Front end wobble

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Apr 10, 2011 | 02:38 AM

Krazy8s

Thread Starter

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 2,864

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From: Aussie lost in Switzerland

Front end wobble

Gave myself a bit of a fright yesterday. Was rounding a nice long right hand sweeper bend at about 55 mph, touched the front brake lightly to take some edge off my speed and the front end started wobbling like mad and continued for a bit ( 3-4seconds) after I let the brake off. First time it's happened.
Anyone else experience this and where could I start looking to perhaps find a solution?

TIA, 8's

Apr 10, 2011 | 03:50 AM

Foxster

Road Warrior

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 1,739

Likes: 10

From: Suffolk, England

Before the "you have to spend a $gazillion on something" people pipe up, just check the front wheel's fallaway as per the manual

Oh - and checking the tyre pressures wouldn't hurt.

Apr 10, 2011 | 04:15 AM

Krazy8s

Thread Starter

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 2,864

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From: Aussie lost in Switzerland

Quote:

Originally Posted by Foxster

Before the "you have to spend a $gazillion on something" people pipe up, just check the front wheel's fallaway as per the manual

Oh - and checking the tyre pressures wouldn't hurt.

Tyre pressures are good, checked before I went out and again on return, was the first thing that came to mind.
Thanks for the fall away tip, will look at that ASAP.

Apr 10, 2011 | 06:34 AM

SURFOR Chop

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 4,919

Likes: 23

From: Seattle, WA

Most motorcycle safety courses recommend against using the front brake while turning ... take off speed with the front brake before going into the turn ... if needed, use the rear brake while in the turn ....

R/
'Chop

Apr 10, 2011 | 06:35 AM

2011Deluxe

Banned

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 12,594

Likes: 9

From: Bama

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krazy8s

touched the front brake lightly to take some edge off my speed

Big mistake.

Apr 10, 2011 | 06:41 AM

howitzer88

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 2,386

Likes: 15

From: The City Of New York

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrants82

Big mistake.

+1. Basics.

Apr 10, 2011 | 08:10 AM

stic2it

Road Captain

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 671

Likes: 5

From: D.C suburbs

+2, I did a face plant on the pavement after I hit the front brake in a turn! Lesson learned, only touch the rear brake in a turn, stand the bike up if you have to apply anything more than a touch!

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Apr 10, 2011 | 12:29 PM

dynabobster

Tourer

Joined: Feb 2011

Posts: 351

Likes: 2

There is a big difference to grabbing a handful of front brake in a corner to feathering the front brake in a corner, but that is not the real issue. You should not get any wobble when braking period.
Krazy8s, do you get and sort of wobble when lightly applying the brake in a straight line or at any speed in a straight line? Besides checking the fall away, I would take it to the dealer and have them make sure your rotor is torqued properly, check to see if there is excessive runout of the rotor with a dial indicator, check to make sure the bearings are not loose/failing and that the axle is properly torqued.