Wobble anyone had one?
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 453
Likes: 0
From: I live in Ruidoso New Mexico
I had one on my gold wing a few years back when I was young and Dum. The power wobble started at about 105 MPH, let off the throttle ever so slowly till it went away. Scared the s—t out of me. Never again.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
Sporties are a little prone to high speed wobbles, especially 2-up. Light build on the front end, tire groove allignment vs. road conditions, etc.
I've had it happen a couple of times with SWMBO on the back, scared the crap outta both of us.
I knew the front end was tight and in good shape ( it's a new bike) and the tire pressure gets checked before every ride. After a lot of thinking, I sorted out the fact that the configuration of the bike (stock shocks and springs, it only happened when we were on a trip, so the saddlebags were loaded and we had a trunk on the rear rack, so the majority of weight was on the rear end.
Light front end, and both times it happened we were in a turn. I rode a buddies bike late in the fall, exactly the same bike; bags, windshield, stock suspension...and his handling was a lot more "locked in". Really smooth through sweepers, no sign of front wheel wobble.
The only difference in his set up was a superbrace. I could REALLY notice a difference in the way it handled and felt at speed. I bought a superbrace this winter and installed it, now just waiting for all of this G(*&^%$ snow to melt to test it out.
I also put progressive 412's on the back and springs up front. I'm expecting that the ride and handling are gonna make it a different bike.
I know you weren't on a Sportster, but there are a lot of "little" things that can combine, at the wrong time, to cause a wobble. I really don't like the pucker factor at 70mph, and my wife likes it even less.( that woman can swear like a sailor sometimes). I'm pretty sure the changes I made are gonna come close to guaranteeing that we're not going to experience another "oh ****!!" moment again; at least not due to a high speed wobble.
I've had it happen a couple of times with SWMBO on the back, scared the crap outta both of us.
I knew the front end was tight and in good shape ( it's a new bike) and the tire pressure gets checked before every ride. After a lot of thinking, I sorted out the fact that the configuration of the bike (stock shocks and springs, it only happened when we were on a trip, so the saddlebags were loaded and we had a trunk on the rear rack, so the majority of weight was on the rear end.
Light front end, and both times it happened we were in a turn. I rode a buddies bike late in the fall, exactly the same bike; bags, windshield, stock suspension...and his handling was a lot more "locked in". Really smooth through sweepers, no sign of front wheel wobble.
The only difference in his set up was a superbrace. I could REALLY notice a difference in the way it handled and felt at speed. I bought a superbrace this winter and installed it, now just waiting for all of this G(*&^%$ snow to melt to test it out.
I also put progressive 412's on the back and springs up front. I'm expecting that the ride and handling are gonna make it a different bike.
I know you weren't on a Sportster, but there are a lot of "little" things that can combine, at the wrong time, to cause a wobble. I really don't like the pucker factor at 70mph, and my wife likes it even less.( that woman can swear like a sailor sometimes). I'm pretty sure the changes I made are gonna come close to guaranteeing that we're not going to experience another "oh ****!!" moment again; at least not due to a high speed wobble.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 723
Likes: 2
From: Nc
They can hurt. And you don't forget them . I can still remember the one I had in 1986. I also like the fall away to be on the tight side and like to run a steering damper and fork brace on all my big bikes including the Harley . This one looks pretty violent .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ1srcQMa_0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ1srcQMa_0
Last edited by turn8a; Jan 30, 2010 at 09:48 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,896
Likes: 2
From: North Lima, Ohio
I had the dreaded wobble twice now. Both with flat rear tires. 1 at 70mph when I picked up a nail in the tire. That was scarey and 1 at low speed in the mountains just before a switchback. Glad that didnt happen IN the curve. That one was my fault. Neither one put me down because I controled the bike properly I think, or just lucky. Oh ya, I forgot.. Those nasty grooved roads from asphalt grinding do it too.
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Joe Kucinski
Banned
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
From: Halfway to Hell
My bike does every damn thing to try and throw you off so I run my neck on the tight side like Gump. It's actually more stable with the springer than it was with the wide glide because the springer has more trail due to the offset of the lower rockers.
Sorry ya went down but catching a wobble at 50 mph means something on the bike ain't right.
Sorry ya went down but catching a wobble at 50 mph means something on the bike ain't right.
