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Dyna Glide ModelsSuper Glide, Super Glide Sport, Super Glide Custom, Dyna Glide Convertible, Super Glide T-Sport, Dyna Glide Police, Dyna Switchback, Low Rider, Street Bob, Fat Bob and Wide Glide.
The steering damper thing recently became a topic at the shop during a "death wobble" discussion.. Ive been riding nearly 40 years and guess Ive always been on healthy bikes or just lucky..?.. Just rebuilt front end of my FXD this week. Installed the accutronix wideglide conversion kit. It keeps the stock rake and uses the 39mm forktubes. I completely reconditioned the forktubes along with progressive springs and 15wt fork oil. I did the complete job because of all the stories of the wobble and potential causes. And like the wideglide front end much better. This seems to be a good forum for help, advice, and just good conversation. Please forgive this newguy for running with the thought. Can anyone tell me how to add an avatar to my title ? Thanks
The steering damper thing recently became a topic at the shop during a "death wobble" discussion.. Ive been riding nearly 40 years and guess Ive always been on healthy bikes or just lucky..?.. Just rebuilt front end of my FXD this week. Installed the accutronix wideglide conversion kit. It keeps the stock rake and uses the 39mm forktubes. I completely reconditioned the forktubes along with progressive springs and 15wt fork oil. I did the complete job because of all the stories of the wobble and potential causes. And like the wideglide front end much better. This seems to be a good forum for help, advice, and just good conversation. Please forgive this newguy for running with the thought. Can anyone tell me how to add an avatar to my title ? Thanks
for me its not so much about stopping a wobble. It simply makes the bike feel better and smother at speed. so if you have any type of fork mounted fairing or windshield it is constantly battling the wind, its not slipping through all smooth its working its *** off and you can feel it in the handle bars, its really not bad or anything to worry about but the dampers greatly reduce it and in the end make you more comfortable, its definitely not a needed thing but just a comfort thing
Steering dampers on Harleys are like **** on a bull, useless!
im not sure what you are saying man, any motorcycle with one pivoting connection between the frame and forks will benefit from a damper. ( by the way that's all of them) its pretty much like saying "Comfortable seats are stupid". we have 85 mph speed limits here and its pretty commen for me to burn a full tank of gas at 90+ and I just want my **** to be as smooth as possible
The steering damper thing recently became a topic at the shop during a "death wobble" discussion.. Ive been riding nearly 40 years and guess Ive always been on healthy bikes or just lucky..?.. Just rebuilt front end of my FXD this week. Installed the accutronix wideglide conversion kit. It keeps the stock rake and uses the 39mm forktubes. I completely reconditioned the forktubes along with progressive springs and 15wt fork oil. I did the complete job because of all the stories of the wobble and potential causes. And like the wideglide front end much better. This seems to be a good forum for help, advice, and just good conversation. Please forgive this newguy for running with the thought. Can anyone tell me how to add an avatar to my title ? Thanks
The majority of the infamous death wobble on Dynas are caused by the swingarm that are attached to the transmission and again attached to the motor and again attached to the frame with rubber mounts. Long story short, if your bike is healthy then the front end is most likely not the issue for the death wobble. Even on a new healthy out of the box Dyna, the swingarm will move side to side on a given situation(aggressive corners) and then cause the wobble. This can even happen if the pavement youre riding on is perfect.
If you have experienced a wobble on your dyna, dont cover the problem with a steering damper/stabilizer. The problems can be many like misaligned engine or wheels, uneven and unbalanced tires and wheels, suspensions and so on. A steering damper should be installed when you know that the bike is healthy. Steering dampers task is to prevent you from landing the front wheel in an angle by slowing down the steering in cases when you accelerate hard and the front become lighter. This is more common on high powered bikes, or modified Dyna engines(because this is the Dyna section). Steering damper is also slowing down your steering when youre hitting a pot hole or riding on a uneven surface. These two scenarios can deflect the front wheel from holding its line and start a chain reaction that could end in a wobble. Im speaking generally and it could happen to all types of bikes.
Dont mix the general wobble with the Dynas death wobble that is caused by the bad frame design
Actually, I think this type works better (although I don't use a steering stabilizer). No chance of the rod binding or creating stiction, and they can easily be adjusted while riding. Damping is probably more consistent in each direction as well. But like anything, I'm sure there are good ones and bad ones... However, GPR have a very good reputation.
yea I think they are a good reputable company and all that and im sure they make a good product.
To me its like this, and I'm not an engineer or anything but i have spent my life as a contractor building stuff, when you have something that pivots and that something that pivots is wider than the point it pivots, it is much easier to hold it steady, without binding it, at its widest point, so on a bike it would be the forks. It you think of a damper as something that is limiting shake by dampening it just makes a lot more since to me to do it at its widest point.
If you put one bolt that connects two pieces of perpendicular 2x4's in the middle at the connecting point it doesn't matter how tight it is that sucker is movin, put a gusset 2" out that connects the 2 pieces it is strong as ****, 5 " out even better
plus I just think they look cool
Last edited by hell hound; Dec 5, 2019 at 09:24 PM.
If you have experienced a wobble on your dyna, dont cover the problem with a steering damper/stabilizer. The problems can be many like misaligned engine or wheels, uneven and unbalanced tires and wheels, suspensions and so on. A steering damper should be installed when you know that the bike is healthy. Steering dampers task is to prevent you from landing the front wheel in an angle by slowing down the steering in cases when you accelerate hard and the front become lighter. This is more common on high powered bikes, or modified Dyna engines(because this is the Dyna section). Steering damper is also slowing down your steering when youre hitting a pot hole or riding on a uneven surface. These two scenarios can deflect the front wheel from holding its line and start a chain reaction that could end in a wobble. Im speaking generally and it could happen to all types of bikes.
this is suppose to be a quote but I messed it up or something, anyway
well said, its not to fix anything its only to enhance it
Last edited by hell hound; Dec 5, 2019 at 09:32 PM.
Well, youre riding a wide glide with forwards, its clearly not meant for you...
true,my wide glide is solid at high speed. Rake is great for stability. Only problem I ever had going a 100 mph is wind pushing my boots back of the forwards. Added the reduced forward controls kit. Now at 6ft tall I have a nice bend at my knees, problem solved. My fxr does not have one either. My Kawasaki 1000 is a little twitchy at a buck 30 because it has no rake.
im not sure what you are saying man, any motorcycle with one pivoting connection between the frame and forks will benefit from a damper. ( by the way that's all of them) its pretty much like saying "Comfortable seats are stupid". we have 85 mph speed limits here and its pretty commen for me to burn a full tank of gas at 90+ and I just want my **** to be as smooth as possible
I hear you. I am the same way with my bikes. And if the steering damper works for u great. I had one on my little sporty years ago and did nothing not but sore the eye.
good stuff. I totally agree with no band aids. I like to feel the little stuff on road while riding. I raced dirt for so many years that its like breathing, to simply waddle through roads changes. I completely rebuilt my Dyna front end while adding Wide glide conversion for peace of mind.
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