front end wobble
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Went to 3 different dealers on Sat. and came across on e that has seen this issue several times with the softail models. He said bring it by and he will adj the neck bearings adn fallback and have me back on the road in 20 min. The mech said when some of the bikes ride off the show room floor and are fine for awhile. Then as things are breaking in and the bearings are seated it seems to start these symptoms. I got to believe this guy...I didn't get to finish telling him my issues and he started telling me what the problem was.
NOW my question is when there are these "mysterious" issues why wouldn't HD send out a alert bulletin to the dealerships to let them know WTF is going on with the bikes they are working on....I mean DAMN people can get hurt.
I will update this fix once I can get the bike in.
NOW my question is when there are these "mysterious" issues why wouldn't HD send out a alert bulletin to the dealerships to let them know WTF is going on with the bikes they are working on....I mean DAMN people can get hurt.
I will update this fix once I can get the bike in.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 990
Likes: 3
From: lakeside ca.
never had that problem but then why would you decel. all I try to do is go faster and yes I get a wobble at 100/105 mph when I need a new rear tire. but again i can power thru it..does just the front end (forks )(tank slapper) wobble or the whole bike??
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
my '08 is the same way. i get it serviced and tighted up at harley and its good for a couple thousand kilometers and it starts again. they tell me sooner or later it should get set good but until then i have to deal with it...
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Well, here is the udpate. Had a brand new set of bars/risers install (different than what I was running previously). Still have the same exact problem. Sounds like this should be a warranty issue to me. Especially since my new bars/risers are pretty much the same ones that come on the Fat Bob. We shall see.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Rogers AR
I have the same problem with my 08 Fatboy I have had the neck bearing adjusted 3 times and its better for a while but the wobble comes back. I did have the wheel balanced and was 1/4 oz out of balance but really didnt have much effect on the wobble
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,356
Likes: 1
From: Lansdale, Pa
My front end had a similar problem. When I changed the tire, no more problem. My guess is that either the tire was out of balance, or the nuts that hold the front axle on were loose. I did the work myself execpt mount the tire on the rim.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Update:
Well, turns out the fix was a new front tire. Although, I did find this tid bit humorous. The head of the service dept told me that ALL bikes do this. ALL BIKES. Funny, I've owned Honda, Suzuki, Ducati, and Harley...NONE of them ever did this. I'd almost bet that if I went next door to the Ducati dealer and took out my old Hypermotard that it wouldn't wobble...or if I took any of my friends Harley's that they wouldn't wobble either. So, the bike is back to normal....$1,000 later on a set of drag bars.
Well, turns out the fix was a new front tire. Although, I did find this tid bit humorous. The head of the service dept told me that ALL bikes do this. ALL BIKES. Funny, I've owned Honda, Suzuki, Ducati, and Harley...NONE of them ever did this. I'd almost bet that if I went next door to the Ducati dealer and took out my old Hypermotard that it wouldn't wobble...or if I took any of my friends Harley's that they wouldn't wobble either. So, the bike is back to normal....$1,000 later on a set of drag bars.
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
Ever notice the first thing that causes the problem is the last thing to get fixed? Everybody jumps on the steering head bearings when in fact they are nothing more than a slight damper for all the other things around it that shimmy or shake.
Ron
Ron