DEATH WOBBLE: on the news tonight??
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,978
Likes: 6,074
From: Florida
I am currently on my 17th Harley,and I have owned everything from a 41 UL to my current Fatty, and have never felt to much as even a slight oscillation in any of them. But I have felt a lot of wobble in my rice & Limey rides.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 71
Likes: 2
From: Spring Hill, KS
Sounds a little odd to me...
I've seen stranger things happen but 25mph causing all that damage? Hope he makes a full recovery, hate to see any rider go down but sounds like the rider might have some blame in this.
Costa said his speed was about 25-30 mph when...
he coded and then slipped into a coma. Five days later, he awoke with a quadruple compound leg fracture, eight broken ribs and a punctured lung
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,106
Likes: 51,387
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
One of the reasons I won't own a newer harley , all the bigger bikes I've ridden wallowed . That's the only way I can describe the feeling , harleys suspension has always sucked but something basic changed in the overall dymanic of the bike when they went unit engine & trans and the cheap box frame . Add a bunch of the extra's like fairing's and all that crap hanging up front on them and they feel like a pig to me . The goofy air over one side cartridge design can't be stable when under torque or flexing . More weight up front kills the center of gravity now it's overhung to the front . Get a jiggle and it's going to amplify fast in the right condition's . The bikes are stable enough for normal bagger cruising & conditions but add some horsepower and ride it a bit harder there a pig for handling .
Learned my lessons about forks before harleys thanks god , had a hotrod BSA 650 Firebird that could take on 750 honda's in the day . We were over 85+ when my bike went into a violent stop to stop tank slapper almost threw me the handlebars were jerked so hard out of my hands . Got lucky , was fall I was bundled a bit and the grass was tall and it was a wide road divide so when I finally went over I rolled and slide on the grass with the bike . Tweaked the forks and bent the bars was about all aside me loading my pants .
Found one fork was almost dry no oil , young dumb and had no clue .
Learned my lessons about forks before harleys thanks god , had a hotrod BSA 650 Firebird that could take on 750 honda's in the day . We were over 85+ when my bike went into a violent stop to stop tank slapper almost threw me the handlebars were jerked so hard out of my hands . Got lucky , was fall I was bundled a bit and the grass was tall and it was a wide road divide so when I finally went over I rolled and slide on the grass with the bike . Tweaked the forks and bent the bars was about all aside me loading my pants .
Found one fork was almost dry no oil , young dumb and had no clue .
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 13
From: georgetown ky
I've had 4 touring Harleys. a 99,01,05,and a 2010 all were batwings except for the 01 a Road King. The only time I've experienced a wobble is at about 110 plus. It will make your pucker factor bit into the seat.
My daughter had a xl 1200 r with a detachable windsheild get up to about 90 it would scre the crap out of the unsuspecting rider. True massive head shake. but you could take the sheild of and lay down on the tank and take it all the way to the top and no problems at all just raw power.
IMO I think dude had a low rear tire possiblely. For me I find it hard to believe he was only doing 25 mph.
My daughter had a xl 1200 r with a detachable windsheild get up to about 90 it would scre the crap out of the unsuspecting rider. True massive head shake. but you could take the sheild of and lay down on the tank and take it all the way to the top and no problems at all just raw power.
IMO I think dude had a low rear tire possiblely. For me I find it hard to believe he was only doing 25 mph.
Last edited by hardwork2; May 17, 2011 at 06:04 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,578
Likes: 19,791
From: Ramona, Ca
I never had the "death wobble", but then again every 5000 miles it's a required/recommended service to torque the stearing head. Wonder how many years ago this was not a regular service?
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,106
Likes: 51,387
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Pan's & early shovel full dressers came with a adjustable steer head tensioner . Was a small clutch plate you adjust by turning a big **** on the top clamp , made for a nice auto pilot on long flat roads .
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
have to admit that one night after drinking several bottles of instant intelligence I was racing a crotch rocket while I was on a 08 road king that I had. I went into a turn and was doing excess of 80 mph and the front started feeling like it was a pump going from one side to the other. It really scared me and when I backed off it got worse so I just gave it more gas and it pulled out of it. I was talking to some friends later and they told me that if i had tried to slow down more it would have probably been a fatal error. It was a scary ride and if I had been a weekend only rider it would have been my last ride.
My head lights were going across the horizon and even though it only last for a few seconds it was very violent. I got rid of that road king and now ride a street glide and haven't had anything like it to happen even when straightening out curves at 90 plus.
My head lights were going across the horizon and even though it only last for a few seconds it was very violent. I got rid of that road king and now ride a street glide and haven't had anything like it to happen even when straightening out curves at 90 plus.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 603
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From: AZ
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 671
Likes: 1
From: Maryland
Like I said in another post having to do with the same issue. My 2010 Ultra Limited has a wobble in the front fork. In another words, if I am traveling at any speed and I take my hands off the bars the front wheel wobbles. So my line of thinking would be that, the bike has issues. Front tire wear is unusually worn at 16k. When every other bike I've had I've gotten at least 30k (my 08 street glide for example)out of the front tire.