Bagger Wobble Exposed...
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 33
Likes: 12
From: McKinney, TX
Wobble baby wobble
My 2012 Ultra CVO would wobble in high speed sweepers. Rear steer is a more accurate description of what was happening. Heres the list of the things I added or ruled out before ultimately finding the problem.
Changed tires, checked wheels/pressure
neck bearings checked out within spec
changed front suspension to legend cartridges
changed rear suspension to legend
added true trac
added alloy arts gooden-tire swingarm bushing kit
had the alignment checked with a rack and pull system
Like an idiot I ignored the part of the bike that was rear steering, the friggin swingarm bushings. Replaced the bushings, spacers, bearings and pivot shaft, which finally fixed the problem.
The true trac does provide a rigid mounting point for the rear of the motor onto the frame, but it does not account for 10 year old rubber swingarm bushings that allow too much flex side to side. When the suspension is loaded in a high speed sweeper, and anything upsets the geometry, bump in the road, grooves, wind deflection on the batwing etc, the suspension rebound was causing the bushings to flex and triggered the snake wobble from the rear of the bike and to the handlebars.
The lesson I learned in all of this was to plan on replacing all the rubber bushings and motor mounts every 3-4 years. There are some aftermarket options like Glide Pro that will stiffen things up. I chased this problem for about 2 years so if youre having this problem start with the swingarm $48 bushings first.
This CHP testing video demonstrates exactly what was happening with my bike.
Changed tires, checked wheels/pressure
neck bearings checked out within spec
changed front suspension to legend cartridges
changed rear suspension to legend
added true trac
added alloy arts gooden-tire swingarm bushing kit
had the alignment checked with a rack and pull system
Like an idiot I ignored the part of the bike that was rear steering, the friggin swingarm bushings. Replaced the bushings, spacers, bearings and pivot shaft, which finally fixed the problem.
The true trac does provide a rigid mounting point for the rear of the motor onto the frame, but it does not account for 10 year old rubber swingarm bushings that allow too much flex side to side. When the suspension is loaded in a high speed sweeper, and anything upsets the geometry, bump in the road, grooves, wind deflection on the batwing etc, the suspension rebound was causing the bushings to flex and triggered the snake wobble from the rear of the bike and to the handlebars.
The lesson I learned in all of this was to plan on replacing all the rubber bushings and motor mounts every 3-4 years. There are some aftermarket options like Glide Pro that will stiffen things up. I chased this problem for about 2 years so if youre having this problem start with the swingarm $48 bushings first.
This CHP testing video demonstrates exactly what was happening with my bike.
Last edited by moto4sho; Nov 3, 2024 at 10:59 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,158
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
FWIW.......
roussfam, this issue has been known about, and discussed for many years... Most likely since shortly after they introduced the rubber mount system.
Here is a thread posted by grbrown back in July 2012 with his conclusions and the reasons for the issue. It was known about and discussed for years before his post.
Iif you read his post #1, you should have a good idea about the "wobble" and why it happens...
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...e-exposed.html
Last edited by hattitude; Nov 4, 2024 at 11:25 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 12,689
Likes: 8,295
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Originally Posted by hattitude
FWIW.......
roussfam, this issue has been known about, and discussed for many years... Most likely since shortly after they introduced the rubber mount system.
Here is a thread posted by grbrown back in July 2012 with his conclusions and the reasons for the issue. It was known about and discussed for years before his post.
Iif you read his post #1, you should have a good idea about the "wobble" and why it happens...
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...e-exposed.html
roussfam, this issue has been known about, and discussed for many years... Most likely since shortly after they introduced the rubber mount system.
Here is a thread posted by grbrown back in July 2012 with his conclusions and the reasons for the issue. It was known about and discussed for years before his post.
Iif you read his post #1, you should have a good idea about the "wobble" and why it happens...
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...e-exposed.html
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,158
Likes: 11,249
From: San Diego, CA
Yep.... It was discussed frequently before grbrown explained it in his thread I posted (from 2012).... The discussion kind of died down after his thread.... but it would surface from time to time, and usually someone would reference grbrown's thread in the new thread, and the discussions would die down again.
I dare say you are not alone.... there are many who have never heard of it, and even more who have never experienced it...
As I remember it, the pre-'09 frame change touring bikes were most susceptible. Even then, if all else was in good shape, you had to push them to get the "wobble"... That CHP video about the wobble (a couple posts back, #34) was from June of 2006....
Many thought after the '09 frame change it "couldn't" happen any more, but in reality, it was just less prevalent.....
I experienced it once, on my then one year old 2012 Ultra Limited..... scared the hell out of me. I put a True Track stabilizer on my 2012, and didn't feel the wobble again...
I haven't felt the need to put one on my Rushmore (2016) bagger.... even though that bike has my most powerful engine to date...
I guess my age is slowing me down....
Last edited by hattitude; Nov 4, 2024 at 04:23 PM.
