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I have never had this problem as long as Ive had this bike. 2014 Ultra Classic. Ive made many trips to Florida and places. I have 60000 miles on it and its always been a Cadillac. But now even at 90 I feel tension in the bars as it begins. Can someone help me out.
I have never had this problem as long as Ive had this bike. 2014 Ultra Classic. Ive made many trips to Florida and places. I have 60000 miles on it and its always been a Cadillac. But now even at 90 I feel tension in the bars as it begins. Can someone help me out.
Sure slow down. What is it with these people that have issues and want to ride 90+?
As mentioned, the steering head bearings need a little snug down. If you have the ability, you might consider disassembling the steering head to clean/grease the bearings, but a slight snug down on the nut will solve your immediate problem.
Sure slow down. What is it with these people that have issues and want to ride 90+?
I've road interstates out west for hours 80-90 for hours, wide open. Rode through corn doing similar. Speed limits are higher some parts of the country There are a few with 80 mph limits, so 90 is not that odd.
As mentioned, the steering head bearings need a little snug down. If you have the ability, you might consider disassembling the steering head to clean/grease the bearings, but a slight snug down on the nut will solve your immediate problem.
That's a good possibility, but also check the easy stuff:
Tire pressure
Tire condition (cupping, damaged sidewall, etc)
Condition of wheel bearings
Then do the fall away test and and adjust the steering head bearings accordingly.
It would be a good time to check the same things on the rear, but substitute swingarm bushings for steering head bearings....
The MoCo decided that grease was too expensive on the 14s, so they just barely kissed the bearings with it.
Ive done 2 of these now and they both looked like this. Mine has never seen a pressure washer but has been ridden in the rain, the other owner claims he never pressure washed his either, and is a fair weather only rider.
These head bearings at best rotate 45 degrees back and forth absorbing constant up and down hammering. Looking at the above picture you see these abnormal wear marks in the race where the rollers spend most of their day. What are the likely causes of such wear? Vibration and inadequate preload when the bearings have no relative motion?
Lubrication is not as critical in this application as it would be in a wheel bearing for example.
The key is regularly scheduled maintenance to pack the bearing if needed and to make sure the preload is set correct. If I am going into it, I will replace with new bearings while there.
I think we are better off not have the grease fitting on the neck. You can look back 15 years and find threads of what type grease to use and all the examples of too much grease and it was leaking out the bottom of the neck.
Just do the scheduled maintenance and you will be happy.
Swing arm bearing wear and crappy stock air shocks can also contribute to this problem.
Last edited by Cosmic Razorback; Jun 23, 2024 at 09:22 AM.
Lubrication is not as critical in this application as it would be in a wheel bearing for example.
Must be why they decided not to use any.
I'm truly hoping you're kidding though. Any bearing that's loose enough to move at all will benefit from a layer of lubrication between the load bearing surfaces. There isn't a rubberized steel seal at the bottom of the neck now like there used to be, just a steel washer, so water can get in / grease get out with zero resistance.
I've road interstates out west for hours 80-90 for hours, wide open. Rode through corn doing similar. Speed limits are higher some parts of the country There are a few with 80 mph limits, so 90 is not that odd.
Exactly,out here in the west there are places where the average speed of traffic is 90 mph .
Also long stretches of wide open spaces on back roads with little to no traffic like riding from Thermopolis to Cody in Wyoming,not much to see and a lot of ground to cover.
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Death wobble at 90 to 100 mph. Ultra Classic
