Dyna steering woble
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3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: nc
Dyna steering woble
i have a 09 Dyna super glide custom. I recently added 12" apes and a fat boy head light. I once i get over 55-60 mph its like the handle bars are super sensitive. every little wind gust will give me a little wobble. Has anyone else experienced this after adding new bars and if so what is the fix? steering stabilizer?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,839
Likes: 501
From: Northern WV
Maybe your head bearings were border line loose? Try riding on a level or slight down hill around 50 mph in a higher gear. Release your grip on the bars as it slows down (keep your hands almost on them) and see if it starts to wobble. Usually most noticeable between 40 and 30 mph. If so they need snugged up.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,291
Likes: 11
From: The Whale's Vagina
Had the same problem with my apes. Checked tire pressure, spoke torque, fall away...no change. I tried different risers, switched to poly bushings, and it got better, but it was still there. I finally got rid of my beloved apes, and the problem went away.
Like 203Cree said, death grip can cause it, too. In really gusty conditions, I'll start getting a similar, but less dramatic, wobble, and realize I'm death-grippping. Once I relax, everything smooths right out.
If you want to keep those apes, try relaxing your grip a little and see how it feels. Also, you can't go wrong by switching to poly bushings. They firm things up significantly over the stock rubber. Cheap and effective improvement.
Like 203Cree said, death grip can cause it, too. In really gusty conditions, I'll start getting a similar, but less dramatic, wobble, and realize I'm death-grippping. Once I relax, everything smooths right out.
If you want to keep those apes, try relaxing your grip a little and see how it feels. Also, you can't go wrong by switching to poly bushings. They firm things up significantly over the stock rubber. Cheap and effective improvement.
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Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Wobble
When I first bought my bike it had a wobble at speed, 50-60. Took it back to the dealer and they lowered the front tire pressure even though it was on the exact pressure the book called for. I was better after that but still there at higher speeds. I switched handle bars from the buck horns to Dyna Custom bars and it was a lot better. Had the neck bearing replaced and it helped a bit also. Bottom line is a steering dampener is really the only way to stop the high speed wobble. The wobble is caused by air hitting your chest and a death grip makes it worse, but loosening your grip when you're flying is a hard thing to do.
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Looking at your photo it does look like your bars are "over center" and what this does is put your weight to far forward placing the bike out of balance and when you are at speed especially in the wind you tend to either lean hard forward or pull back but in either case both with a hard grip on the bars placing either pressure on the front end behind the center of the wheel and lightening the load on the rear tire when leaning forward or when leaning back lightening the front end.
Despite looking bitchen try pulling the bars back so that the grips are behind the steering head and take the bike out for a ride under the same conditions and see if there is a change.
Bob