Possible wobble solutions
I would replace those head bearings; his troubles may reoccur at a bad time. I've often wondered if that little ring/line was there so you could spin a wheel and check the beading. I bet it is.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,070
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From: Los Angeles
I naturally assumed that while changing to a CT that something in the rake and trail changed making the front end a little squirrelly. This seems to make more sense than all of a sudden bearings going out. But who knows?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,727
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I think you are right, there is a change in the dynamics, how could there not be. I think if your steering head bearing is loose or whatever the problem may be, the change in dynamics might amplify it. So adjusting the bearing or whatever the case may be should fix it. When I first put a car tire on my bike there were no problems, because nothing was loose or worn or assembled wrong. A few car tires later a wobble began to develop. Greasing and tightening the steering head bearing worked for me. Some steering head bearings are loose right from the factory, you don’t necessarily have to wait years to notice a problem. I don’t think the car tire causes the problem, I think having a car tire with the change in dynamics allows you to notice a problem before you normally would. If you have a brand new bike and it wobbles a little at 95 mph then with a car tire it might wobble at 80 mph. So fix the reason it wobbles at 95 mph with a motorcycle tire and the problem will go away at 80 mph with a car tire.
wobble
I had a new 2011 RK I put a car tire on and really liked it. Especialy in rain. Had a little wobble at 85 or 90 so I put beads in and that helped a little but the most help was tp. I tried every pressure and settled on around 32 lbs as this pressure really helped settle the wobble.
I now have a 2013 FLHTC and can not wait for the rear tire to wear out so I can replace it with a car tire.
I had Oscar and Minnie grope in their belchfire 8 turn in front of me last week "They are blind you know" on the hywy where I was running around 60. I hit the rear brake before I got the front into play and wow,that thing was like I was on ice,There is where I miss a ct as they have a LOT more grip for stopping and wet roads.
Will be puting another ct on with the beads again as soon as the OE is worn out. Sure do miss it.
I now have a 2013 FLHTC and can not wait for the rear tire to wear out so I can replace it with a car tire.
I had Oscar and Minnie grope in their belchfire 8 turn in front of me last week "They are blind you know" on the hywy where I was running around 60. I hit the rear brake before I got the front into play and wow,that thing was like I was on ice,There is where I miss a ct as they have a LOT more grip for stopping and wet roads.
Will be puting another ct on with the beads again as soon as the OE is worn out. Sure do miss it.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 92
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From: Tallahassee Florida
too tight
I did the front end of my buddies 97 springer heritage..... He had a pretty bad wobble at 45+ mph......but only if you let go of the bars.....even if you held on with one hand ...it would wobble and eventually go into a tank slapper. I tightened the head bearings too tight first go around.....I can not warn you enough , to not do this to get rid of head shake......You will not believe how dangerous it is....the subtle corrections that you are used to making at the handlebars will require more pressure to achieve. The normal corrective pressure to steer the bike will take you by surprise and the distance you travel while processing that the bike did not respond can put in in a bad situation, before you apply the new corrective forces needed to achieve the correction....I know you are thinking it can't be that hard to steer it ....but believe me.....you will be ALARMED at how such a small amount of pressure can drastically change the handling characteristics..... I returned to my shop with a skid mark in my underwear and replaced the bearings and races.....now the bike rides like a dream.......His old bearings were worn to the point of notchiness and I thought I could correct the condition by overtightening the head bearings.....at low speeds I was unable to detect a difference in the resistance to turn the bars, however at 40 mph it was headed straight for the centerline of the road and would not turn.....
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TAWoody
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Jul 21, 2010 08:47 PM
