I think everyone should realize that one person's problems might not be the same for someone else. Wobbles can be caused by assorted things in the front, such as low tire pressure, bad tire, tire out of balance,low fork oil (especially on one side, which happened to me on a Triumph due to a leaky fork seal),bad neck bearings, improper setup of neck bearings, internal wear in the forks, uneven air pressure in front forks, or a broken spring in fork.

Rear end weave can be caused not only by the lack of a third link on the rubber mounts causing the swingarm to move sideways on a sweeper, but also bad swingarm bushings, cracked swingarm, low tire pressure, bad tire, tire outof balance,bad shock or shocks, and improper alignment, which was an initial problem with many of the TC88's, coming from the factory with as much as a 3/4" difference in the tracking of the front to rear tire (as first reported by MCNews way back in '99) caused by the motor mounts not adjusted properly at time of build.

Harley isn't the only bike with wobble issues. The early model Yamaha Ventures were notorious for a front end wobble when slowing down due to a too light fork brace (corrected by installing a SuperBrace) and the current Gold Wings have a similar problem, now thought to be caused by uneven internal wear in their front forks. They have a spring in only one side of their fork, and the dampening cartridge in the other, causing uneven action in the forks.

Check your bike from one end to the other. It's gotta be caused by something. If anyone has ever had a tank slapper, like I did on my T150 Triumph, you know it's nothing to fool with.

 

I don't recall any "rubber" bushings in the rear swingarm of my 06 Ultra.

The information I read on the two references sites mention worn rear swingarm bushings however the lack of a solidly attached rear motor mount coupled with worn bushings is what leads to the issue known as "rear steer".

Many years ago HD made changes to the swingarm bushings to slow the wear rate and distortion.

As stated, many many items can contribute to a wobble at either high or low speeds. To just do a knee jerk reaction and claim the install of a third party device such as a ride straight or true track will eliminate it is false. If the wobble stems from bad or loose neck bearings, strapping down the engine won't fix it.

I have felt the Ultra get a little "snakey" in certain curves. Usually it is brought on by a change in geometry when the suspension loads or unloads. This can be caused by throttle movement, braking, weight shifts, and pavement changes. Sometimes adding throttle is the answer, other times reducing is the answer. It depends on what change to the suspension geometry brought it on to begin with.

 

I had an 05 ultra and never had a problem with any wobble but on windy days my new 08 does have a bit of a wobble but I just slow down a touch and it goes away. If I can't get there at 70 I won't go.

 

Thanks for all of the good information....so far I haven't felt the wobble of course I ride thespeed limit. My wife heard this person talking about it and of course started to worry.

 

Easy tiger, only the wife canblame me for all nefarious incidents.

 

I feel a real tight wobble caused by the wind, but all my bikes have done it, like when your behind a truck. I guess this is not the same problem.

 

Did you read the web sites Posted?
Leaving Americade this year traveling down 97 bike is loaded. Around 75 mph.Hit gap, hole in highway front of bike started shaking real bad. Like losing control. Slowed down to 40 mph to gain control.
rode home no more problems.
Riding back from nephews out 80 doing about 70 mph. turn to get off at White Haven same problem front of bike start shaking back and forth. wife is in my ear. I,m bring the speed down. Again, down to 40 mph to gain control.
Yes the head bearings are adjusted right. Tires front 38# rear 40# shocks 20#. I have found out if you run lower shock pressure my bike willresponded with the shakes. On 2 up riding. I believe front end a little light? No the wife and I are not to heavy weights. We do not come close to the recomended gross total weight. Never had this problem with any other Harley we owned. Softail handle like a dream. OkIbottom the floorboards out a few times. Normal
Dealer: never heard of this. Guy standing near counter. Outside tells me his RK does the same thing when 2 up riding.

 

Not true of the Wing. Springs are installed in both struts. Here'a a link to a 2007 Wing schematic at BikeBandit: http://houseofmotorcycles.bikebandit...G/2007/2440513

 

My Trek 8500 mountain bike has spring 1 side and air in other. Fox 100. What a ride love it.

 

Not true of the Wing. Springs are installed in both struts. Here'a a link to a 2007 Wing schematic at BikeBandit: http://houseofmotorcycles.bikebandit...G/2007/2440513
thanks for the correction. It is the anti-dive unit onthe leftside, and the fork cartridge on the right side, causing this problem, along with light materials, and an inadequate triple tree clamp. There is a fork spring on each side. MCNews, March 2007, describes their front fork as the same size you would see fitted to a 600cc sport bike, with even some part numbers the same as the GSX-R600.