Wind & Wobble
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 147
Likes: 3
From: Kentucky
Wind & Wobble
I've bought a 2002 Heritage about a month ago, and it has a very subtle intermittent wobble. I've noticed mostly when going straight, above 30 mph. I've checked the tire pressure, and the bike has new swing arm bushings. The front end doesn't seem loose. It wobbles the same whether I have the windshield on or off. There are no strange noises coming from the bike. The previous own put Fatboy wheels on it.
Tonight, on a straight road with no traffic, the bike was running fine, with no wobble. As soon as I had traffic in front of me, the wobble came back. I seemed to be the worst when I had a vehicle about 150 ft ahead of me.
I find it very hard to believe that a heavy bike would be so sensitive to the turbulence from the cage ahead of me. I never had a problem with my Vulcan 750. (But f I had to ride a motorcycle in a hurricane, it would certainly be a Vulcan 750, it was pretty immune to cross wind.)
Am I crazy think it may be turbulence from cars? Or souls I go ahead and replace bearings or other BS?
Tonight, on a straight road with no traffic, the bike was running fine, with no wobble. As soon as I had traffic in front of me, the wobble came back. I seemed to be the worst when I had a vehicle about 150 ft ahead of me.
I find it very hard to believe that a heavy bike would be so sensitive to the turbulence from the cage ahead of me. I never had a problem with my Vulcan 750. (But f I had to ride a motorcycle in a hurricane, it would certainly be a Vulcan 750, it was pretty immune to cross wind.)
Am I crazy think it may be turbulence from cars? Or souls I go ahead and replace bearings or other BS?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 147
Likes: 3
From: Kentucky
I haven't checked the balance, and that would be a good thing to check. The feedback is definitely coming from the whole bike. Although I can feel the turbulence on me, I don't think its transferring from me to the bike.
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
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From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Tire pressure, tire balance, Neck bearing adjusted and greased, and spoke checked, (no loose ones)and rims checked to be straight and round.
Start with these and then see what U got.
Also, how old are the tires,, if there over 4-5 yrs even if the thread is good, might consider new ones.
Start with these and then see what U got.
Also, how old are the tires,, if there over 4-5 yrs even if the thread is good, might consider new ones.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
5-6 cars behind a semi is a pain for any distance. But the rest is like most bikes. Bet in 6 months you will not be saying that. I think on a new to you bike you may tend to overcompensate with the bars. Wind gets bouncy I tend to steers with just a slight shoulder lean opposite what it just bumped me. I hardly ever move out of a straight line now. Those bearing on the swing arm are spherical (just like this ' )) ' They are not going to wear out. Your shake is what you are doing to the bars. Just go with it and lean back--if you are coming back too far you leaned too much.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Aug 11, 2011 at 10:02 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Eagan, MN
I get a wobble in my on my Heritage once in awhile when i first start out but goes away. I had a wobble on a EG classic and found out the tire was mounted incorrect....... It never hurts to have it checked,,,,,,,,,,,