Anyone else got a problem with a wobble?
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RE: Anyone else got a problem with a wobble?
ORIGINAL: grizzly
Only wobble I get is on decel, at slow speeds. Kind of strange....anyone have that problem or know the cause?
Only wobble I get is on decel, at slow speeds. Kind of strange....anyone have that problem or know the cause?
Only seemed to do when I had camping gear, etc loaded on the rear.
DougJ
RE: Anyone else got a problem with a wobble?
Don't want to hijack the thread, but yes and lowering my tire pressure back to 30 lbs (as HD recommends), not noticing the problem.
Only seemed to do when I had camping gear, etc loaded on the rear.
DougJ
Only seemed to do when I had camping gear, etc loaded on the rear.
DougJ
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: New Iberia, Louisiana
RE: Anyone else got a problem with a wobble?
ORIGINAL: grizzly
Only wobble I get is on decel, at slow speeds. Kind of strange....anyone have that problem or know the cause?
Only wobble I get is on decel, at slow speeds. Kind of strange....anyone have that problem or know the cause?
Stage I
Joined: Nov 2007
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RE: Anyone else got a problem with a wobble?
Mine only wobbles if I let go of the bars.It never happened before 5k but then I took a trip to Boulder CO and had some baggage on the trip and wasriding prettyfast 80-85mph. That's aboutwhen the wobble showed up. Icould seecupping on the treadwear. I took it to the dealer when I got homeand they suggested I replace the front tire, they couldn't find any other cause, that was at 7k. Now I have 14k and I'm real close toreplacing the tire,I'm hoping that will get rid of it. Again it only wobbles when I let go so I don't let go too often.
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RE: Anyone else got a problem with a wobble?
I had a similar problem with my FXDWG, I noticed it when it was stock after about 2500 miles, when I put my apes on it made it worse. I added a fork brace and retorqued the head bearings and it pretty much went away. I still had the problem in 95+ speeds, but I never really got to that fast after we moved from Germany.
RE: Anyone else got a problem with a wobble?
I believe i found the culprit!!! the rear wheel was not in line with the chassis (funny... it was when it went in for service). Re-aligned it with a ruler (its still not perfect) and it is dramatically better. the rear wheel was off more than 4 turns (out on the right). still adding the steering damper tho. hope this helps someone else.
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RE: Anyone else got a problem with a wobble?
ORIGINAL: grizzly
Only wobble I get is on decel, at slow speeds. Kind of strange....anyone have that problem or know the cause?
Only wobble I get is on decel, at slow speeds. Kind of strange....anyone have that problem or know the cause?
DougJ
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From: Backwoods of NH
RE: Anyone else got a problem with a wobble?
I'm certainly not any suspension or aerodynamics guru, but what some of you have noticed and the conditions under which you experienced the wobble (lowered rear, lots of baggage, even taller apes) all make me think you are seriously lightening up weight on the front end and increasing wind resistance on the underside of tank and against your body/arms at higher speeds which all can contribute to a serious lift issue. And hence your front tire is losing a consistent contact patch with the road even though you may not be able to notice or see it lifting much. Lowering air pressure and/or installing a fork brace etc all can help but may only be dealing with the symptoms not the cause. Back in the day this was a common problem with strecthed out front ends on choppers, especially ones with a serious rake. And crashes often resulted when sudden changes in the flow of wind occurred at speed (passing trucks, etc) upsetting the front end and rider's ability to steer. Also a common phenomenon on funny cars and dragsters, but they only had to bear with it for a 1/4 mile, assuming their front wheels ever even touched the ground!!
If you've already ruled out any wheel balance issues and front/rear alignment, it might help if you try lowering equally the front and back (if it isn't already), distribute loads better and lower (if possible) or pack lighter (even harder I suspect), use a front fork/handle bar bag to hold some heavier stuff, increase rear shock pre-load, etc. Even an aerodynamic small spoiler on the lower front frame can help keep increase the down force on the front end. The goal being to change the weight balance on the bike by putting more weight up on the front end and thus the front tire and reducing any effects of wind resistance towards the rear of the bike.
