Stabilizer on a Dyna?
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 666
Likes: 95
From: Berlin
IMO I like the Sputhe better than the Predator if you are talking chassis stabilizers. I've not found steering stabilizers to work well on the street.. Might be good if they added a steering speed wobble sensor and made the damping programmable. Daughter has a Scotts that works excellent in the sand on CRF250X.. I've only tried conventional dampers (PMFR) on street bikes. No luck with the wobble.
Like all the guys have said in the many threads in this brilliant forum, check the motor mounts and fall away, and when that is good, then spend the most useful cash ever, get either Sputhe or True track on the ride and it is the only way to lock the Dyna solid like the Softails and fatboys, we can talk till the cows come home but it really is the only rock solid solution, just google Eric Buell patent for rubber mounted bikes, and it will become very clear as to why we need 3 stabilisers like on the Sportsters, the old FXR had 2 and they where awesome, then harley dropped the Dyna range to just 1 under the tank and this is when forums started talking of death wobble, same on the cruisers.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 666
Likes: 95
From: Berlin
Must agree with Twistedturbo Sputhe or Truetrack and it really is night and day, however front True track is a 10 minute job, but the rear is a pain in the but unless you remove the rear wheel, I took rear wheel off and it made life a lot easier, give yourself at least 2 hours to install the rear, that is with taking rear wheel off, and install the rear in parts it is a lot easier.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,870
Likes: 498
From: Alberta
Had an '01 FXDXT with Sputhe mounts, aluminum swingarm, alloy rims and composite rotors. Bike felt like it had power steering (and brakes) compared to a stock Dyna.
'06 and later are even heavier, but have a stiffer front fork with the newer 49mm tubes. I've found setting fall-away just an extra 1/8 turn tighter helps a lot, too. I would try that before installing a steering stabalizer...
I currently ride a Fat Bob, tightening the fall away and better tires are all I've done so far to the chassis. The engine has been modded for more torque
Stability and handling can be improved, but you will still have your butt handed to you by a 600 sport bike
'06 and later are even heavier, but have a stiffer front fork with the newer 49mm tubes. I've found setting fall-away just an extra 1/8 turn tighter helps a lot, too. I would try that before installing a steering stabalizer...
I currently ride a Fat Bob, tightening the fall away and better tires are all I've done so far to the chassis. The engine has been modded for more torque
Stability and handling can be improved, but you will still have your butt handed to you by a 600 sport bike
Last edited by sharkey; Dec 1, 2016 at 09:49 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,830
Likes: 7,968
From: poway
Like all the guys have said in the many threads in this brilliant forum, check the motor mounts and fall away, and when that is good, then spend the most useful cash ever, get either Sputhe or True track on the ride and it is the only way to lock the Dyna solid like the Softails and fatboys, we can talk till the cows come home but it really is the only rock solid solution, just google Eric Buell patent for rubber mounted bikes, and it will become very clear as to why we need 3 stabilisers like on the Sportsters, the old FXR had 2 and they where awesome, then harley dropped the Dyna range to just 1 under the tank and this is when forums started talking of death wobble, same on the cruisers.
The motor had issues with valve guides and on inspection the crank was starting to spread so I rebuilt the motor, replaced the sheet metal with fresh paint and fit a rear wheel that would hold 180/55-18 rear tire.. I did do some realigning of things in the process. Rear tire brought to center, vertical alignment adjusted some.
After the mods, the bike is one of the best tracking I've ever ridden. 0 wobbles. With or without the rear Sputhe, I see no change. Front the is a slight difference but it's mainly in the choppy corners. I'm not saying that the Sputhe is no good. There are too many here that say it works for them and it's a good place to start for sure but it may not be the complete cure for some..
Back to the OP. Not only would I buy the sputhe but I'd also add emulators to the front or one the the better cartridges for inner parts and better shocks to the back. If running spoked steel rims, replace with mags or alloy hoops. If you have a single disk up front, go to 2.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 15,943
Likes: 7,035
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
"90-100mph"? Leaned over, that's sport bike territory. You'll need to do mods on a cruiser if you want stability at those speeds. Headshake can be a bad thing, as the CHP is finding out with their baggers.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 755
Likes: 222
From: Murrieta Ca.
That's just keeping up with traffic early Sunday morning in the 405 carpool lanes, just like dancin' with a fat girl...
: Mike
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,448
Likes: 6,275
From: pacific northwest
While I do not ride like on a racetrack, installed the predator earlier this year, for about 250 bucks, is a great improvement. did not notice change in vibration, but can for sure notice better stability when in ruts or grooves.
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 666
Likes: 95
From: Berlin
Yep agree totally, it is really quite simple the older the rubber mounts get, or even a little oil on them that makes them softer, the wobble will come, and for gods sake if you aint got 3 stabilisers, or a minimum of 2, please do not put your life at risk at these speeds, because if it really gets the death wobble, well it was not worth us trying to explain, it will be too late, and also agree with a post about the Predator, it is a well built stabiliser with motor mount built in, I followed it from day 1, but just prefered traditional stabilisers, but that is only a preference on my side, you will see a good improvement with just the front, because in theory your Dyna will be like an FXR with 2 stabilisers, but just a diffferent frame.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,449
Likes: 8,276
From: Inland NW
IMO I like the Sputhe better than the Predator if you are talking chassis stabilizers. I've not found steering stabilizers to work well on the street.. Might be good if they added a steering speed wobble sensor and made the damping programmable. Daughter has a Scotts that works excellent in the sand on CRF250X.. I've only tried conventional dampers (PMFR) on street bikes. No luck with the wobble.