Front wheel oscillating
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 715
Likes: 81
From: London, UK
Front wheel oscillating
Hi guys,
2018 SGS, how many get some oscillating feedback from the front end particularly at high speed on long radius curves?
for “high speed” lets say 90-95mph.......
Cheers
2018 SGS, how many get some oscillating feedback from the front end particularly at high speed on long radius curves?
for “high speed” lets say 90-95mph.......
Cheers
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
Unless your tires are cupped, (The noise the other post mentions) my guess is it's the rear end and you may just be feeling it in the handlebars. Google or use the search here for "Harley rear end wobble" and you will find a lot of reading on it. Below is a link to a video that shows it on an older bike. It happens in high speed sweeping turns and a bump will upset the rear swingarm and it starts oscillating. The pre 09's were notorious for it, The new frames on the 09's and up helped but it is still there, just not as bad. You have several options. 1. SLOW DOWN! 2. Get used to it and ride it out 3. Frame stabilizer like True Trak.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 934
Likes: 1,050
From: So Calif
While the above is true, and if your tires are good, next time try more body english. Put your hip and shoulder into the corner, and see if it smooths out! Some riders try to steer to much in a corner.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 715
Likes: 81
From: London, UK
Unless your tires are cupped, (The noise the other post mentions) my guess is it's the rear end and you may just be feeling it in the handlebars. Google or use the search here for "Harley rear end wobble" and you will find a lot of reading on it. Below is a link to a video that shows it on an older bike. It happens in high speed sweeping turns and a bump will upset the rear swingarm and it starts oscillating. The pre 09's were notorious for it, The new frames on the 09's and up helped but it is still there, just not as bad. You have several options. 1. SLOW DOWN! 2. Get used to it and ride it out 3. Frame stabilizer like True Trak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmw6QppXnEY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmw6QppXnEY
Thanks Guys
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 715
Likes: 81
From: London, UK
The Clip above is something though, on reflection, that movement could have been coming from the rear and I will look more into this, (once we can get out again)....
I recently installed new front & rear suspension, all set up correctly, the improved feedback from the front does give more confidence at high speed however it wasnt until I pushed it up to that level this thing exposed itself....normally I would have started to come off the throttle on this curve at around 80/85....
Cheers
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,445
Likes: 2,820
From: Oklahoma
Tire wear influences feed-back. Usually from new to about 1/2 worn, there is little feedback, the bike "ignores" ruts, seams and grooves. Then, after about the 1/2 wear point the tires start to react to ruts, seams and longitudinal grooves in the road. Higher tire pressure will minimize the reaction, but not eliminate it. Only new tires will "fix" it for awhile. Oddly, a new rear tire removes most or all of the reactions to road surface. If your tires are relatively new, the above described swing arm rear wheel steer may be the problem, but if your tires are past the 1/2 worn point, it might be just your tires and not the bike.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
This isn’t a problem for me, its not lack of effort or skill just a strange feedback.
The Clip above is something though, on reflection, that movement could have been coming from the rear and I will look more into this, (once we can get out again)....
I recently installed new front & rear suspension, all set up correctly, the improved feedback from the front does give more confidence at high speed however it wasnt until I pushed it up to that level this thing exposed itself....normally I would have started to come off the throttle on this curve at around 80/85....
Cheers
The Clip above is something though, on reflection, that movement could have been coming from the rear and I will look more into this, (once we can get out again)....
I recently installed new front & rear suspension, all set up correctly, the improved feedback from the front does give more confidence at high speed however it wasnt until I pushed it up to that level this thing exposed itself....normally I would have started to come off the throttle on this curve at around 80/85....
Cheers
The faster we go the greater the noise level we are subjected to. The natural reaction is to grip the bars, which actually makes them oscillate sideways. This can also be caused by riding with high bars, when we are inclined to grip them tight against wind pressure. Wear ear plugs and you may find you can ride even faster, until the noise level reaches similar discomfort levels.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 482
From: MA
how many miles are on the bike?
not an uncommon problem. crappy design the way the swing arm mounts....I'm 99% sure its your rear end, not your front. poke around some threads about wobble for your answer. Shock adjustments, fall-away adjustment, tire pressure/condition, and frame stabilizers.
Also, the batwing seems to make it a little worse than the RG.
not an uncommon problem. crappy design the way the swing arm mounts....I'm 99% sure its your rear end, not your front. poke around some threads about wobble for your answer. Shock adjustments, fall-away adjustment, tire pressure/condition, and frame stabilizers.
Also, the batwing seems to make it a little worse than the RG.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 161
Likes: 30
From: NW Georgia
I'm not usually riding too many curves at 90+... but when I started riding my 2009 UC in the mountain curves (30-40 mph), I did notice a significant "bounciness" in the front end. I also noticed "looseness" in the rear. My previous bike was a Honda Shadow 1100 with Progressive shocks & springs... it was solid/firm. The stock setup on the UC was just too soft for me.
Last fall I upgraded to Legends front and rear... as well as having the bike serviced (30k miles) and everything brought up to spec. The bike is much more solid and planted to the road now. The sponginess in the front & rear is gone and I ride much more confidently... and lean into the curves more too.
Ride Safely!
John.
Last fall I upgraded to Legends front and rear... as well as having the bike serviced (30k miles) and everything brought up to spec. The bike is much more solid and planted to the road now. The sponginess in the front & rear is gone and I ride much more confidently... and lean into the curves more too.
Ride Safely!
John.
Last edited by MegaJohn; Mar 27, 2020 at 01:02 PM.