Just to let you guys know, there has been a costing deceleration wobble problem noted with ALL make and model motorcycles. Some worse then others. And as described above, happens coasting between 50 and 30. Typically on most motorcycle there is only a 10 mph window. Say like 45 to 35. Even after having everything checked and repaired a fair amount of bikes do it. A simple test is if you have one of the offending bikes, simply duplicate the problem,next run simply put a finger on a grip. If no wobble you have one of those unfortunate bikes. Only two ways found to fix the condition (after all other proper maintenance is made) is either add handle bar weights to the ends of the bars or add a damper. The information is on the web somewhere but I cant remember where. google maybe?

 

I never had the problem on a bike, but I had a 69 firebird I could not get rid of a high-speed vibration on. after lots of front-end work, I took it to a tire shop and I had two rims that were out of round by about 1/4". replaced and all was good. I would definitely check the wheel and tire first.

 

No, the problem was not solved by Harley. After I got the bike back from them, there was an improvement, but the problem was still there. Like you, I've never had this problem before either. I've owned a few Harley, Honda, Ducati, and Suzuki motorcycles and they all tracked perfectly straight with no wobble. The Harley dealer is trying to make it sound like they think the bars are the root of the problem. I have a hard time believing that a standard set of drag bars would be the root of the problem.

 

For me.. the key in ALL of this is the following sentance...
"I JUST BOUGHT A BIKE"

If I buy a bike, and I want XXX on my bike for the first 60 days.... THE DEALER DOES IT. Period. No Ifs, Ands, or Buts. Why? Harley warrantees ALL STREET LEGAL UPGRADES if they install them and its in the first 60 days.

I will be dipped in dog crap and sold for shinola before they charged me ONE RED CENT for trying to straighten this mess out.
I learned a LONG time ago.... I do NOT deal with "might be, may be or possibly" when it comes to a dealer telling me something might be covered, may be under warranty, or should be anything!
Its covered... or you can take your damned bike back.
Then again... Im a real hardass... YMMV.

 

This is prob where I messed up. The dealer didn't do the install, I had a local shop do it. The guy who did it is AMI and Harley certified. I'm not sure if that makes any difference or not. Any advice on what I should do? I'm almost tempted to have the dealer throw a set of apes on it. That way if it's still messed up when it's done I can dump it on their lap and say "well, you said it was the bars, now you put new ones on and it's still a mess. Figure it out under warranty." I'm about at the end of my rope. Sucks when you got a bike with under 200 miles on it and you keep throwing money at is and it rides like a toilet.

 

Geez I didn’t know HDs and NASA teamed up to create tolerances so close that if you ride your bike with 1 mirror your front end could kill you.

Maybe we should try it we all should remove a mirror & ride to the dealer and complain about a wobble & see how many tell us to put the mirror back.

Are they even aware of how many different handle bars they have used on that FL front end? It can be adjusted for almost anything.

I hate the frigen bad dealers they kill it for all the good ones



I would be very surprised if it was the bars, I am no HD trained tec but I am on my 12th street bike and have had many dirt bikes.
I started out on a Briggs & Stratton home made mini bike and only the few bikes with frame or balance problems wobbled.

I have a 91 heritage that I have changed the bars on like they were free, and it never wobbles not on decal, not on the high way, nowhere.
My 08 has no wobble my 77 with bent bars from falling over, no wobble. I have changed bars a lot in the past, and so have a lot of people I ride with.

This is a stretch but unless your bars are uneven cheap crap or on off center, the bike should not wobble.

Does the dealer really think that a set of handle bars that weigh 3% of the front end will make it wobble?

Please let us know I am curious of the outcome.

By the way what dealer was it so we know to stay away?

 

Im with 5speedblu here... you should be able to go to the plumbing section at the hardware store and buy a 3 foot piece of pipe that will fit your clamps and ride off into the sunset. Just as you should be able to buy 20 feet of pipe and curve it around like a freaking silly straw on each side, and as long as it ends up a balanced silly straw... you shouldnt have any issue.

Now... you say you want some apes... silly straws... apes... whatever.... you are between a rock and a hard place because the dealer already has your bike in the system with wobble + indy mechanic = not their problem.

As inherantly wrong as this will sound, and I am surprised I even mention it.... use your social engineering skills.... call another dealer and see if they have some apes you want in stock that the current dealer doesnt have.... now go to the current dealer and ask for the bars and when they dont have them, see if the parts guy will call the dealer you know that does have them for you.

Now the dastardly part.... haul *** to the other dealer and say "Hi! Im the guy that the other dealer called about the apes for. Can you install them? Cool!"
Then when their guy installs them, he will go for a ride and find the wobble and then HE has to correct it.
CRAPPY? Yes.
Effective? Potentially.
Moreover, you are still within your 60 days, Harley installed the bars, found the wobble, annnnnnnnnd.... NOW all of the labor involved in correcting your royal wobble becomes a warranty issue.

I know... I know.. there is a special place in hell for people that think like me.

 

I'm so frustrated at this point that I think I'm gonna go with your idea. I'm gonna snag a set of new bars and have the Harley dealer (probably a different one) install them. If it still has the wobble then they'll have to fix it under warranty. I like your thinking

 

As I understand warranties, the dealer can absolutely not deny you coverage for installing different handlebars, unless he can show the bars have some real bearing on the wobbling, and I'd like to see him prove that in court. As for who did the exchange, that's irrelevant, too. Plenty of people -- myself included -- do their own maintenance work. But you have to keep receipts, keep logs, etc ... But it really doesn't matter in this case, since the bars have nothing to do with the wobble. What's next? The engine blew up, but unfortunately since you changed the seat we can't help you ... I'd steer clear of that guy. Even if the handlebars were the problem, his idea of customer service leaves something to be desired.

 

First choice... fall away - (that's what the hole in the bottom back end of your front fender is for - a plumb bob... you can win a trivia contest with this info... I will take a cut of the winnings)

Second choice - improperly set up/defective head bearings

Third choice - bent brake rotor or out of round wheel

Fourth choice - defective wheel bearings

Fifth choice - out of balance wheel (you should feel this elsewhere but this is a Harley afterall...)

6th choice - improper rear wheel alignment