Stabilizer
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
Likes: 12
From: Bluffton, South Carolina
Be sure to check engine/drive line adjustment to ensure everything is straight before you install any stabilizer. Otherwise you will have a stabilized out of alignment drivetrain!!
John
John
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: West Virginia
BTW I followed the thread on the detachable tour pak which was great and applied it to my bike, worked perfectly, the guys at the HD shop kept telling me it wouldn't work. It is amazing that those guys don't know how simple the modification is, they are missing out on a group of owners because they won't take some time to figure out how these things could apply even though HD doesn't want to support the old models with anymore. See attached pics:
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2nd Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: West Virginia
Purchased the True Track system and installed last week, worth every penny, excelent product, easy install and what a difference in ride quality to eliminate the rear steer. Apprecate the input!
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis, IN
Please remember that my questions come from a position of ignorance:
My 96 FLHTCI is my first big bike, and in reality my first bike. I had a Honda Magna, but only had it for half a season and logged less than 3k miles on her. I've had my wonderful Evo for a year and a half with almost 10k happy miles.
Can someone describe what the stabilizer does? Due to my lack of experience I'm not sure what some of the comments about cornering and wobble are, I might be experiencing them but just don't know any better. I would also love to see a picture of where they go if anyone can do that easily.
My 96 FLHTCI is my first big bike, and in reality my first bike. I had a Honda Magna, but only had it for half a season and logged less than 3k miles on her. I've had my wonderful Evo for a year and a half with almost 10k happy miles.
Can someone describe what the stabilizer does? Due to my lack of experience I'm not sure what some of the comments about cornering and wobble are, I might be experiencing them but just don't know any better. I would also love to see a picture of where they go if anyone can do that easily.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Certainly!
All touring Harleys since the 1980s have a rubber-mounted engine. The swingarm and rear wheel are mounted off the back wall of the transmission casing and the trans is bolted to the engine. That large assembly, roughly half the weight of the bike, is held in the frame by rubber mounts - one at the front of the crankcase and two at the rear. There is a third mounting point between the cylinder heads. The system is triangulated, which is good, but there is a missing vital link.
There is one stabilizer link providing lateral support to the front rubber, in full view when you look at your bike. It allows the engine to wobble up and down, but not move sideways. A second stabilizer in between the heads allows similar movement and provides lateral support up there.
The rear rubber mounts are at each end of the swingarm axle, hidden from view by the passenger footrest mounts. That axle holds the swingarm on the back of the trans and is isolated from the frame by the rubber mounts.
Unfortunately there is no third lateral support for those mounts, which is where the infamous bagger wobble originates. Sideways input from the rear wheel, such as while cornering, puts loads into those rear rubbers and creates slight lateral movement. Not good!
There are around a dozen brands of handling stabilizer, of which the True-Track is original and, IMHO, best. It provides that critical lateral support for the rear mounts and transforms the way the bike steers and corners.
Hope that helps! If not ask questions!
All touring Harleys since the 1980s have a rubber-mounted engine. The swingarm and rear wheel are mounted off the back wall of the transmission casing and the trans is bolted to the engine. That large assembly, roughly half the weight of the bike, is held in the frame by rubber mounts - one at the front of the crankcase and two at the rear. There is a third mounting point between the cylinder heads. The system is triangulated, which is good, but there is a missing vital link.
There is one stabilizer link providing lateral support to the front rubber, in full view when you look at your bike. It allows the engine to wobble up and down, but not move sideways. A second stabilizer in between the heads allows similar movement and provides lateral support up there.
The rear rubber mounts are at each end of the swingarm axle, hidden from view by the passenger footrest mounts. That axle holds the swingarm on the back of the trans and is isolated from the frame by the rubber mounts.
Unfortunately there is no third lateral support for those mounts, which is where the infamous bagger wobble originates. Sideways input from the rear wheel, such as while cornering, puts loads into those rear rubbers and creates slight lateral movement. Not good!
There are around a dozen brands of handling stabilizer, of which the True-Track is original and, IMHO, best. It provides that critical lateral support for the rear mounts and transforms the way the bike steers and corners.
Hope that helps! If not ask questions!
Last edited by grbrown; May 30, 2012 at 04:02 PM.
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