Softail rigidity !!
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Softail rigidity !!
Hi all,
every time I ride my 07 NT specialy in speeds higher than 50, I feel like the bike is not in one rigid piece !! it is like few bolts are loose !! making the frame/fork not solid !!
I demo rode a Rocker just to compare and couldnot notice the same ? maybe becoz different geometry or being a brand new bike !!
any body notice the same ??
every time I ride my 07 NT specialy in speeds higher than 50, I feel like the bike is not in one rigid piece !! it is like few bolts are loose !! making the frame/fork not solid !!
I demo rode a Rocker just to compare and couldnot notice the same ? maybe becoz different geometry or being a brand new bike !!
any body notice the same ??
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
The 'Wideglide' front end is not famous for its rigidity and will often begin to display a bit of 'flexability' once you put a few thousand miles on it.
So if you have checked everything else there's a good chance its the fork tubes getting a little loose on you.
Road Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 418
From: Pennsylvania
Hi all,
every time I ride my 07 NT specialy in speeds higher than 50, I feel like the bike is not in one rigid piece !! it is like few bolts are loose !! making the frame/fork not solid !!
I demo rode a Rocker just to compare and couldnot notice the same ? maybe becoz different geometry or being a brand new bike !!
any body notice the same ??
every time I ride my 07 NT specialy in speeds higher than 50, I feel like the bike is not in one rigid piece !! it is like few bolts are loose !! making the frame/fork not solid !!
I demo rode a Rocker just to compare and couldnot notice the same ? maybe becoz different geometry or being a brand new bike !!
any body notice the same ??
They both have felt quite rigid at all times.
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R.I.P. BROTHER
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 6
From: Colorado Springs
How many miles on the bike and has the headset bearing and fall away been checked or serviced?
When my headset went out of spec my bike felt a tad sloppy and had a lil' clank.
I have also had an ongoing issue with the clamp on the left side (Sitting on the bike) fork leg. The clamp has two studs that go up into the fork itself. The bolt on the back part kept coming loose. I checked and found it was stripped. I pulled the stud, replaced it and use nylock nuts there now.
I did notice when replacing my wheels back in jan that with the new wheels and new bearings the bike also felt tighter.
It really could be anything. Like the others have said....A bad bearing etc.. Do you have a lift to jack it up on and start looking stuff over with the bike in the air?
When my headset went out of spec my bike felt a tad sloppy and had a lil' clank.
I have also had an ongoing issue with the clamp on the left side (Sitting on the bike) fork leg. The clamp has two studs that go up into the fork itself. The bolt on the back part kept coming loose. I checked and found it was stripped. I pulled the stud, replaced it and use nylock nuts there now.
I did notice when replacing my wheels back in jan that with the new wheels and new bearings the bike also felt tighter.
It really could be anything. Like the others have said....A bad bearing etc.. Do you have a lift to jack it up on and start looking stuff over with the bike in the air?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,232
Likes: 9,282
From: Georgia
All of the above are things that need to be checked and serviced regularly.Also look at your tires along with the correct air pressure.If you can't or unsure of doing these things yourself get it done by someone in the know.G.
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
The larger/heavier front tire & wheel add a fair amount of gyroscopic stability, in addition to the fatter fork tubes.
With the long wide spaced skinny fork tubes and lighter rotational mass of the 21" tire we loose a lot of that feeling of solidity.
I'm not complaining, I like the look more than I care about trying to keep up with the kids on crotch rockets. But I did put a fork brace on mine and it did cut down on a lot of the 'wandering' feel in high speed turns.