Spoked wheels on the Dynas
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
Spoked wheels on the Dynas
Hi all,
I have been doing searches all morning on high speed wobble. I have read recommendations on everything including checking tire pressure, fall away, spoke tightness, wheel "trueness", balancing, etc.
Some even suggested or stated that wind buffeting at high speed on arms or the body can cause this as well.
I have had my SB since may of last year. Rode the p*ss out of it last season putting 2500 miles on it. Never noticed any high speed wobble on the front end, and did a lot of highway riding.
Recently, I have experienced it on the way home from work. I have a nagging feeling it may be due to travelling in the far left lane which has a concrete barrier dividing the northbound lanes from the south...like a wind tunnel thing.I have taken it out to the seacoast - mostly all highway for 50 plus miles - twice this year already and although I wasn't road testing for it, never noticed it then.
So, I have found that "Akhim's Razor" (not sure of spelling) has always solved most of my problems with cars, bikes, electronics, etc. That being "the easiest solution tends to be the right one..."
I checked:
*Tire pressure - solid at 35 like I always keep it
*I know fall away was okay from having the bike on a lift all winter.
*Have not hit anything major that would cause unblancing on the
wheels.
*Rear shock pre-load set to 3. 4 when riding with a load
* With my eye, riding straight all seems to be aligned straight.
So my biggest question is: How does one really check a spoke for tightness? Sure, I know all about the ping test with a wrench, etc. But they all ping. I tested them by grabbing each spoke between my thumb and 2 forefingers and shaking them - all tight. Is there any other way to check a spoke for tightness that only a dealer or mechanic can do?
Is this a mechanical issue or simply the laws of airflow and physics causing it? I have lost 20 pounds since last season as well.
I have been doing searches all morning on high speed wobble. I have read recommendations on everything including checking tire pressure, fall away, spoke tightness, wheel "trueness", balancing, etc.
Some even suggested or stated that wind buffeting at high speed on arms or the body can cause this as well.
I have had my SB since may of last year. Rode the p*ss out of it last season putting 2500 miles on it. Never noticed any high speed wobble on the front end, and did a lot of highway riding.
Recently, I have experienced it on the way home from work. I have a nagging feeling it may be due to travelling in the far left lane which has a concrete barrier dividing the northbound lanes from the south...like a wind tunnel thing.I have taken it out to the seacoast - mostly all highway for 50 plus miles - twice this year already and although I wasn't road testing for it, never noticed it then.
So, I have found that "Akhim's Razor" (not sure of spelling) has always solved most of my problems with cars, bikes, electronics, etc. That being "the easiest solution tends to be the right one..."
I checked:
*Tire pressure - solid at 35 like I always keep it
*I know fall away was okay from having the bike on a lift all winter.
*Have not hit anything major that would cause unblancing on the
wheels.
*Rear shock pre-load set to 3. 4 when riding with a load
* With my eye, riding straight all seems to be aligned straight.
So my biggest question is: How does one really check a spoke for tightness? Sure, I know all about the ping test with a wrench, etc. But they all ping. I tested them by grabbing each spoke between my thumb and 2 forefingers and shaking them - all tight. Is there any other way to check a spoke for tightness that only a dealer or mechanic can do?
Is this a mechanical issue or simply the laws of airflow and physics causing it? I have lost 20 pounds since last season as well.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 7
RE: Spoked wheels on the Dynas
Is someone trying to justify himself some new rims? 
"But honey, I need new wheels, my bike wobbles every time I go over 90..." LOL
just kidding - interesting thread - will keep an eye on it.
"But honey, I need new wheels, my bike wobbles every time I go over 90..." LOL
just kidding - interesting thread - will keep an eye on it.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 2
From: Southwest OHIO
RE: Spoked wheels on the Dynas
yeah... you drag a wrench accross the spokes and if they all sound the same then they are all at the same tightness, if one doesnt sound the same it is not at the same tightness as the others.
is your wheel weights still attached to your spokes?
might just be a bad lane or something of that nature if you only get it on a certain route.
good luck!
is your wheel weights still attached to your spokes?
might just be a bad lane or something of that nature if you only get it on a certain route.
good luck!
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Out west ... sorta'
RE: Spoked wheels on the Dynas
You can also check the axle/wheel is perfectly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bike (or some such $h!t ... my brain just exploded). Or in other words ... is your rear wheel perfectly straight in the swing arm? Check the wear on your tires, front and rear. Uneven wear can cause wobble. Check the weights/balance. Check the fork oil, and check to ensure nothing's tweaked on the front.
As far as checking spokes, you can really only check tightness, unless you want to pullthe wheelsoff and mount them in a true-out checker.
I dunno. My '08 has close to 10K on it now and I can do the ride-with-no-hands thing all day. Just a little pressure on the (forward mounted/highway) right-hand footpeg keeps it tracking very straight.
