My Dreadful Bagger Wobble
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,185
Likes: 7,961
From: In my head
I can set my cruise at 100MPH layback with my head on the back seat and put my feet above the windscreen and ride for an hour (on straight roads). No matter how many tar snakes or bumps I can almost fall asleep. I guess I'm lucky, the shark just runs straight.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,518
Likes: 57,069
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
I've had several baggers and the only one that exhibited ( minimal at best ) wobble was my 1992 FLHTCU ... and it didn't start until after 50,000 miles ... The maiden voyage of my 2009 FLHTCU was down into the Smokies for a week ... "Red" was with me and was impressed by the ride but it was her comments after several days down there and us deciding to take "high speed shot" at the Cherohala Highway ... After twisting it up and into 4th gear she commented, and I quote "What a fu˘kin' difference" and ( generally ) she's not one to use expletives ... She's happy, I'm happy :>)
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,578
Likes: 8,408
From: Inland NW
It is NOT my first experience with a death wobble. I had a GSXR 750 that went into bar-slap at 90 due to junk steering head bearings, and a CBR1000F that did it in a corner with junk tires. KNOCK ON WOOD, I rode them all out...not sure if it makes me more sensitive, or numb to it. My buddy with the '18 CVO was riding behind me while we were in northern Montana doing 100+, he said he won't ride behind me any longer unless I figure this out
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Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,578
Likes: 8,408
From: Inland NW
I can take my hands off the bars in cruise, no problem...straight as an arrow.
The stock suspension blows, and I would be replacing it even if I had no wobbles.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 718
From: Indianapolis
That video is rather interesting. How is the engine and swingarm twist related? Does the swingarm pivot go through the rear engine mount? I thought that the hockey puck looking isolators on the frame were the connection point. If twisting the engine over affects the distance from the axle to upper mount then it's most likely just twisting the entire frame. Don't like it, but maybe my understanding is wrong.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 842
Likes: 938
From: Middle VA
I will be checking mine as per the video. Will report back. Good luck!
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 273
Likes: 151
From: Colorado
That video is rather interesting. How is the engine and swingarm twist related? Does the swingarm pivot go through the rear engine mount? I thought that the hockey puck looking isolators on the frame were the connection point. If twisting the engine over affects the distance from the axle to upper mount then it's most likely just twisting the entire frame. Don't like it, but maybe my understanding is wrong.
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...LUGGAGE%20RACK
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...ND%20OIL%20PAN
https://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche...BILIZER%20LINK
I would also think using a camber gauge would be more accurate to check to see if the rear was tweaked than that gauge. Shock mounts are not pickup points, and their locations matter little in the grand scheme of things.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 2,060
From: Phoenix
I found this interesting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAW8eM8A124 Just passing it along for information purposes. I haven't had the time to wrap my head around what he goes over, just found it interesting.
This set up is way too expensive and complicated.
It can be done with a $5.00 angle finder from Harbor Freight or even a short bubble level.
What I do is strap down the front of the bike. Adjust the straps until bike is strait up and down. Use the angle finder or bubble level on the front brake rotor to check.
Now check the rear brake rotor, if it's not strait up and down then you need to adjust the top brace. Older bikes are adjustable, new bikes are not and need to be replaced.
This method works on Dynas also.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 718
From: Indianapolis
Ronnie's Harley-Davidson has an excellent microfiche parts catalog. In looking through it, and looking how the mounting goes, it does not seem like that top engine strut could do much of anything to twist the motor/transmission/swingarm enough to realign the swing arm. There appears to be a pin that locates both the rear of the transmission and swingarm in the frame. Maybe the frame mounts have some sort of eccentric property to them to realign them, otherwise, it does not seem like that would work:
I would also think using a camber gauge would be more accurate to check to see if the rear was tweaked than that gauge. Shock mounts are not pickup points, and their locations matter little in the grand scheme of things.
I would also think using a camber gauge would be more accurate to check to see if the rear was tweaked than that gauge. Shock mounts are not pickup points, and their locations matter little in the grand scheme of things.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 486
From: Nor Cal
That video is rather interesting. How is the engine and swingarm twist related? Does the swingarm pivot go through the rear engine mount? I thought that the hockey puck looking isolators on the frame were the connection point. If twisting the engine over affects the distance from the axle to upper mount then it's most likely just twisting the entire frame. Don't like it, but maybe my understanding is wrong.