My Wide Glide is really getting squirrelly in the wind. In a crosswind it feels like I'm on ice andI have to lean harder than normal into the wind to maintain straight line. Tires are in good shape and have less than 1K on them. Neck bearings replaced, motor mounts in good shape. Harley lowered shocks. When my wife ison backit seems to ride normally.

Wheel or swing arm bearings?

 

45 mph side wind? Does it have solid wheels? My 01 Sporty actually got blown over two lanes in a cross wind once. The problem was drag bars and solid rear wheel, I think. It was just like a sail. I think HD may have had some complaints about them. I changed handlebars and never had a problem keeping it on the road again.

 

No, it's got laced wheels. I had a FatBoy and it wasn't this bad.Doesn't take really strong wind gusts to cause me to have to lean hard. I've had this bike since 02 and this is definately something new. It's always handled really well until recently.

 

Have you lost a lot of weight?

 

Nope. 240 lbs for years. I haven't changed. The bike has.

 

Sounds like it's time for a Bagger.

 

i know it sounds stupid... check you allignment... wind is usually a good indicator of unbalanced tires and/or poor allignment... i had a cafe CB750 that would be all over the road in the wind... old timer told me that my allighment was off and proved it to me with string... got her trued up... never a prob again...

 

I am only 175lbs and have never had problems in the wind. It can get blustry in Texas. I am probably just use to it. In some wind conditions you do have to lean into the wind for safer riding.

 

Check the tire pressure. Check the pressure when cold (i.e. morning or mid-day, when you haven't been riding) and make sure it is at what the owners manual states for normal riding conditions. Tires that are inflated to their max listed on the sidewall are for max gross weight conditions.

Just my suggestion.

m.a.c.

 

I'd have the spokes checked. If some are loose or wheel isn't true, you'll get the same symptoms.