2012 Deluxe slight wobble at 85+
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2019
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From: California
2012 Deluxe slight wobble at 85+
I have tried a few things to figure out what the bike does this but so far I've done a few things and it hasn't fixed the issue yet. The bike rides great up until I get to about 85 mph and then the bike feels like a boat in the sense that I start to get a wobble and I can't tell if it's the rear or the front really. It's not like a speed wobble but more like I'm shaking my *** while going down the highway lol.
I've recently replaced both front and rear tired to see if that would help and nope, didn't change a thing.
Has anyone experienced anything like this on a softail before or have any ideas on what I could do next?
I've recently replaced both front and rear tired to see if that would help and nope, didn't change a thing.
Has anyone experienced anything like this on a softail before or have any ideas on what I could do next?
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From: Canada Flats
Some things come to mind , steering stem bearings ( adjustment , motor alignment , swing arm bearings , wheel alignment ( is it true ) . Assuming you had the wheel ballanced ? if you have spoked rims they may need to be serviced , tightened and aligned .
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Cruiser
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From: California
I feel as if it's the rear part of the bike that's doing this and not so much the front. However, when I look at the front while I'm sitting on the bike, the handlebars don't look 100% straight when the wheel is straight forward. I might need to restart there.
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From: Canada Flats
Truing spoked rims takes time and is a lost art , the dealer would have charged extra for that , could check with them on that . All my bikes had spokes up til now . I did have one bike that had a bad rear rim , but it wobbled a lot earlier than 85 mph . I would check for swing arm play , I just recently did mine , and after 24000 miles , they were bone dry and one was seized . I noticed on my test ride how much of an improvement it made with the new bearings . If your bike feels like a dog wagging it's tail , then I'd focus on that .
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Cruiser
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From: California
Truing spoked rims takes time and is a lost art , the dealer would have charged extra for that , could check with them on that . All my bikes had spokes up til now . I did have one bike that had a bad rear rim , but it wobbled a lot earlier than 85 mph . I would check for swing arm play , I just recently did mine , and after 24000 miles , they were bone dry and one was seized . I noticed on my test ride how much of an improvement it made with the new bearings . If your bike feels like a dog wagging it's tail , then I'd focus on that .
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From: Georgia
FavRK has covered it pretty good on the check list. Spokes are an ez check . Bike in the air and plink each spoke with a pencil is what I use. You’ll find the sound changes. Not always noticeable at first but with few rotations of the wheel you’ll pick up on it if it’s slight. A broke spoke or stripped nipple is real obvious. A trueing stand with a run out dial indicator is a necessity to check accurately.
Swing arm bearings are good to check if the bike is washed regularly or with a pressure washer. Good luck.
Swing arm bearings are good to check if the bike is washed regularly or with a pressure washer. Good luck.
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: cape town
Check wheel weights.
It might seem insignificant as the dealer worked on the bike but these do fall off from time to time.
It might seem insignificant as the dealer worked on the bike but these do fall off from time to time.
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From: Canada Flats
What bars do you have ? If your using taller bars you may want to consider putting in poly bushing instead of the stock rubber ones . I find a huge improvement using poly when changing up to 10" or higher . I have also recommended a beefier clamp with set screws to keep your bars from rotating , not a good thing . You right , bars being off center can definitely be an issue , all you may have to do is straighten them and take a test run , you never know .
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 108
Likes: 69
From: California
What bars do you have ? If your using taller bars you may want to consider putting in poly bushing instead of the stock rubber ones . I find a huge improvement using poly when changing up to 10" or higher . I have also recommended a beefier clamp with set screws to keep your bars from rotating , not a good thing . You right , bars being off center can definitely be an issue , all you may have to do is straighten them and take a test run , you never know .
So far I have had the spokes tightened (not necessarily trued) by a shop and said that the stock wheels should be fine now.
I have checked air pressure and it was a bit low so I corrected that and now both tires are at correct pressures.
Swingarm looks ok after I washed it but haven't really had a chance to check for play.
Still does a "weave" but only at higher speeds, I want to say at 80-85+ mph. I did find out that the rear shock was changed as the bike is lowered 2" and I'm guessing that is where I should look next.
If I change suspension now I'm wondering if I should go with air ride or just go with progessive shocks or something.
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From: Canada Flats
I think your on the right track , when you check your swing arm , it's best if you remove the rear tire completely , undo the lower shock bolts , then check for play . I recently checked mine and even though I had no play , the swing would not move up / down smoothly , it would hang in mid air , had to pull it down to get it to drop . When I removed it , I found that one of the pivot bearings was bone dry and had seized , I had new bearings installed and packed a little more grease in them before I reinstalled . I honestly got a much smoother ride from doing this , it paid off .
I do my own wheels , but it was my first time doing the swing arm and this job is more time consuming than anything , not difficult at all with the right tools . I can't see the softail being much different .
As for shocks , I can't help you there , I would check out reviews or start another post and see what others have to recommend .
I do my own wheels , but it was my first time doing the swing arm and this job is more time consuming than anything , not difficult at all with the right tools . I can't see the softail being much different .
As for shocks , I can't help you there , I would check out reviews or start another post and see what others have to recommend .
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