Front end shakes over 100

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Oct 27, 2012 | 01:24 PM

Nellie636

Thread Starter

2nd Gear

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 6

Likes: 0

From: The valley

Front end shakes over 100

My 03 softail shakes like crazy anytime I go over a 100mph Unless I keep it fully cracked open. Is their a remedy to this or is it just me?

Oct 27, 2012 | 01:28 PM

EP50

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 2,352

Likes: 6

Yeah mine does too. It goes away though at 183. So I try and stay above that.

Oct 28, 2012 | 07:14 AM

NSCoyote

Club Member

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 7,350

Likes: 4

From: Nova Scotia,Canada

tire pressure, fork oil, tire life left, loose steerign neck, bad wheel bearings all could be a cause of it. my dyna tank slapped bad after 120-130kph, swapped the fork oil out to SE heavy oil replaced the rear tire wit ha metzler me880 and adjusted fall away and now i can hit the 180-190 mark with ease and even get on up over the 200 mark with jus ta few vibrations

Oct 28, 2012 | 07:19 AM

Stiggy

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 17,548

Likes: 7,164

From: Oxford, Nc

I didn't know that a Softail could go over 100 mph...

Oct 28, 2012 | 07:34 AM

Iceman24

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 25,292

Likes: 2,427

From: Eastern NE

Unless you're running the bike in 1/4-mile increments, why go that fast? My bike's meant for relaxing "cruising" - not drag racing. Fastest interstate speed to date is 85 mph so just keep it to the speed limit & you're good to go...

Oct 28, 2012 | 06:04 PM

SoCal TV

Stage I

Joined: Oct 2012

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

From: La Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nellie636

My 03 softail shakes like crazy anytime I go over a 100mph Unless I keep it fully cracked open. Is their a remedy to this or is it just me?

Check your steeing head for looseness. Put the bike on a stand with the front wheel off the ground and see if you can move the fork slightly fore and aft. If so tighten up the steering head. Also the bearings could be rusted or worn if you pressure wash the bike.

Failing that, bikes can get headshake when the fork is to low in the travel. The frame geometry gets steeper when you're on the brakes That's why it goes away when you gas it. Fork oil level could be too low or the springs sacked out.

tholmes@holmespowersports.com