Stabilizer for newer Bagger?
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,764
Likes: 266
From: Roma Alberta
Love how the guys that have a newer bike try to rationalize it, LOL It is a fact that is can and does happen to all newer bikes. If it doesn't happen to you, then you've never ridden it in a manner to load the rubber mounting laterally. So you can stick your head in the sand all you want but it doesn't change the facts.
would be cool to see a vid of the CHP testing some of the post '09 bikes to see the results, you know those gents are pushing those bikes hard.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 11,439
Well I ride between 20 and 60K a year. In all kinds of weather and all types of roads. Some two up some load down some not. I have never had any so called wobble or need for a phony aftermarket stabilizer.
Want to give your cash to someone so you can pretend it made you bike so much better go for it. But it is a wasted effort. Ride it down the block to the bar part it and point out your stabilizer and explain how it fixes a non issue. Then ride it two blocks home and part it.
Want to give your cash to someone so you can pretend it made you bike so much better go for it. But it is a wasted effort. Ride it down the block to the bar part it and point out your stabilizer and explain how it fixes a non issue. Then ride it two blocks home and part it.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 76
Likes: 6
From: Grady, Alabama
Well said nothing. Smitty's response is exactly why every other person on here starts out their question with "If you've never experienced it, don't reply". You can't tell me these hundreds of people talking about this is making it up. I know what my bike is doing. And I'm sure everybody's not just making up a "non-issue" just to give their money away so they can point to their new stabilizer. Crazy how most posts on here will get 30-40 replies before a good answer will come in. Thanks to those that try to help though.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 304
From: mid Michigan
It's real & now that it happened to me I realize how unstable it is even though it don't go into the wobble in all places. But when it does itll scare you into doing something to make sure it never does it again. The belt mask it most the time, keeping it pulled the one way. If my girl would of been on bike when it did it i dought she would of ever wanted to get on bike again.
I can't wait to go hit I-475 after the upgrade, to be able to ride with confidence. It's mostly curves.
Mine did do it as bad as that vidio lucky I was going straight. Some other vidio showed to lean forward on tank to stop this. It was from the early 80s I believe so its not like its confined to Harleys or a new problem.
I can't wait to go hit I-475 after the upgrade, to be able to ride with confidence. It's mostly curves.
Mine did do it as bad as that vidio lucky I was going straight. Some other vidio showed to lean forward on tank to stop this. It was from the early 80s I believe so its not like its confined to Harleys or a new problem.
Last edited by xcbullet; Jan 17, 2016 at 07:51 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,873
Likes: 13
From: NW Arkansas
Go read grbrown's thread he linked to then come back tell us all about this "non-issue." I'm not convinced all of them won't do it. Like qtrracer said, his buddie's bike doesn't do it unless he rides it.....I'm guessing most don't ride that hard. Mine will do it, but I don't ride that hard often enough for it to be a huge problem, plus, we don't have many long sweepers here in the hills, got a whole bunch of short tight ones though! 
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Harley introduce the rubber mounts back in 1980, at a time when heavy bikes in particular didn't handle very well. Ever tried to ride an original Gold Wing? Bike 'wobble' was a common problem across many brands even before that, but the rubber mounts gave it a fresh impetus, because instead of lousy flexy frames, like the GW and others, we now had a decent frame, but rubber mounts and cleve blocks to keep us alert.
So bagger wobble has been with us for well over thirty years, for those of you that think it is a non-event or something new! It doesn't affect every one, but once experienced you will be in no doubt.
So bagger wobble has been with us for well over thirty years, for those of you that think it is a non-event or something new! It doesn't affect every one, but once experienced you will be in no doubt.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
I have been on my FXR for the past two weeks and got on the bagger again on Saturday. I have to say my bagger handles pretty good for an 800 lb bike. It still will never compare to the stability and flickability of an FXR but I noticed no additional wobble on the bagger over the last few days.
Bike of choice for windy canyon roads go without saying, however this last weekend there was no canyon road riding.
Bike of choice for windy canyon roads go without saying, however this last weekend there was no canyon road riding.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 19
From: Cypress, TX
I love how folks say if you haven't experienced the wobble then you aren't riding hard. That is just as insulting as saying your bike doesn't wobble when you have experienced it. It is definitely possible to over-ride the capabilities of these TOURING bikes but at 45 miles an hour the bike should not have a wobble. If that is the case there is something mechanically wrong, get it to a good mechanic and get it fixed. If it has a serious wobble at high speeds go through the progression of tire inflation, tire wear, steering head adjustment, wheel bearings, broken motor mount, alignment, and if none of that it is it... try a stabilizer. At 80-85 mph on a freeway flyover ramp or tight sweeper posted for 40 mph the bike shouldn't wobble. Mine won't wobble if I do that at 100+ and no stabilizer.