Help, Shaking front end <40mph

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Sep 11, 2012 | 04:25 AM

Widow_Maker

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 46

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From: Abilene, Tx

Help, Shaking front end <40mph

Hey guys,

I have noticed something lately on my bike. I usually never let go of the handlebars - PERIOD for anything, I am just not that brave. One day i noticed you could let go for a brief period and the bike would drive like my old bicycle. I noticed though that once the decel of my bike got to below 40mph there would be shaking and i would need to place my hands back on the grips. Once I did this the shaking would go away and it would be easy to handle.

My bike has 13,000 miles and I was wondering if this is due to the steering head bearings need tightening? or if tires are out of balance? or ??

Any thoughts??

Thanks guys---and most of the work i do on my Bike i do myself.

Sep 11, 2012 | 06:45 AM

Motown Strag

Road Warrior

Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 1,566

Likes: 2

From: Detroit

Mine will get a bit of a giggle at low speed if my front tire pressure is even a coulpe pounds low...good idea to have the headstock checked too, mine was lose at 9000mi

Sep 11, 2012 | 06:58 AM

oct1949

Club Member

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 145,895

Likes: 821

From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..

Air pressure.
Loose spokes.
Tire wear (cupping), and or wheel Balance.

Have U ever greased the neck bearings.. the first time I did mine it took a lot of grease to get any to come out of the top and bottom.. Now I grease them at every oil change.
And get the neck bearing grease from Ur dealer,, Yes,, its a lot diff (heavier) than the Auto wheel bearing grease that most have in our grease guns.. In fact I bought a new grease gun just for greasing the neck bearings with the HD Neck grease.

I just checked my neck bearing 2 weeks ago with the fall test (JOKE), they checked out OK, then when I had new tires installed last week I had MY INDY check them also to make sure they were OK and they were.

So now with 39k and I think. but not 100% sure our dealer adjusted them at the 10K. If they did adjust them, that is the only time they've been/needed adjustment.

.

Last edited by oct1949; Sep 11, 2012 at 07:07 AM.

Sep 11, 2012 | 07:04 AM

bulldog82098

Tourer

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 420

Likes: 6

From: Dayton, OH

Check your spokes! It is usually the rear wheel that comes loose. Just grab a hand full of them an squeeze. You should not get any flex. Is so have them checked out!

Sep 11, 2012 | 07:11 AM