The video was just to show what the Harley wobble looks like.. year not withstanding...

It DOES also apply to the '09+ bikes... I had my '12 Limited go into a bad wobble during a large, sweeping, high-speed (yes, I was going faster than the legal limit) curve on a freeway on-ramp. I suspect it looked a lot like the video. It only happened to me once... And no, nothing was broken. I checked the hell out of my bike when I got home; wheel bearings, tire pressure, and even did a fall away check the next day... all good. I read "grbrown's" explanation a short time later and got a True-Track. Never happened again....

Quoted from a post by "grbrown"...

"Wobble 2:

The lack of a rear stabilizer is IMHO a serious flaw in the way Harley introduced this design. That comment is entirely justified as every Buell has one, as do all rubber-mount Sportsters, so Harley knows how to do this. It is a mystery why our Touring bikes don’t have one.

This omission is the main source of the infamous ‘bagger wobble’. Lateral forces compress those rear rubber mounts and cause momentary misalignment of the rear wheel relative to the front wheel. The rubber used is stiff and only yields a little. It also is only able to compress to a small degree due to the design, but it is significant and too much.

2009-on:

While Harley continue to use a similar design of rear rubber mounting on their latest bikes, the old single front mount has been changed to a pair that are similar in design to the rear mounts. There are now four rubber mounts instead of three, but instead of leaving only the rear mounts without lateral support, neither front nor rear have a stabilizer.

Frankly, from an engineering perspective, Harley appears to have abandoned the fine principles of the original design. There are many reasons why Harley changed the frame, of which the engine mounting system is only one, however they could have retained the original design and simply added that vital rear stabilizer.

If you sometimes wonder about the handling of your lovely new bike, you have every right to. If you changed from a pre-09 bike to a post-09 one, to get a better handling bike, you simply jumped out of the fire into the frying pan!"

 

 

Not true. The website says "May not fit with aftermarket exhaust systems ie cross over exhaust etc." I have a riding brother that has an '11 SG, stock header (2:1:2) confuration and he installed it without having to even remove the exhaust. I just installed Jackpot Super Duals this summer and all I had to do was grind out a small easement as the crossover (crossunder??) mount used one of the same mounting holes as the furthest inboard mounting bolt of the touring link. Took about 3 minutes and a bench grinder. They are correct though in that my case a simple mod was required. It may not work at all. I think with the V&H Dresser Duals I had, it would have mounted fine. The crossover is not the issue, but where the crossover hanger mounts is. If one is at all mechanically inclined, these are simple things to work around IMO.

BTW, I really didn't have too much of an issue, but the bike is firmly planted in turns now. My buddy's SG would scare the crap outta me when watching from behind. His is solid in turns now as well. IMO, it;s a good fix and well worth the effort.

 

Might want to take a look at this one. The concept is sound, and their claim that no vibration makes sense. Instead of locking the frame to the tranny where by you will get more engine vibration, this dampens it through a urethane block on both sides of a rail. Not lateral movement is allowed. Has anyone tried one of these? Its called Smooth Rider Stabilizer.


randy

 

Looks interesting, but is anyone actually using one that could give us a review.


Ed

 

Ed, I think I may just go with this one. They offer a 30 day no questions asked return wish is no big deal but they are the only ones who do. I have watched the video intently and the logic behind the design is spot on. I was a design engineer years ago and this definitely has my attention. I have never had the wobble on my 2003 RKC but this wont hurt. Winter install up here in Canada for those snowy long days.

randy

 

I checked into the smooth rider on ebay, they are selling for $140. there was a "make offer" option so I figured I'd shoot them an offer of $130 and they accepted...so I guess I'm going to try the smooth rider. I kind of like the idea of not having it connected solid to the chassis, they claim it will not transfer vibration like the solid mounted options. I'll be sure to report my findings.

 

FWIW....

I had a True-Track on my last bagger ('12 FLHTK) and I didn't notice any vibration transfer after putting the True-Track on it..... Doesn't mean it can't happen, just reporting that I didn't feel any increase in vibration...

 

good to know, thanks. as long as it stiffened up the chassis and got rid of the "wallow" in the sweepers I'm sure I wouldn't be bothered by a little extra vibration.

I really wasn't expecting them to accept my offer, or I think I would have went with the Progressive setup.