1996 Roadking wobble on bends with a bump...
1996 Roadking wobble on bends with a bump...
Hey everyone...I recently bought 1996 Roadking ...well looked after but has done 153,00 km ( or 95,000 miles ) I have ridden this approximately 2500 kms and have experienced the wobble in the rear end around a bend if there is a bump in the road. Here in New Zealand just about every corner has a bump....!!! The speed is reasonably slow from as low as 55 mph ( 80kph).
I have checked the usual things such as swing arm bushes, steering head bearings, tyre pressures , shocks and engine mounts, the next thing was to try a TRUE-TRAK thingy, has anyone had a good outcome using one of these or should I just keep riding but be mindful of the Harley Wobble?
Your help and expertise is much appreciated as I have heard of people spending lots of coin trying to sort this without much luck.
I have checked the usual things such as swing arm bushes, steering head bearings, tyre pressures , shocks and engine mounts, the next thing was to try a TRUE-TRAK thingy, has anyone had a good outcome using one of these or should I just keep riding but be mindful of the Harley Wobble?
Your help and expertise is much appreciated as I have heard of people spending lots of coin trying to sort this without much luck.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Kia Ora Bro 
You are just going too fast on the wrong kinda roads mate
..... Tru Tracks can help but either Air Shocks or a pair of the Hagon Nitrous shocks with 18mm damper rods will also help.
Tyres make a big difference on RKs, especially the front. If its worn into a triangular profile it will handle like a stoned Hippo. Metzelers are good but the white wall latest Dunlop series are also very good.
Run 37psi in the back and 35 in the front.
Check the spokes, if you are running spoked wheels, as I have known them come loose and give some scary handling, tap each spoke with a spanner and if it goes "bong" rather than "ting" then you have a problem and it will need the spokes re-tightened and the wheel trued.
You are just going too fast on the wrong kinda roads mate
..... Tru Tracks can help but either Air Shocks or a pair of the Hagon Nitrous shocks with 18mm damper rods will also help.Tyres make a big difference on RKs, especially the front. If its worn into a triangular profile it will handle like a stoned Hippo. Metzelers are good but the white wall latest Dunlop series are also very good.
Run 37psi in the back and 35 in the front.
Check the spokes, if you are running spoked wheels, as I have known them come loose and give some scary handling, tap each spoke with a spanner and if it goes "bong" rather than "ting" then you have a problem and it will need the spokes re-tightened and the wheel trued.
Kia Ora Bro
You are just going too fast on the wrong kinda roads mate ..... Tru Tracks can help but either Air Shocks or a pair of the Hagon Nitrous shocks with 18mm damper rods will also help.
Tyres make a big difference on RKs, especially the front. If its worn into a triangular profile it will handle like a stoned Hippo. Metzelers are good but the white wall latest Dunlop series are also very good.
Run 37psi in the back and 35 in the front.
Check the spokes, if you are running spoked wheels, as I have known them come loose and give some scary handling, tap each spoke with a spanner and if it goes "bong" rather than "ting" then you have a problem and it will need the spokes re-tightened and the wheel trued.
You are just going too fast on the wrong kinda roads mate
..... Tru Tracks can help but either Air Shocks or a pair of the Hagon Nitrous shocks with 18mm damper rods will also help.Tyres make a big difference on RKs, especially the front. If its worn into a triangular profile it will handle like a stoned Hippo. Metzelers are good but the white wall latest Dunlop series are also very good.
Run 37psi in the back and 35 in the front.
Check the spokes, if you are running spoked wheels, as I have known them come loose and give some scary handling, tap each spoke with a spanner and if it goes "bong" rather than "ting" then you have a problem and it will need the spokes re-tightened and the wheel trued.
I'm running 38 PSI in both front and rear as this was some other advice I got....it seems to handle better with the wife on the back or maybe I'm just going slower so I don't get a whack !!!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
Likes: 444
From: Ohio
Any of the braces absolutely work. Do it mate, you'll not regret it.
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I have just found out that the TRUE TRAK isn't stocked here in NZ, but the Progressive unit will be here in about 5 weeks, are these any good?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
They are all good but you really should check out spokes and stuff before committing because it might not need it.....you don't see many over here so I would think that maybe they aren't always needed. I look after 4 Roadkings for various people and none have stabilisers....two have had loose spokes though....just don't wanna see you spend money you don't have to :-)