Weird steering issue...
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 11
From: PacNW; Beacon of Conservatism in a Sea of Liberals.......AZ Snowbird; Just another Conservative
Weird steering issue...
I'm back in AZ for my winter escape, and so I'm now riding the '07 RKC. I've been noticing a strange, and scary, steering issue. If it were a car, I'd say it has serious oversteer.
When I enter a right OR left turn, as at an intersection, I have to hold the opposite grip with some effort, to keep the front end from diving into the turn and jack-knifing the bike. In times past, I remember the bike wanting to self-straighten from any steering input.
Cruising in a straight path remains a hands-off, tracks like on a rail experience, as it always has.
Anyone ever experience this? Not sure if this is related, but when I back up the bike, I hear some of the [front] spokes ping like plucked harp strings. Profile rims.
When I enter a right OR left turn, as at an intersection, I have to hold the opposite grip with some effort, to keep the front end from diving into the turn and jack-knifing the bike. In times past, I remember the bike wanting to self-straighten from any steering input.
Cruising in a straight path remains a hands-off, tracks like on a rail experience, as it always has.
Anyone ever experience this? Not sure if this is related, but when I back up the bike, I hear some of the [front] spokes ping like plucked harp strings. Profile rims.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 463
From: On a Lake, not far from the Gulf
Check the nut behind the wheel...Sorry, I had to say it.
Check out the rear axel. Make sure that the axel is torqued to spec, and the alignment is on. I recently had an issue with my bike that I was sure was a front wheel bearing. Turned out that the rear axel nut was not torqued properly.
Check out the rear axel. Make sure that the axel is torqued to spec, and the alignment is on. I recently had an issue with my bike that I was sure was a front wheel bearing. Turned out that the rear axel nut was not torqued properly.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
If you can hear spokes popping and pinging rolling the bike, you've got some problems with the wheel(s) that need to be fixed. Likely is the cause or a substantial contributory factor to handling problems.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 284
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From: Belfast, N. Ireland
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Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 20
From: Greater St Louis, MO
The rake is different on your road king versus your dyna, so they will track differently when steering. There may not be a problem with the bike at all, it could just be a matter of getting used to the different handling. JMHO
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Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
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Likes: 11
From: PacNW; Beacon of Conservatism in a Sea of Liberals.......AZ Snowbird; Just another Conservative
Weird steering issue solved...
Well, I got my "diving into turns" issue corrected. It was as simple as low tire pressure. The front had 13-psi, and the rear had 8-psi. Neither tire looked or felt low.
Since I posted the thread, I found a used Pit Bull on Craig's for $200, and picked up a nice Craftsman pancake compressor at a pawn shop for $45. Once I got the bike up on the lift, I could access the tire valvestems. The only pressure gauge I had here at my winter home, couldn't easily reach the stems to take a measurement until I got the bike up on the lift. The $$$ I saved not taking it to the HDealer likely paid for both tools and the several quick-disconnects, fittings, and other compressor adjuncts I bought. Thanks for all who contributed their ideas; Buelligan666, you nailed it!
Since I posted the thread, I found a used Pit Bull on Craig's for $200, and picked up a nice Craftsman pancake compressor at a pawn shop for $45. Once I got the bike up on the lift, I could access the tire valvestems. The only pressure gauge I had here at my winter home, couldn't easily reach the stems to take a measurement until I got the bike up on the lift. The $$$ I saved not taking it to the HDealer likely paid for both tools and the several quick-disconnects, fittings, and other compressor adjuncts I bought. Thanks for all who contributed their ideas; Buelligan666, you nailed it!