Hey all, new to the forums...thanks for any help you can provide.

I just picked up a 2007 fatboy and the steering is...different. Straight line riding is really solid and the bike is really comfortable. Cornering, however, is strange. As I lean into a curve I feel like instead of leaning the bike the front tire wants to turn. I have to apply pressure to the grip in the inside of the turn to keep the front straight. It does this cornering left or right. I've asked several people and the consensus is that it is because of the 200mm rear tire. Does this sound normal? Tires are pirelli with unknown miles.

Thanks for any advice.

 

Welcome to the forums, and congratulations on the bike - good choice IMHO

Shouldn't have any cornering issues - hard to understand your description, but nothing about the Fat Boy should feel un-natural. May want to have someone perform the fall-off test (indy, dealer, yourself following service manual) to check the steering neck bearings?

I'm sure you've checked the tire pressures, correct? Maybe check the rear wheel alignment - use a couple of flourescent tubes or other straight edges to eyeball the square? Rear wheel alignment should affect one direction more than another, if it is really off, but worth a check.

Do you have prior experience riding a big cruiser? They definitely handle differently than rice burners

If all else fails, get it to a trusted indy or dealer and have them check it out, just in case... never hurts to get a second opinion.

Ride safely and enjoy!
Roger

 

Yeah I've been riding for several years, but my current bike is a Suzuki C50. It's a cruiser, not sure it qualifies as a heavyweight. What I don't have experience with is a bike with a larger rear tire...so I don't know what I don't know.

What is a fall-off test?

 

The fall away test checks the tightness of the neck bearings. it has to do with measuring when your front end "flops". you should turn the wheel with the bike sitting still and when you hit a point the front end flops to that side. you can measure it yourself, but better to have a shop do that one.
it involves a string tied to the back of the front fender and a ruler on the floor...

 

Thanks for the info. I called the Harley dealer near me. He said it's just sounds like how that particular bike is. I wouldn't know since this is my first one. That said, I'm going to take it in for an inspection/oil change. $130 bucks but worth it to make sure it doesn't have issues. He did mention it might need the head adjusted whatever that means. I usually do my own bike maintenance but until I'm more familiar I'll take it in.

 

IMO its the bigger rear tire. I felt the same when I got my standard!

 

I am guessing he means "steering head bearing adjustment". If so then it is the same as the responses you have gotten about the fall away test. A fall away test measures how lose or tight your forks are at the neck. If too loose the the steering head bearings need to be tightened. If too tight then they are loosened. At the moment the suspicion is that they are too loose and as you lean into a turn your forks want to fall way further then they should.

It is a really an easy test to do once you understand it. Get yourself a service manual for your year Fatboy and read up on it. Since you say you like to do your own service then I don't think you will have any problem understanding what it is and how to do it yourself.

 

Ahh yes...thanks much for the info. I really appreciate the feedback. As someone who works on bikes and cars, I feel pretty n00bish asking. But...I've never owned a Harley before so I appreciate the info.

 

Congrats and welcome.