As far as checking spokes, you can really only check tightness, unless you want to pullthe wheelsoff and mount them in a true-out checker.
I dunno. My '08 has close to 10K on it now and I can do the ride-with-no-hands thing all day. Just a little pressure on the (forward mounted/highway) right-hand footpeg keeps it tracking very straight.
RE: Spoked wheels on the Dynas
agree with the above... the noise and wrench deal really does work, my guess is that the rear tire is not in allignment... or it has worn funny.... but if you do notice that you are missing a wheel weight you will have to get it balanced again... that is easy, when they balance it they can typically tell you if the wheel needs to be re trued... I would check the bikes allighnment... that is the first step personally... let us know how you are going and what we can do to help... Mud put up a post a while back on how to make your own wheel allignment tool...worked great!
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
RE: Spoked wheels on the Dynas
Ya know a lot of riders in the wobble threads said..." no problems here, can set the throttle screw at 85 and take the hands off the handlebars and not a wiggle..."
I gotta ask...what the h*ll keeps your body on the bike at that speed if you ain't holding on? Wind speed alone feels like it will push me off the back when I'm riding that fast....
Ok..so if all the spokes don't sound the same, then the wheel could be out of alignment? Am I interpreting that correctly?
I gotta ask...what the h*ll keeps your body on the bike at that speed if you ain't holding on? Wind speed alone feels like it will push me off the back when I'm riding that fast....
Ok..so if all the spokes don't sound the same, then the wheel could be out of alignment? Am I interpreting that correctly?
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 791
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From: New Hampshire
RE: Spoked wheels on the Dynas
Thanks Joe, how do I know if I am missing a wheel weight? There are 3 on the front, and either 2 or 3 on the back. Both tires are at 3K and worn evenly.
Will take a ride up another highway here at lunchtime and report back....
Will take a ride up another highway here at lunchtime and report back....
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
RE: Spoked wheels on the Dynas
I'm baaaaaaack.
Ok, so gentlemen...we ride motorcycles. Dynas. No windshields (unless you put one on after buying), no bags, just knuckles to the....wait for it.....WIND!!
I think that is what I am feeling. Maybethe syndrome known as "wobble" should first be more clearly defined.
What I just experienced was first of all NOT constant. AND it seemed to come at times of anincrease in head wind and/or cross winds. I did no slower than 80, and at times 90. The guy in the Porsche in front of me who kept checking his mirror, kept looking down at his speedo...like how could this rag bike be keeping up with ME??!! I had a giggle or two.
When the very slight and lasting only briefly (a second or two) "wobble" of the handlebars occurred, if I took my left hand off the bars and sat it in my lap, it seemed to stop. Of course for the time it took me to do so, it could have stopped on it's own. I think for considering all factors, it was almost definately associated with and porportional to the winds you feel when you ride.
So...would this be considered real wobble of a mechanical nature if it was NOT constant at a given speed or over a given speed?
Is there such a thing as a 100% motion-free, rock steady, no buffeting ride on a motorcycle at higwhay speeds? BESIDES on a huge Gold Wing or Softail Deluxe Classic, or anything with a windshield?
Ok, so gentlemen...we ride motorcycles. Dynas. No windshields (unless you put one on after buying), no bags, just knuckles to the....wait for it.....WIND!!
I think that is what I am feeling. Maybethe syndrome known as "wobble" should first be more clearly defined.
What I just experienced was first of all NOT constant. AND it seemed to come at times of anincrease in head wind and/or cross winds. I did no slower than 80, and at times 90. The guy in the Porsche in front of me who kept checking his mirror, kept looking down at his speedo...like how could this rag bike be keeping up with ME??!! I had a giggle or two.
When the very slight and lasting only briefly (a second or two) "wobble" of the handlebars occurred, if I took my left hand off the bars and sat it in my lap, it seemed to stop. Of course for the time it took me to do so, it could have stopped on it's own. I think for considering all factors, it was almost definately associated with and porportional to the winds you feel when you ride.
So...would this be considered real wobble of a mechanical nature if it was NOT constant at a given speed or over a given speed?
Is there such a thing as a 100% motion-free, rock steady, no buffeting ride on a motorcycle at higwhay speeds? BESIDES on a huge Gold Wing or Softail Deluxe Classic, or anything with a windshield?
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Out west ... sorta'
RE: Spoked wheels on the Dynas
Ya know a lot of riders in the wobble threads said..." no problems here, can set the throttle screw at 85 and take the hands off the handlebars and not a wiggle..."
I gotta ask...what the h*ll keeps your body on the bike at that speed if you ain't holding on? Wind speed alone feels like it will push me off the back when I'm riding that fast....
I gotta ask...what the h*ll keeps your body on the bike at that speed if you ain't holding on? Wind speed alone feels like it will push me off the back when I'm riding that fast....
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