2013 Road King Vibration
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1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5
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From: United States
2013 Road King Vibration
Could use some help. I just purchased a 2013 Road King. I took it for a test ride and it was awesome. Much more power than my 2010 Heritage. I then added some LA Chopper slip ons. When the dealer delivered my bike I took it for ride. I noticed a significant vibration in the floor boards in the lowers gears. The Old Lady noticed it in her boards and backrest. This is not the normal harley vibration. Anyone have any ideas. I checked all the mounts for the slip ons and nothing's seems to be touching where it shouldn't.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 117
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From: On the Chester River
Don't know if this apples but a few weeks after I got my 2011 Road Glide Ultra, I developed an unusual vibration that scared the bejesus out of me, to the point that I loaded it on the trailer to return it to the dealer. It turned out it was a loose nut that had wedged against one of the motor mounts. Oddly enough, it wasn't a nut from the bike so we haven't a clue how it got there. You might check your motor mounts to see if something (maybe a stone, etc.) is lodged around one of them.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
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From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Izzy, is your only other experience with Harley being your Heritage? If so, the Softtails such as your Heritage have a counter balanced motor. It is smoother at idle than the other Harleys. That said, your Road King is a rubber mounted motor and while you will get a lot of vibration at idle, especially if you've got the brakes applied, most of it should smooth out when at highway speeds. Even then, you will feel some, especially when accelerating. Just the nature of the beast. It's not bothersome to most people.
You may have something else going on. Motor mounts are the first place to start looking.
You may have something else going on. Motor mounts are the first place to start looking.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 614
Likes: 79
From: Virginia
I picked up a screw in the rear tire on a 2012 RK. After the tire was replaced, the bike had a noticeable buzz in the floorboards. I removed/reinstalled the mufflers, checked the heat shields, etc. I did find the belt was too tight and corrected that, but I swear the buzz remained. It might have been a bit less, particularly after fixing the belt tension. Never did figure it out. Sold the bike a couple of months ago. Not because of the buzz, just decided I didn't want a bike that big.
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1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: United States
Thanks guys. I've looked everywhere for the cause and have come up empty. Yes this is my only other harley since my heritage. I'm going to stop by the dealer and have one of them take it out to see what they say. I'll keep you guys posted. Thx for the ideas.
Izzy
Izzy
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,282
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From: Northwestern Nevada
Maybe its your wife kicking the back of your seat...might look her over once to see if she smirks.
Good luck finding it.
Good luck finding it.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 538
Likes: 18
From: Lexington, Ky
I have enough vibration below 5 mph that video from a windshield camera is not pleasant but above that speed nothing significant. Is this only under load? Is it the type of stutter you would experience if lugging the engine? Just trying to understand the "feel" of it. There is some type of temperature management system that "should" only be on if you set it to on at idle, and should only kick in above a certain temp, and should go to sleep as soon as you open the throttle. But it shuts down the rear cylinder, I don't know if a defect could somehow cause that to be always on but I imagine it would vibrate like hell. Wild guess
I'll admit. I'll leave logical process to the guys on here who understand how these bikes work.
I'll admit. I'll leave logical process to the guys on here who understand how these bikes work.
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Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: United States
Update
Well I had both my sales guy and the mechanic take it for a ride at the dealer. Sales guy said he felt a little vibration but nothing out of the ordinary, especially when compared to his Dyna. The mechanic which I feel really knows his stuff took it for a lengthy ride and said its fine. He recommended I go longer between shifting gears. He said he didn't shift into 3rd until around 45mph. I do it a little sooner than that. So I tried it on the way home and agree its better, but still think there is more to it. He recommended I keep an eye on, then when I bring it in for my 1K service, have them look at it again. IDK......I may take it to a local bike shop for a sanity check.
Izzy, is your only other experience with Harley being your Heritage? If so, the Softtails such as your Heritage have a counter balanced motor. It is smoother at idle than the other Harleys. That said, your Road King is a rubber mounted motor and while you will get a lot of vibration at idle, especially if you've got the brakes applied, most of it should smooth out when at highway speeds. Even then, you will feel some, especially when accelerating. Just the nature of the beast. It's not bothersome to most people.
You may have something else going on. Motor mounts are the first place to start looking.
You may have something else going on. Motor mounts are the first place to start looking.