Front end wobble - any suggestions?
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Stage I
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1
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Front end wobble - any suggestions?
New Dyna owner. Just bought a used 2001 FXDXT with about 22k on it. The front end starts a pretty good tank-slapper wobble at 90 MPH. It settles donw if I sit way back in the seat. Any ideas?
Thanks for any help out there.
Thanks for any help out there.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Front end wobble - any suggestions?
<Bill D”>
<” New Dyna owner. Just bought a used 2001 FXDXT with about 22k on it. The front end starts a pretty good tank-slapper wobble at 90 MPH. It settles donw if I sit way back in the seat. Any ideas? “>
Could be as simple as wheel balancing, pretty hard to lose the weight on spokes, but a mags I have heard of that, also look at the tire any balloons, rare these days.
Either way, should take off the wheel and have it spin-balance.
cj
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 72
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From: Arkansas
RE: Front end wobble - any suggestions?
A couple of years ago I did allot of reading on FXDX models. I was interested but nobody had one I could look at.
I came across several instances of instability at high speeds, but never saw an explanation or fix for it. That didn't stop me from getting one later, but it was always in the back of my mind.
Regardless, I'd start with the first thing that touches the road...the tires [already suggested] and work your way up. Make sure the suspension settings are at least at the recommended values. Don't assume the previous owner didn't do something weird with the adjustments...some people just HAVE to get a screwdriver and tweak things without understanding what they are doing.
Your bike have ME880's or Dunlops? ME880's like/need to be inflated more than the Dunlops....along the lines of 38 front / 40 rear. If you don't keep them up at those levels, they are prone to cupping.
FXDXT has a windshield, yes? Is it removable? Happen with it on and/or off?
Good luck...
I came across several instances of instability at high speeds, but never saw an explanation or fix for it. That didn't stop me from getting one later, but it was always in the back of my mind.
Regardless, I'd start with the first thing that touches the road...the tires [already suggested] and work your way up. Make sure the suspension settings are at least at the recommended values. Don't assume the previous owner didn't do something weird with the adjustments...some people just HAVE to get a screwdriver and tweak things without understanding what they are doing.
Your bike have ME880's or Dunlops? ME880's like/need to be inflated more than the Dunlops....along the lines of 38 front / 40 rear. If you don't keep them up at those levels, they are prone to cupping.
FXDXT has a windshield, yes? Is it removable? Happen with it on and/or off?
Good luck...
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Front end wobble - any suggestions?
<”06dynablack”>
<”see if front tire is cupping”>
cupping is mainly from low tire pressure, vibration comes from balancing problem, in most cases.
cj
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 710
Likes: 2
From: St.Louis, MO
RE: Front end wobble - any suggestions?
Just got back from a ride. Was doing 80+ and
no wobble. Take it back and have that front
end looked at.
no wobble. Take it back and have that front
end looked at.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
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From:
RE: Front end wobble - any suggestions?
every dunlop I have run the front will cup on em after bout 10k miles.Metzlers I dont have that problem ever with.I run 48 to 50#in rear of 880 and 42 to 44# in front metzler.They require lotta air metzlers do
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Front end wobble - any suggestions?
<”06dynablack”>
<”every dunlop I have run the front will cup on em after bout 10k miles.Metzlers I dont have that problem ever with.I run 48 to 50#in rear of 880 and 42 to 44# in front metzler.They require lotta air metzlers do”>
How many miles on the metz ?
Tire cupping is normal it shows up in just about every tire, it’s because of us riding on the right side of the road (we cup on the left), in england theirs cup on the right side of the tire, it’s got to do with left turns and such.
cj