wobble
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Salt Lake, Utah
RE: wobble
I have posted this before, and I am sorry it is so long but I am sure it will help you out.
I have an 07 Ultra. Right after the 1000 mile service while I was “testing it out” I about dumped it in a long sweeper at 85 MPH. Having been on race bikes that wobble I justput more weight onmy feetand it came out OK. At first I thought it was a front end issue but with further study I believethe issue is“rear steer”. On my ultra it happens at any speed above 80 mph as you lean hard into or out of a sweeper. On the straights it is harder to find but it is still there, just waiting to surprise me.
I stopped at the dealer on my way home and talked to the service manager about it. He called it the bagger boogie and checked the steering head and the swing arm for me. He ask me about the speed and what I was doing to “make it happen” and what I did to come out of it. He said it was not a sport bike and if I wanted it to handle like one I would never be happy. He suggested I try to tune it out or buy a Ride STR8 or TrueTrac.
I have found several things can be done to “tune it out”. I started with tire pressure, by changing up or down a few psi, I can change the speed where it starts and how bad it gets. I also looked at adjusting the air in the shocks, changing my riding position and putting weight in the bags. I now have a very good feel for my bike and how it handles different input from me. I am happy with it but I am also careful when I start pushing the speeds. I think I will end up with either a Ride STR8 or TrueTrac.
I turned up this very well written answer http://www.answers.com/topic/speed-wobble
If you read to the bottom you find the answer that always worked on my race bikes and works well on the ultra too;
Lifting body off the saddle: Lifting the body up from the saddle completely alters the dynamics of the feedback system and the moments of inertia. In particular, lifting yourself off the saddle eliminates the jelly effect.
Just that small tip has kept me on the road more than once. Nothing like a good tank slapper on a fast bike to make you think twice about your tire pressure.
-eleven
I have an 07 Ultra. Right after the 1000 mile service while I was “testing it out” I about dumped it in a long sweeper at 85 MPH. Having been on race bikes that wobble I justput more weight onmy feetand it came out OK. At first I thought it was a front end issue but with further study I believethe issue is“rear steer”. On my ultra it happens at any speed above 80 mph as you lean hard into or out of a sweeper. On the straights it is harder to find but it is still there, just waiting to surprise me.
I stopped at the dealer on my way home and talked to the service manager about it. He called it the bagger boogie and checked the steering head and the swing arm for me. He ask me about the speed and what I was doing to “make it happen” and what I did to come out of it. He said it was not a sport bike and if I wanted it to handle like one I would never be happy. He suggested I try to tune it out or buy a Ride STR8 or TrueTrac.
I have found several things can be done to “tune it out”. I started with tire pressure, by changing up or down a few psi, I can change the speed where it starts and how bad it gets. I also looked at adjusting the air in the shocks, changing my riding position and putting weight in the bags. I now have a very good feel for my bike and how it handles different input from me. I am happy with it but I am also careful when I start pushing the speeds. I think I will end up with either a Ride STR8 or TrueTrac.
I turned up this very well written answer http://www.answers.com/topic/speed-wobble
If you read to the bottom you find the answer that always worked on my race bikes and works well on the ultra too;
Lifting body off the saddle: Lifting the body up from the saddle completely alters the dynamics of the feedback system and the moments of inertia. In particular, lifting yourself off the saddle eliminates the jelly effect.
Just that small tip has kept me on the road more than once. Nothing like a good tank slapper on a fast bike to make you think twice about your tire pressure.
-eleven
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: El Reno,OK
RE: wobble
As you said you were comming back from Sturgis, If you load up the tour pak inside and on the luggage rack, you willloose a lot of weight on the front tire,By loading up the back of the bike it will lift the front. Been there done that , bought the T-shirt,,,when I had mine loaded up , I could pickup the front end no problem, but not loaded no way.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 2
From: South Fla.
RE: wobble
A bud of mine had the same problem. We found his rear tire was not set properley, had a 3 degree offset. We used long floresent light bulbs to aline his wheels. Problem solved.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,015
Likes: 5
From: Alaska
RE: wobble
I would start with the following checks.
Tire pressure
Wheel balance
Wheel alignment
Steering neck tightness / bearings
Wheel bearings
Rear swingarm bushings / components
I have found I can induce a wobble on my 06 Ultra if I change the suspension loading while in a turn by using braking or changing power. The road surface can contribute to the wobble. Powering out of the turn seems to add stability.
The wobble will usually only occur at 90 mph and above.
Tire pressure
Wheel balance
Wheel alignment
Steering neck tightness / bearings
Wheel bearings
Rear swingarm bushings / components
I have found I can induce a wobble on my 06 Ultra if I change the suspension loading while in a turn by using braking or changing power. The road surface can contribute to the wobble. Powering out of the turn seems to add stability.
The wobble will usually only occur at 90 mph and above.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From:
RE: wobble
ORIGINAL: DocHarley
A bud of mine had the same problem. We found his rear tire was not set properley, had a 3 degree offset. We used long floresent light bulbs to aline his wheels. Problem solved.
A bud of mine had the same problem. We found his rear tire was not set properley, had a 3 degree offset. We used long floresent light bulbs to aline his wheels. Problem solved.
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