Wobbly steering at low speed.
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: Telford, U.K.
Wobbly steering at low speed.
Hi folks, In February this year I bought a 1994 FXSTC to return to motorcycling. At the age of 65 I'm loving the vibe that this bike gives me however I have a query...at low speeds I have trouble keeping the bike in a straight line i.e. when taking off or slowing down to come to a halt it feels like the front wheel goes to the left and right under its' own volition and I realy have to work hard to control it. Is this normal or do I have faulty technique, once up to say 15mph its fine.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,427
Likes: 164
From: Home
Everything that needs to be checked for the wobble should include, but not be limited to:
• Air Pressure
• Rear Wheel Alignment 0.793mm In Between Side To Side
• Tires Not Balanced
• Rim / Tire Out Of Round
• Steering Head Bearing Incorrectly Torque
• Wheel Spacers
• Wheel Bearing
• Engine Mount
• Transmission Mount
• Equal Amount Of Fluid In Both Forks
• Loose Axle Nut
• Caliper Alignment
• Neck Bearing Adjustment
• Swing Arm Pivot
• Shocks Rear Aligned Equally
• Top Of Forks Not Extending More Than 10.66mm - 12.7mm And Be Equal
• Steering Stem Nut
• Swing Arm Bushings
• Air Pressure
• Rear Wheel Alignment 0.793mm In Between Side To Side
• Tires Not Balanced
• Rim / Tire Out Of Round
• Steering Head Bearing Incorrectly Torque
• Wheel Spacers
• Wheel Bearing
• Engine Mount
• Transmission Mount
• Equal Amount Of Fluid In Both Forks
• Loose Axle Nut
• Caliper Alignment
• Neck Bearing Adjustment
• Swing Arm Pivot
• Shocks Rear Aligned Equally
• Top Of Forks Not Extending More Than 10.66mm - 12.7mm And Be Equal
• Steering Stem Nut
• Swing Arm Bushings
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,971
Likes: 901
From: Omaha
Everything that needs to be checked for the wobble should include, but not be limited to:
Air Pressure
Rear Wheel Alignment 0.793mm In Between Side To Side
Tires Not Balanced
Rim / Tire Out Of Round
Steering Head Bearing Incorrectly Torque
Wheel Spacers
Wheel Bearing
Engine Mount
Transmission Mount
Equal Amount Of Fluid In Both Forks
Loose Axle Nut
Caliper Alignment
Neck Bearing Adjustment
Swing Arm Pivot
Shocks Rear Aligned Equally
Top Of Forks Not Extending More Than 10.66mm - 12.7mm And Be Equal
Steering Stem Nut
Swing Arm Bushings
Air Pressure
Rear Wheel Alignment 0.793mm In Between Side To Side
Tires Not Balanced
Rim / Tire Out Of Round
Steering Head Bearing Incorrectly Torque
Wheel Spacers
Wheel Bearing
Engine Mount
Transmission Mount
Equal Amount Of Fluid In Both Forks
Loose Axle Nut
Caliper Alignment
Neck Bearing Adjustment
Swing Arm Pivot
Shocks Rear Aligned Equally
Top Of Forks Not Extending More Than 10.66mm - 12.7mm And Be Equal
Steering Stem Nut
Swing Arm Bushings
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 15,990
Likes: 7,111
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
Hi folks, In February this year I bought a 1994 FXSTC to return to motorcycling. At the age of 65 I'm loving the vibe that this bike gives me however I have a query...at low speeds I have trouble keeping the bike in a straight line i.e. when taking off or slowing down to come to a halt it feels like the front wheel goes to the left and right under its' own volition and I realy have to work hard to control it. Is this normal or do I have faulty technique, once up to say 15mph its fine.
Might want to visit your doctor to check on inner ear/balance issues. Might help to work out your legs if you don't already too.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 705
Likes: 8
From: southern IL
I'm going with the trifecta. Skinny, raked out tires naturally wobble below 15mph. 65 years old and haven't been on a bike in a while says you need to rebuild the skills. And 22 year old bike says check all those things they said to check (bearings, wear, fall away, balance, etc.)
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
To the OP, if I were you I'd stop by Harley and let them take a quick look at it. I laid off riding for about 10 years and then bought the 07 below. I was having a terrible time with turns and curves and I told my wife I must have lost it. In turns and curves it felt like it wanted to head for the pavement, which of course is not what you want to do. I finally said the hell with it and stopped by Harley. It turned out my forks were twisting. They retorqued everything and the very first turn out of their parking lot it was like, YES!
I've since put 65K miles on it..
Last edited by Pitbull_Dallas; Oct 30, 2016 at 05:53 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 695
From: Huntington Beach, CA
Hey, I just turned 65 and still going strong. I figure I have a couple of hundred thousand left in me.
To the OP, if I were you I'd stop by Harley and let hem take a quick look at it. I laid off riding for about 10 years and then bought the 07 below. I was having a terrible time with turns and curves and I told my wife I must have lost it. In turns and curves it felt like it wanted to head for the pavement, which of course is not what you want to do. I finally said the hell with it and stopped by Harley. It turned out my forks were twisting. They retorqued everything and the very first turn out of their parking lot it was like, YES!
I've since put 65K miles on it..
To the OP, if I were you I'd stop by Harley and let hem take a quick look at it. I laid off riding for about 10 years and then bought the 07 below. I was having a terrible time with turns and curves and I told my wife I must have lost it. In turns and curves it felt like it wanted to head for the pavement, which of course is not what you want to do. I finally said the hell with it and stopped by Harley. It turned out my forks were twisting. They retorqued everything and the very first turn out of their parking lot it was like, YES!
I've since put 65K miles on it..
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