Steering and handling change. What do you think?
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 379
Likes: 38
From: Nebraska
Steering and handling change. What do you think?
13 Street Glide, just under 28,000 miles. Have been noticing the steering/stability is different lately, or so I think. Seems to take more effort to turn through a curve at highway speeds, as in more pressure to hold the counter-steer input. Low speed turns it just wants to increase the handlebar movement in the direction of the turn. Don't notice any change in effort to steer in slow turns. Also seems to be less stable when crossing cracks and seams in the highway. A little more shake is noticed. Nothing has been changed on the bike recently. Tires have a bit more wear though and will be getting changed in the next 2-3 thousand miles. None of the above symptoms are feeling dangerous, just not as solid and stable as before. Seems to have been a gradual change. I have a thought as to where to look, just want to hear others experiences and ideas.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Likes: 50
From: Georgia
One easy thing to check is to be sure the bolts that secure your handlebar risers to the top arm of the triple tree brace are properly torqued. Swing handlebars to the left, then look up at the bottom of top brace. You'll see a bolt head. Be sure it is tight and torqued to 35-40 ft-lbs. Then turn the handlebars to the right and repeat on the other side.
There are rubber bushings in the bolt holes to dampen vibration. If, however, the bolts loosen, even slightly, you'll begin to feel a wobble in the handlebars.
There are rubber bushings in the bolt holes to dampen vibration. If, however, the bolts loosen, even slightly, you'll begin to feel a wobble in the handlebars.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
Try greasing the neck bearings for a start, that seems to be a neglected area for a lot of bikes, then Id check the fall away next. If nothing else at least its a maintenance item, then as you say the tires are due in a couple thousand miles, Id go there. Perhaps youre trying to squeeze too much from a hoop??
If none of this were to relieve it, Id look into a rear suspension or bushings.
If none of this were to relieve it, Id look into a rear suspension or bushings.
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Joe Kucinski
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Very true. No point hanging on for those last few miles, if a set of new ones will remove the possibility that they are the cause of the problem.
