I'm new to Harley's (used to riding sportbikes with steering dampers) but am hearing noises from the front end of my Deluxe and am feeling the front end to be a little squirley. The noises seem like it they are simply chrome do dads vibrating at certain rpm's and over certain bumps. I have attempted to tighten things up there but nothing appears loose. As for the handling issue, it just feels like the wheel is moving around a bit and stepping out a little. Just a strange feeling. So I conducted an experiment and clamped down the throttle screw at 35 mph and took my hands off the bars to see what I think might be a lot of headshake. The bar ends where rocking back and forth in about an 2" arc. Is this too much? The bike has 550 miles on it and I don't want to take it in before the 1000 mile check and be told that I am a hypocondriac and that it is all normal. Then again, I don't want the front end to fall apart on the highway.

Mark

 

Mark,
There could be several things wrong. I had the same problem on my Deuce. I had more miles but when I look back on it I think the problem was always there it slowly got worse. The fix on mine was replacing the front tire. It was bad from the factory. The inside had two bad spots in the tire. You could not see it on the outside. Also I would keep loosing air pressure in the tire.
Good luck.
Gary

 

I'm just curious if your wobble is present at all speeds all the time or intermittent like mine. My wobble happens mostly between 30 and 45 mph. When it isn't wobbling it tracks straight and true. I tightened the neck bearings and checked for loose spokes but this problem is still driving me nuts. The intermittent problem makes me feel it's not a tire problem....or not? I too am looking for input on this issue.

 

Mark,

I went from a Wide Glide to a Deluxe. There was nothing wrong with the handling of the WG, but when I ride the Deluxe it is like driving a Caddy compared to the WG. I hear/feel nothing abnormal from the front end.....Bill.

 

Gerard,
Call me crazy but I don't seem to notice the handling issues all of the time but it has to be present. My first thought was a bad tire.
So that kind of head shake is not normal?

Mark

 

I can go hands free at 70 miles an hour and the bars don't move. I would say there is definitely something to look into on the front end of your bike.
Do you own a Commander 112? I just sold an old C182 a few months ago.

 

Thanks Taildragger. I guess I'll call the dealer and have it looked at.
Yes, I own a Commander 112. It has been turbonormalized so it can cruise at a respectable speed and can climb up into the flight levels. I like your handle and now it makes better sense.

Mark

 

I flew a turbo 112 once and it was very nice. I'll always have a soft spot for the fighter style landing gear. I spent time in a Citabria getting my tailwheel and learning all the basic aerobatics. Now, most of my aerobatics are done with radio control airplanes and helicopters and I get my kicks on my bike.
Best of luck getting your steering sorted out. At most, my bike has a slight wander to it, sometimes, at high speed. But even then, the bars never move.

 

Thanks. Here is a pic of the bird.



[IMG]local://upfiles/3880/8D843C54D8894A72B8C652C0C7A3658C.jpg[/IMG]

 

This is a thread I posted a while back.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_53776/tm.htm

Headshake is not normal at any speed. Find the problem ASAP.