This is mainly for anyone out there that has a Springer with tall bars or any bike with tall bars.
I wound up with a major case of the front end wobbles going about 80 mph through a long sweeping curve on the freeway this weekend coming back from AZ. Almost lost the bike before I could get it slowed down enough to brake and stop the wobbling. This has happened only twice now and it seems both times its at speeds over 70 or so and on long curves (grooved concrete here in CA)
I have 16 inch handlebars on the bike and was wondering if the taller bars have anything to do with the control or lack of when going through these type of turns. I also don't normally run that fast but was sweeping a group of riders after I stopped to check on one of our rider's parked on the side of the road and was trying to catch back up to the group.
I'd appreciate any info or advice that anyone may have concerning this.
Thanks

 

Think of it like the center of gravity is at the top of the triple trees between your hands. The further away from that point your hands are the less controllable the front wheel will be if you get a wobble. (by the way I'm know expert that was just my best guess) Michael

 

I agree with the statement above about the bars. I believe it is caused by the bars. I put a set of really wide bars on my fatboy. I am getting the same problem oat 80-85 mph. I believe it is the wind causing me to be unable to hold the bars centered. If I let go with one hand on the bars it is not nearly as noticable. Obviously I only do this in a straight line.

 

Sometimes it seems to be a combination of the cross cuts (bouncing front end), and the tire grooves in the parallel cuts for me (already moving the tire around a lot).

Yesterday I had similar, doing about 80 in traffic. Bars went every which way. Moving over about a foot fixed my problem. Stock bars for me.

 

You should not get any wobble at any speed.

I would take to shop and get bike aligned. Not safe

Wide bars on fat boy is just wind against jacket. Different deal.Safe but uncomfertable at times.

Tire grooves in parallel cuts different too. That is more of a wondering front end. Really uncomfortable. but still different.

xocjm has the right idea, if you get a wobble it is less controlable with high bars but you should never get a wobble.

A wobble can be defined as the bars going back and forth really quick. A tank slap wobble is the worst when the bars wobble really fast and actually go so far to the left and the right that the front end is slapping against the stops that prevent you from turning the wheel so far in either way.

I would get bike checked out. Rear wheel could be out of alignment or front bearing not adjusted right.

David

 

i have 12.5" apes with 4" risers and i was getting a little shake at about 80mph or so found out
it was the damn tire.change the dunlops to metzlers and she is smooth as can be now!my dealer
told me bikes that sit for a while develop flat spots that are not visible.so i bought a sears lift and
jack it up a little so tires are not touching ground.

 

Had handle bar wobble with my 2005 FXSTI. Tried tightening up the fall away, adding extra air to the front tire (up it to 34 psi), but eventually found that the problem was at the other end! Many of the spokes on the rear wheel were too loose. I tightened them up (little by little) until they now go "ping" when I tap them with a wrench. Previously they went "thud" or some were even loose enough to move slightly. Now there is no wobble at all. NOTE: If you have the same problem, and feel unsure about tightening up spokes because you can distort the wheel if you over do it, then you might like to get the shop to fix the wheel. The spokes of my front wheel, strangely enough, were fine.
Good luck.

 

I have the factory 4 1/2" risers and drag bars. NO wobble at 100 mph.
The 21" front dunlap sucks. It is an old design that does not like groved
roads. Look at the new Elite-3. 90/90/21 redesigned tread pattern.
It's supposed to be much more stable all around.

 

Thanks for all the help on this. It seems it was a combination of several things. I realized the front tire had almost 18,000 miles on it so that got changed...from Dunlop to Metzler, I removed the rubber pads on the short risers and put solid metal fillers in...no more flex on the 16 inch bars, checked for loose spokes or alignment...no problems there.
Seems to have worked itself out...no more wobbles even when I deliberately tried.