hehe
ness faring = speed wobble!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: CA 93555
ness faring = speed wobble!
i installed my new ness faring as per instructions. took it out on the highway east on the ten. cruising speed is normally 85-95, but i decided to go above 100. my 07 SB cruises streight as an arrow at 110 with out the ness faring, but that was not the case today. my brother was just beside me at about 105 when my handlebars started back and forth. i slowly rolled off the throttle, locked my arms foreward and said the famouse two words ( O S#*T). the bike settled at about 70-80mph, im really not sure because i didnt look down untill 70.
this has never happened to me before, yes i did check everything on the bike, and that includes checking to see if the true track was in a neutral position. went back out a couple of days later and started to notice how unstable the bike was between 75-90 ( i would not take it above 90 at that point), and decided that this thing was not for me. i ride my bike hard, 19000 miles since last march, i know my bike and i know that the faring is not the best thing to install if you to ride hard.
these are my two cents, so take them how you will.
this has never happened to me before, yes i did check everything on the bike, and that includes checking to see if the true track was in a neutral position. went back out a couple of days later and started to notice how unstable the bike was between 75-90 ( i would not take it above 90 at that point), and decided that this thing was not for me. i ride my bike hard, 19000 miles since last march, i know my bike and i know that the faring is not the best thing to install if you to ride hard.
these are my two cents, so take them how you will.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 25
From: NorCal
I added a HD quarter fairing to my bike with the stock apes. I had a bit of a weave at high speeds that was disconcerting...
When I replaced my bars with T-bars, the weave went away. My best guess is that my apes were pulled back, versus my T-bars going straight up off the triple tree. This caused me to pull back on the bars, which caused the weave.
I could stop the weave/wobble if I pushed forward on the bars instead of using them to brace myself against the wind.
Try tilting your apes forward. Might work, might not. But it's free to try...
When I replaced my bars with T-bars, the weave went away. My best guess is that my apes were pulled back, versus my T-bars going straight up off the triple tree. This caused me to pull back on the bars, which caused the weave.
I could stop the weave/wobble if I pushed forward on the bars instead of using them to brace myself against the wind.
Try tilting your apes forward. Might work, might not. But it's free to try...
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,745
Likes: 1
From: A house.
Just suggestions; tire air pressure, front shock oil level/spring weight, rear shock adjustment, steering head bearing adjustment and swing arm bearing condition. Any can cause a high speed wobble. The faster you go, the more perfect it all needs to be. Improving aerodynamics with a fairing doesn't cause wobble, but it can magnify the symptoms caused by suspension issues because your ride is more "slippery."
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Camarillo Ca
Yea I'm gonna say it's not the fairing doing this because I have one on my street bob and when I was doing 115 the other day my bike way flying straight. If the head bearings are in the slightest loose it will cause this. It happened to me on my night train and a few friends have had the same issue after the neck was adjusted it wasn't a problem anymore. My friends and i ride really hard and haven't had problems with the fairings.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 772
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
I can't imagine how a fairing could cause such an issue. Pressure on the steering head bearings, maybe. Bearings probably not adjusted properly.
I once had an old Sportster that went unstable at speeds above 110 (no fairing). Adjusting the steering head didn't work. I had to replace the bearings on that one. They may have been damaged somehow, though I could see no obvious damage.
I once had an old Sportster that went unstable at speeds above 110 (no fairing). Adjusting the steering head didn't work. I had to replace the bearings on that one. They may have been damaged somehow, though I could see no obvious damage.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 310
Likes: 1
From: Dayton, OH
Im gonna agree with all of the above... pushed mine to 110 after my dyno the other day and didn't have the tiniest issue. Id suggest what others have said, check tire pressure, check spokes, check front end geometry, springs and oil, adjust bars... ect.
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senior experienced all-knowing leader of the unwise
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 351
From: USA
Don't have Ness but Rifle Roadster. My 05 Dyna is stable up to 125. Never really had a reason to go faster than that.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: CA 93555
i did check the air pressure and the headset bearing. the one thing that i considered but didnt change was the 20 weight fork oil. with out the faring the front end was fine with 20 weight.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Texas
I have the same problem at 75 to 80 mph with a hd standard style windshield. Without it no wobble. I know that the fairing is a lot smaller and i was considering getting one. Now i wonder if it is not the neck bearings or something else. Bike is brand new.