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Question for you guys that have ridden evo tourers for a long time...I rode to the annual Chief Blackhawk antique motorcycle races/swap meet in Davenport, IA yesterday (really cool swap meet with tons of antique/classic bikes & parts), and rode hard with traffic at 80-90mph for extended times on the interstate...I have a 1998 Road King with a batwing
that I put the True-Track stabilizer on, it feels pretty good until 80+ where it kind of 'snakes' a little...the front wanders ever so slightly...is this just the nature of the beast at those speeds, or do I need to go through and replace all the bushings/neck bearings etc? My Dads 2012 E-glide was stable at those speeds, no issues whatsoever rolling at 90, and it had me wondering if its that new frame his has that makes it so stable or if this one can be that stable at those speeds?
Side Note, anyone want to trade for a FXR?
A few comments. Check your tyre pressures and condition. If your tyres are more than say 5 years old, or worst still stock Dunlops, change them for new and better quality ones. Good quality tyres at the correct pressures should give you improved confidence. Add a couple of psi extra when planning to travel at higher speeds for any length of time.
Those handlebars! It is very likely that you are gripping tight at speed, which means you're not allowing your front wheel to find its own way. At the very least, wear good quality ear plugs, which will cut down the noise and allow you to relax more.
By all means check other things such as steering bearings, but attend to the above.
The rake and trail geometry on your RK is why you can move at 1/2 mph in a parking lot and swing an extremely tight circle without falling over, looks and feels cool. That same geometry will get to feeling wonky at high speeds. The high handlebars probably dont help either.
I've only had my 98 Road King a few weeks, but I've spent a few hundred miles on the highway running 85-90mph for much of that and my bike feels pretty solid, like i can comfortably drop my left hand into my lap at that speed. Bike is not wonky.
I do not have a batwing or fairing on it. The bike has mini-apes on it and is wearing newish Harley Dunlops.
Thanks for the input fellas. I thought about the tight grip aspect with the apes, but that wasnt it- it was definetly mechanical...glad to hear these bikes can run as fast as someone should go on one without funny issues...I'll check the bearings & bushings then head out to the salt flats😆
Yea those tapered wheel bearings wear allowing some play, you CAN adjust the play but better off replacing them.
My RK still has the original swing arm bushings and 90 mph is a normal speed for it, best move made to solid up the rear swag was discarding the slushy air shocks for coil overs. Rear tire air pressure or low tread(Dunlops are the worse) will make the rear move around on a older RK, check the other items mentioned earlier.
There is also a grease fitting on the steering neck, sometimes just loading the bearings up with grease will put some resistance on the bearings because you got some work ahead of you getting to the neck bearing adjuster
Last edited by 1997bagger; Sep 1, 2019 at 08:16 AM.
Could be alot of things,a any Idea the last time the front forks were gone thru? My 97 ultra had air assisted forks having a similar issue myself I found running max air pressure I believe 20 psi in the front helped tremendously w 38 psi in the front tire.
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98 Road King - @ high speeds
