Fork Wobble
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,611
Likes: 104
From: Southern Colorado
This is a great thread, thanks to all who have contributed. Recently I started noticing on slow speed turns that my front end wanted to 'flop' over. I guess what I call flop others call wobble? I rarely have my bike over 80 mph so I'm trying to figure out whether the comments I read about wobble at that speed can be translated to my slow speed turns?
Anyway, I stopped at the dealer yesterday to make an appointment - its all a bit unnerving to think about what could happen at highway speeds. As for the bike, I do have some uneven tire wear on the front tire and that is where I most logically would have started (a balance weight fell off the wheel sometime ago). However, reading your comments there appear to be many other places to start. To their credit, the service techs suggested many of the things you guys have already posted - tire, spokes, wheel, neck bearings and motor mounts. My bike has 33k on it and the tire has about 6k. Thanks again for your comments. Its great having a place where others have experienced these problems and are helping others stay out of trouble.
Ride safe.
Anyway, I stopped at the dealer yesterday to make an appointment - its all a bit unnerving to think about what could happen at highway speeds. As for the bike, I do have some uneven tire wear on the front tire and that is where I most logically would have started (a balance weight fell off the wheel sometime ago). However, reading your comments there appear to be many other places to start. To their credit, the service techs suggested many of the things you guys have already posted - tire, spokes, wheel, neck bearings and motor mounts. My bike has 33k on it and the tire has about 6k. Thanks again for your comments. Its great having a place where others have experienced these problems and are helping others stay out of trouble.
Ride safe.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Sydney..Australia
G`Day All.
I am also getting the dreaded "wobble", I rode Sportys for yrs and a Superglide before i picked up my old Arm chair so I was real suprised when she tried to throw me off the road through some bends.
The bike has new tyres/wheel bearings and front forks rebuilt by previouse owner and myself, I talked to some mate's and checked out the Aus Harley Forum and found that a few bloke's are useing the Glide-pro setup, so I went to there web-site and watched the vids and ordered a set, they should arrive this week so after I install them and ride a few hundred kays i will post it up.
Aussie Dave.
I am also getting the dreaded "wobble", I rode Sportys for yrs and a Superglide before i picked up my old Arm chair so I was real suprised when she tried to throw me off the road through some bends.
The bike has new tyres/wheel bearings and front forks rebuilt by previouse owner and myself, I talked to some mate's and checked out the Aus Harley Forum and found that a few bloke's are useing the Glide-pro setup, so I went to there web-site and watched the vids and ordered a set, they should arrive this week so after I install them and ride a few hundred kays i will post it up.
Aussie Dave.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,202
Likes: 3,089
From: NW AR
Check the neck bearing. The procedure is in the book, but basically, undo the clutch cable at least, front end up, turn wheel one way, let it go and count the oscillations. Biatch to adjust, but that's what caused me to have a wobble. I also stopped pulling the front wheel off the ground and stopped having that bearing go out of adjustment and stopped eating drive belts.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Sydney..Australia
Well I installed the Glide-Pro setup last friday, i have only put 180kays on the bike since the install...but the harley wobble is 90% gone...I am rapt.
Rideing the same mountain roads at the same speed there is no wobble, sure I can try to push it at stupid speeds and she will wobble...but hey i aint rideing a Buell.
Bike feels alot better at all speeds, change of direction and bumps in corners are more controllable.
I did check the neck bearings as suggested by Dr.Hess before I installed the glide-pro, and yes they were to loose and ajusting them correctly did help minimise the wobble, so if you know your
front engine mount and swingarm rubbers are fairly new or in good condition I would advise neck bearings 1st, all my rubbers were shot...front mount had a split all the way through and s/arm
rubbers were a mess.
Aussie Dave
Rideing the same mountain roads at the same speed there is no wobble, sure I can try to push it at stupid speeds and she will wobble...but hey i aint rideing a Buell.
Bike feels alot better at all speeds, change of direction and bumps in corners are more controllable.
I did check the neck bearings as suggested by Dr.Hess before I installed the glide-pro, and yes they were to loose and ajusting them correctly did help minimise the wobble, so if you know your
front engine mount and swingarm rubbers are fairly new or in good condition I would advise neck bearings 1st, all my rubbers were shot...front mount had a split all the way through and s/arm
rubbers were a mess.
Aussie Dave
Last edited by aussie dave; Jun 3, 2011 at 01:52 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Poland, EU
Better check Your wheels alignment. And drive train alignment since the rear wheel is bolted to it through swingarm. I did it on my EG and the wobble is gone.
Also I experienced some wobble on my friend`s Yamaha FJ11 which is 120BHP bike. Checked rear wheel - it was out of line. Set the alignment properly and the wobble was gone. Having wobble at 120-130MPH was no pleasure at all.
Also I experienced some wobble on my friend`s Yamaha FJ11 which is 120BHP bike. Checked rear wheel - it was out of line. Set the alignment properly and the wobble was gone. Having wobble at 120-130MPH was no pleasure at all.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 471
Likes: 9
From: Far NorCal
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