But I could be wrong.
If you've already ruled out any wheel balance issues and front/rear alignment, it might help if you try lowering equally the front and back (if it isn't already), distribute loads better and lower (if possible) or pack lighter (even harder I suspect), use a front fork/handle bar bag to hold some heavier stuff, increase rear shock pre-load, etc. Even an aerodynamic small spoiler on the lower front frame can help keep increase the down force on the front end. The goal being to change the weight balance on the bike by putting more weight up on the front end and thus the front tire and reducing any effects of wind resistance towards the rear of the bike.
But I could be wrong.
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RE: Anyone else got a problem with a wobble?
ORIGINAL: Chipstah
I'm certainly not any suspension or aerodynamics guru, but what some of you have noticed and the conditions under which you experienced the wobble (lowered rear, lots of baggage, even taller apes) all make me think you are seriously lightening up weight on the front end and increasing wind resistance on the underside of tank and against your body/arms at higher speeds which all can contribute to a serious lift issue. And hence your front tire is losing a consistent contact patch with the road even though you may not be able to notice or see it lifting much. Lowering air pressure and/or installing a fork brace etc all can help but may only be dealing with the symptoms not the cause. Back in the day this was a common problem with strecthed out front ends on choppers, especially ones with a serious rake. And crashes often resulted when sudden changes in the flow of wind occurred at speed (passing trucks, etc) upsetting the front end and rider's ability to steer. Also a common phenomenon on funny cars and dragsters, but they only had to bear with it for a 1/4 mile, assuming their front wheels ever even touched the ground!!
If you've already ruled out any wheel balance issues and front/rear alignment, it might help if you try lowering equally the front and back (if it isn't already), distribute loads better and lower (if possible) or pack lighter (even harder I suspect), use a front fork/handle bar bag to hold some heavier stuff, increase rear shock pre-load, etc. Even an aerodynamic small spoiler on the lower front frame can help keep increase the down force on the front end. The goal being to change the weight balance on the bike by putting more weight up on the front end and thus the front tire and reducing any effects of wind resistance towards the rear of the bike.
But I could be wrong.
I'm certainly not any suspension or aerodynamics guru, but what some of you have noticed and the conditions under which you experienced the wobble (lowered rear, lots of baggage, even taller apes) all make me think you are seriously lightening up weight on the front end and increasing wind resistance on the underside of tank and against your body/arms at higher speeds which all can contribute to a serious lift issue. And hence your front tire is losing a consistent contact patch with the road even though you may not be able to notice or see it lifting much. Lowering air pressure and/or installing a fork brace etc all can help but may only be dealing with the symptoms not the cause. Back in the day this was a common problem with strecthed out front ends on choppers, especially ones with a serious rake. And crashes often resulted when sudden changes in the flow of wind occurred at speed (passing trucks, etc) upsetting the front end and rider's ability to steer. Also a common phenomenon on funny cars and dragsters, but they only had to bear with it for a 1/4 mile, assuming their front wheels ever even touched the ground!!
If you've already ruled out any wheel balance issues and front/rear alignment, it might help if you try lowering equally the front and back (if it isn't already), distribute loads better and lower (if possible) or pack lighter (even harder I suspect), use a front fork/handle bar bag to hold some heavier stuff, increase rear shock pre-load, etc. Even an aerodynamic small spoiler on the lower front frame can help keep increase the down force on the front end. The goal being to change the weight balance on the bike by putting more weight up on the front end and thus the front tire and reducing any effects of wind resistance towards the rear of the bike.
But I could be wrong.
With your above explanation, I am wondering if anyone, or all of us experiencing this phenomena have done a tank lift. I have a 3" on my Dyna. Do you think this could be a contributing factor?? If the wobbling has todo with aerodynamics, this would be the one thing I have changed in the last 2 years that would allow the front of the bike to be lifted in this way.
Just sayin
What do you think?DougJ