twist?
Any thoughts.
Any thoughts.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 0
From: SW Corner of NW Corner
RE: High speed wobble on WG
yep, thats part of the problem...
Bottom line is HD's (at least in their stock form) are for cruisin' and enjoying the ride. If you are looking for something high performance - both in speed and handling - you might be looking in the wrong place.
There is lots that can be done to a bike to get that performance, but be prepared to pay for it (its cheaper if you do the work yourself).
I've done a fair amount to my bike, and so have a lot of others. Some folks do more and more to **** its handling performance because to them its about how it looks. Others only do stuff you can't see cuz its all about performance and looks... I'd like to think I'm in the middle... some nice "looks" changes, and a fair amount of performance changes done.I don't even know how much I have invested, post stock, on my bike.... I'd probably cry if I added it all up.
There are thousands of folks out there running stock suspensions, motors, tires, exhaust, intake,etc, that are perfectly happy with their bikes, and that is awesome. And don't take my "looking in the wrong place" comment as trying to be a smart ***... There are folks that want to go into the twisties as fast as possible, a Harley is not the bike to do that on - but there are plent of bikes that do that well.. you need to decide what is important to you, and how much blood/sweat/tears/and cash, you are willing to put into it after the fact.
I'd rather see you do into the deal with your eyes wide open rather than spending some serious cash only to find out the bike doesn't fit your personality and riding needs/desires (maybe get two bikes?
)
Bottom line is HD's (at least in their stock form) are for cruisin' and enjoying the ride. If you are looking for something high performance - both in speed and handling - you might be looking in the wrong place.
There is lots that can be done to a bike to get that performance, but be prepared to pay for it (its cheaper if you do the work yourself).
I've done a fair amount to my bike, and so have a lot of others. Some folks do more and more to **** its handling performance because to them its about how it looks. Others only do stuff you can't see cuz its all about performance and looks... I'd like to think I'm in the middle... some nice "looks" changes, and a fair amount of performance changes done.I don't even know how much I have invested, post stock, on my bike.... I'd probably cry if I added it all up.
There are thousands of folks out there running stock suspensions, motors, tires, exhaust, intake,etc, that are perfectly happy with their bikes, and that is awesome. And don't take my "looking in the wrong place" comment as trying to be a smart ***... There are folks that want to go into the twisties as fast as possible, a Harley is not the bike to do that on - but there are plent of bikes that do that well.. you need to decide what is important to you, and how much blood/sweat/tears/and cash, you are willing to put into it after the fact.
I'd rather see you do into the deal with your eyes wide open rather than spending some serious cash only to find out the bike doesn't fit your personality and riding needs/desires (maybe get two bikes?
)
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: Pacific Northwest
RE: High speed wobble on WG
Ditch rear shocks and DO NOT go smaller travel than oem to get lower cooler ride, 12'to 13.5" travel is best, proggressive 440's are outstanding. Ditch front springs for ones that are progessively wound, eliminates front brake dive and still soaks up the small stuff, anyway made a big difference in handling of my bike, best 450 I ever spent. I had the sport metrics and I'll never go back, that does not mean I don't want my Dyna to lean over and actually handle like one within limits of what is is.
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Stage III
Joined: May 2007
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From:
RE: High speed wobble on WG
Thanks for the input. For such a great lookin bike the design does not seem to be to good. I was hopping for the best of both worlds (style & function). What would happen if I loaded it with bags and my wife? That was a retorical question. The corner were this happened was a big hiway sweeper and just keeping up with traffic.
Are all dyna's built this way? The only other model that looks similar is the softail custom. But I'm not to sure about the softail part of it. Is it ajustable for a load like shocks are? Or maybe a roadglide might be the way to go. I'm really looking for something that I can put bags on & off. I may be expecting to much but harley has got to build something to fit the bill.
Are all dyna's built this way? The only other model that looks similar is the softail custom. But I'm not to sure about the softail part of it. Is it ajustable for a load like shocks are? Or maybe a roadglide might be the way to go. I'm really looking for something that I can put bags on & off. I may be expecting to much but harley has got to build something to fit the bill.
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 24
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From:
RE: High speed wobble on WG
I don't think all Wide Glides are like that. You mentioned the bike you rode was a rental. God only knows what crap other riders put that through. Something could have gotten bent...like a rim. My '07 is rock solid at 60, 70, and 80+. I've been through sweepers and decreasing radius turns, scrapped the pegs, and the bike never wavered. Granted, you can't go through a turn as fast as other bikes, but hey, that's not what this bike is about. Ride a new one and I doubt you'll see the same problem.
Good luck, and tell us what you eventually wind up with.
Good luck, and tell us what you eventually wind up with.
