Heritage wobble in the curves
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 912
From: Omaha
Heritage wobble in the curves
This subject has been discussed in the past but I thought I’d bring it up again.
Here’s my condition;
2009 Heritage, Progressive 422 RAP rear suspension, stock front suspension, added Reckless fairing, OEM hard bags, rear tire less than 1000 miles, front tire less than 2500 miles, and total bike miles are 45000.
When taking a prolonged sweeping curve above 65 mph the bike starts to wobble.
I get out of the wobble by letting off the gas.
I first encountered this issue late last fall, then winter came and I just put it on the back burner.
Well being in the heat of the riding season it’s time to figure out just what’s going on.
It didn’t take long to figure out that none of my rear spokes were singing.
When I tapped each spoke with a screwdriver all I heard was a “thud” sound.
What I should have heard as was the case with my front rim was a “ding” sound.
Both the rear and front rims were NOS that I got from a friend who had the Dealer install after-market rims on his Heritage when it was purchased new.
I didn’t think to check the spokes when I installed the tires last Sept. (about a month prior to noticing the wobble) assuming being new rims they would be fine.
Well you know what they say about “***-U-MEeng” as it turns out I was right about the front rim but not about the rear.
I tightened ever spoke just until they all were singing and then took the bike out to a known sweeping curve where I had experienced the “wobble” on.
Twice at 75mph there was no wobble so the wobble issue above 65 mph must have been loose spokes.
I probably should take the wheel in to get it trued but it seems to be rolling fine so unless a problem arises I’ll likely wait on truing until the next tire change.
So in conclusion; check your spokes from time to time!!!!
Here’s my condition;
2009 Heritage, Progressive 422 RAP rear suspension, stock front suspension, added Reckless fairing, OEM hard bags, rear tire less than 1000 miles, front tire less than 2500 miles, and total bike miles are 45000.
When taking a prolonged sweeping curve above 65 mph the bike starts to wobble.
I get out of the wobble by letting off the gas.
I first encountered this issue late last fall, then winter came and I just put it on the back burner.
Well being in the heat of the riding season it’s time to figure out just what’s going on.
It didn’t take long to figure out that none of my rear spokes were singing.
When I tapped each spoke with a screwdriver all I heard was a “thud” sound.
What I should have heard as was the case with my front rim was a “ding” sound.
Both the rear and front rims were NOS that I got from a friend who had the Dealer install after-market rims on his Heritage when it was purchased new.
I didn’t think to check the spokes when I installed the tires last Sept. (about a month prior to noticing the wobble) assuming being new rims they would be fine.
Well you know what they say about “***-U-MEeng” as it turns out I was right about the front rim but not about the rear.
I tightened ever spoke just until they all were singing and then took the bike out to a known sweeping curve where I had experienced the “wobble” on.
Twice at 75mph there was no wobble so the wobble issue above 65 mph must have been loose spokes.
I probably should take the wheel in to get it trued but it seems to be rolling fine so unless a problem arises I’ll likely wait on truing until the next tire change.
So in conclusion; check your spokes from time to time!!!!
Last edited by Bluraven; Jun 13, 2022 at 08:49 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 11,255
From: San Diego, CA
Great advice.... and a good reminder...
Three years ago, I was riding with a group of guys. I was new to the group.
The guy ahead of me had a real nice older softail, and did his own maintenance. In our discussions, it was obvious he was experienced and knowledgeable about Harleys... we talked about our home bike lifts and numerous Harley specialty tools....
As I was following behind him, his rear wheel kind of looked like it had a wobble to it... I couldn't tell if it was a trick of the sun through his spokes or a real wobble.
At our last stop, I told him what I thought I saw, and said it might be a good idea to check his spokes if he hadn't done it recently... He thanked me, but I could tell he didn't think much of my observation... We all left from that last stop, in different directions, to our homes...
Later that night he called me and thanked me profusely.....
Apparently, on his way home he took a curve rather aggressively and heard a loud snap noise... He immediately slowed down, and with great care slowly rode the last 5 miles home...
He said based on my observations, he immediately suspected a spoke problem with the rear wheel on his bike. He put it on the lift when he got home and found two broken spokes and several others loose... He was planning to remove, re-spoke, and true up the wheel... He said if I hadn't mentioned my observations to him, he might not have known what the sound was so quickly, and continued to drive aggressively home...
I went out the next day and checked the spokes on both my softails. On both bikes I needed to tighten a total of 3 spokes, about 1/4 turn for proper torque.... now at every oil change, i give them a quick "ding" test... I only break out the spoke torque wrench if I get thud...
Three years ago, I was riding with a group of guys. I was new to the group.
The guy ahead of me had a real nice older softail, and did his own maintenance. In our discussions, it was obvious he was experienced and knowledgeable about Harleys... we talked about our home bike lifts and numerous Harley specialty tools....
As I was following behind him, his rear wheel kind of looked like it had a wobble to it... I couldn't tell if it was a trick of the sun through his spokes or a real wobble.
At our last stop, I told him what I thought I saw, and said it might be a good idea to check his spokes if he hadn't done it recently... He thanked me, but I could tell he didn't think much of my observation... We all left from that last stop, in different directions, to our homes...
Later that night he called me and thanked me profusely.....
Apparently, on his way home he took a curve rather aggressively and heard a loud snap noise... He immediately slowed down, and with great care slowly rode the last 5 miles home...
He said based on my observations, he immediately suspected a spoke problem with the rear wheel on his bike. He put it on the lift when he got home and found two broken spokes and several others loose... He was planning to remove, re-spoke, and true up the wheel... He said if I hadn't mentioned my observations to him, he might not have known what the sound was so quickly, and continued to drive aggressively home...
I went out the next day and checked the spokes on both my softails. On both bikes I needed to tighten a total of 3 spokes, about 1/4 turn for proper torque.... now at every oil change, i give them a quick "ding" test... I only break out the spoke torque wrench if I get thud...
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 912
From: Omaha
Damn it; now I’ve got to buy a freaking tiny torque wrench 
I kind of have a tool fetish so I’m always looking for ways to justify adding another tool to the arsenal.
I kind of have a tool fetish so I’m always looking for ways to justify adding another tool to the arsenal.
Last edited by Bluraven; Jun 14, 2022 at 09:23 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 11,255
From: San Diego, CA
I share your affliction......
I went out and bought both a spoke wrench AND a spoke torque wrench.....
And that's just the "specialty" torque wrench drawer.... I have another drawer with various sized click torque wrenches...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 11,255
From: San Diego, CA
Yeah, any mag wheel is obviously less maintenance... When I bought my '78 Lowrider new, I thought I was in heaven with those spoke wheels.... especially after riding dirt bikes for years...
But spokes aren't really that hard to deal with... The key is to stay current with their condition..
I've been dealing with spokes since the early 70's.... while I can't lace a wheel from scratch, I know how to true and tighten spokes...
I went 12 years on my 2003 Heritage without actually needing to put a wrench on a spoke... but I now do the "ding" test at oil changes, takes 10 minutes, and I have peace of mind...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
