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I have a 97 Electra Glide since I purchased it 3 years ago I have completely rebuilt the entire front end, yolk Bearings, forks, wheelbearings and just replaced the Rear swing arm bushings and motor mount. Took it out for a good ride yesterday And it seemed at speeds over seventy, the front end gets really twitchy, and seems to be super light. I have noticed that my trail on the front tire is 7.5 inches. Before it came into my possession, I know it's had some major upgrades, including polyurethane swing arm core bushings. The motor's been modified and a few other minor things. The wheelbase is 63 inches, yet. My one friend thinks somebody may have put raked triple trees on it, though I did not notice any variance of angle between the yoke and the forks.When I rebuilt the front end. Any advice would be appreciated. No, it doesn't quite look like it. The mark in the front is where the center line of the forks ended up
It is rather difficult to follow your wording and formatting.
It reads like you have:
1997 Electra Glide....basically a touring frame bike
You purchased the motorcycle 3 years ago.
There is no reporting of mileage.
There is no reporting of any changes from stock.
The overall condition of motorcycle is an unknown.
It is also an unknown if this current situation just started?
You state that you have rebuilt the front end.
You detailed only yolk Bearings (guessing that means steering neck bearings).
What do you mean by forks? What specific items did you change on the forks? Do you just get a full rebuild kit for the inside of sliders + fork seals + upper o-rings + damper ring + copper washers ?
Wheel bearings are reported as being changed.
What brand of bearings? Did you stay with tappered or changed to some unusual aftermarket? Both race and bearings changed?
Did you check end play?
You are reporting that at speeds over 70 MPH, the front end gets really twitchy, and seems to be super light.
A front end that over reacts can be many things (some examples):
Too much air in a tire or very old front tire that has hardened.
Tire with incorrect load rating.
Incorrect suspension fluid or incorrect suspension fluid volume.
If the front end is air adjustable then too much air can alter characteristics.
Wheel axle spacer contact concerns.
Loose steering neck bearings.
If someone did installed a raked tree then it would be more likely for a side-car and then you would generally see some other clues.
The bike has 43,000 miles on it, all seals, washers, (including the copper ones) fluid, were replaced in the forks. Only the hard mechanics were left, springs and tubes. I even replaced the banjo bolts and all air lines and connections for the air ride suspension. Triple tree top and bottom were replaced with tapered bearings from Harley. Axle bearings replaced, brand new Dunlop tires. All connector bolts are new, all have been set with blue loc-tite. Front end aligned with faring off, all cables removed. After the first 500 miles removed everything again and realigned and checked the front end and the torque on all bolts. The bike was last ridden in June of 25 due to me having a back surgery that kept me off the bike until now, during that last ride, the rear tire was tracking erratically. Therefore, I replaced swing arm bushings and front motor mount from Harley. The back now tracks straight as an arrow.
It is rather difficult to follow your wording and formatting.
It reads like you have:
1997 Electra Glide....basically a touring frame bike
You purchased the motorcycle 3 years ago.
There is no reporting of mileage.
There is no reporting of any changes from stock.
The overall condition of motorcycle is an unknown.
It is also an unknown if this current situation just started?
You state that you have rebuilt the front end.
You detailed only yolk Bearings (guessing that means steering neck bearings).
What do you mean by forks? What specific items did you change on the forks? Do you just get a full rebuild kit for the inside of sliders + fork seals + upper o-rings + damper ring + copper washers ?
Wheel bearings are reported as being changed.
What brand of bearings? Did you stay with tappered or changed to some unusual aftermarket? Both race and bearings changed?
Did you check end play?
You are reporting that at speeds over 70 MPH, the front end gets really twitchy, and seems to be super light.
A front end that over reacts can be many things (some examples):
Too much air in a tire or very old front tire that has hardened.
Tire with incorrect load rating.
Incorrect suspension fluid or incorrect suspension fluid volume.
If the front end is air adjustable then too much air can alter characteristics.
Wheel axle spacer contact concerns.
Loose steering neck bearings.
If someone did installed a raked tree then it would be more likely for a side-car and then you would generally see some other clues.
All races and bearings replaced: steering, front and rear axle bearings, swingarm has solid polyurethane with what appears to be sintered bronze cores installed, swingarm bushings and motor mount just installed, rear shocks drained and refilled with synthetic medium 10WT Lucas oil. I'd tell you which fork oil I used when I refilled them after rebuild, except my beautiful wife decided to surprise me by straightening up my organized chaos in the garage, and now I have a hard time finding anything from before. But I do know it was with manufactures Recommended weight and volume of fork oil. Please believe me. I made sure everything was done to speck. Because the idea of testing out my leathers on concrete or asphalt isn't my idea of a good days ride
You state "rear shocks drained and refilled with synthetic medium 10WT Lucas oil"
Note that hard acceleration can make rear shocks squat/push down.
Similar to a certain degree happens with a windshield/fairing bike at higher speeds.
The lighter the rear shock fluid the more squat/push down of rear shocks at higher speeds or when hitting the throttle.
If the rear end squats, then the front end angle is changed and bike can feel like the front end is lighter or twitchy.
Generally try to match front and rear.
You state "rear shocks drained and refilled with synthetic medium 10WT Lucas oil"
Note that hard acceleration can make rear shocks squat/push down.
Similar to a certain degree happens with a windshield/fairing bike at higher speeds.
The lighter the rear shock fluid the more squat/push down of rear shocks at higher speeds or when hitting the throttle.
If the rear end squats, then the front end angle is changed and bike can feel like the front end is lighter or twitchy.
Generally try to match front and rear.
The front end just seems to be hypersensitive, even when maintaining a set speed at 15-50+mph. Even the smaller adjustments the bike instantly reacts to. I'm talking 1/8' and it wants start shifting positions, and there no resistance in the bars at any speed, a feathered touch and it reacts.
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97 Electra Glide, super light front handling
