Harleys do vibrate. The Truth
Advanced
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Harleys do vibrate. The Truth
Unless you've rode a 60's Triumph 650cc Bonneville you don't know what vibration is. At 7000 rpm the speedo and tach were just a blur, and after a couple of thousand miles they were just the cases with the parts rattleing around inside. Oh yeah, I had a 1978 Kawasaki 1000cc 4 cyl. that vibrated more at 70 mph than my 05 FXD. It was a buzz that would numb your hands and feet in short order.
[/align]
[/align]
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 596
Likes: 7
From: Illinois
RE: Harleys do vibrate. The Truth
I know vibration is part of a harley, but I've been riding and wrenching since I was 9 or 10 years old, and know the difference between normal and not normal. Mine was smooth as can be when I bought it. over time, it developed a vibration, and now it's to the pointwhere it's getting hard to keep my feet on the pegs! In right handturns, the vibration changes to a growling vibration that I can feel back and forth through the left and right pegs, and the seat. I can't find anything loose or worn, and dealer just gives me the "It's a harley" answer.If that's true, then how come I can ride any other dyna, and theydon't have theodd vibes or noises mine does?
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: New Bern, NC
RE: Harleys do vibrate. The Truth
Well, I'm not into that old idiom, "Harley Magic". My bike vibrates or rather "buzzes" at any speed, in any gear. I can pull the clutch in while at speed and let the engine idle and the buzz goes away. I can rev the engine with the clutch pulled in and it buzzes. I've gone round and round with the MOCO and the dealer. They did change out the front motor mount and that made a world of difference, at least for about 600 miles. Then the buzz came back.
I'm sure I can engineer a solution to fix this problem. However, I'm beginning to question whether it is really worth it to fix a MOCO problem. I'm almost at that tipping point of selling my bike and buying a metric, probably a BMW or an FJ1300. At the rate my Dyna has depreciated, it is not much different than a metric.
Maybe it's just that I'm a "motorcyclist" and not a "biker". I've got several cross country (Atlantic to Pacific) runs under my belt; several west coast runs, and one from Mexico to Canada through the center of the country. My next trip is the east coast; NC to Key West, back, and then to Nova Scotia. I don't need a "buzz" machine when I put that many miles on a bike. I ride to work and back and just generally enjoy that wind in my face feeling.
The MOCO has to step up to the plate in this day and time. It trys to cover up it's problems buy selling "image". I say HOGWASH. Hell, all their clothing is made in CHINA, and many of their accessories are made there as well. Who's fooling who.
Conclusion, my bike vibrates (buzzes), has from day one. I've been put off enough until the warranty runs out. The dealer's service department sucks. Yea! I'm looking for another bike, just will not be a Harley this time. My opinion, but I usually speak with my wallet.
I'm sure I can engineer a solution to fix this problem. However, I'm beginning to question whether it is really worth it to fix a MOCO problem. I'm almost at that tipping point of selling my bike and buying a metric, probably a BMW or an FJ1300. At the rate my Dyna has depreciated, it is not much different than a metric.
Maybe it's just that I'm a "motorcyclist" and not a "biker". I've got several cross country (Atlantic to Pacific) runs under my belt; several west coast runs, and one from Mexico to Canada through the center of the country. My next trip is the east coast; NC to Key West, back, and then to Nova Scotia. I don't need a "buzz" machine when I put that many miles on a bike. I ride to work and back and just generally enjoy that wind in my face feeling.
The MOCO has to step up to the plate in this day and time. It trys to cover up it's problems buy selling "image". I say HOGWASH. Hell, all their clothing is made in CHINA, and many of their accessories are made there as well. Who's fooling who.
Conclusion, my bike vibrates (buzzes), has from day one. I've been put off enough until the warranty runs out. The dealer's service department sucks. Yea! I'm looking for another bike, just will not be a Harley this time. My opinion, but I usually speak with my wallet.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
RE: Harleys do vibrate. The Truth
Excessive vibration has always been a staple of harleys .... then came the rubber mounts.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
