batwing "shimmy"
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 818
Likes: 1
From: S/W Ohio
RE: batwing "shimmy"
I rode last Saturday and we had some 40+ MPH gusts around here. It will make you pucker when it hits you from the sides.I could feel the resistance from head on but didn't experience any shimmying. I also agree with loosening up the death grip a little it does help. Although I'm still pulling my shorts out.......
Ride well,
Jim
Ride well,
Jim
Banned
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,813
Likes: 4
RE: batwing "shimmy"
I have an 07 Street Glide with the batwing and have added freedom wings also. No real problem from the fairing although I did feel I was getting some rear steer with long sweeps on the interstate so I installed the ridestr8 stabilizer kit.
It does seem like if I run the full factory recommended air pressure in my rear tires a slight shimmy at speed is noticeable - when I run a few lbs less psi, it seems less noticable - but maybe that's just in my mind?
Anyone else running slightly lower tire pressure on the rear and noticed a difference?
It does seem like if I run the full factory recommended air pressure in my rear tires a slight shimmy at speed is noticeable - when I run a few lbs less psi, it seems less noticable - but maybe that's just in my mind?
Anyone else running slightly lower tire pressure on the rear and noticed a difference?
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 847
Likes: 0
From:
RE: batwing "shimmy"
It could be the sheet metal fairing mounts being broken,
or it could be the low tire pressure mentioned also.
It could be a flat spot worn on your tire, or un balanced tire.
It could be the fork oil is different in one fork than the other.
It could be spokes or something of that nature.
It may be your steer head bearings need to be tightened up, correctly.
Have you added any weight or drag to you front end, meaning the handle bars or fork or fairing area? This may affect your self centering and a change may be needed on the steering head bearing. Just a thought.
Are you sure it's the front end making it shake?
It could be rear shocks not having enough air, or
a loose nut on a shock,
leaking oil from a rear shock,
tire problems,
rear end out of alignment, measure or use the 'cams' to assure alignment.
basically all the stuff mentioned above.
or it could be the low tire pressure mentioned also.
It could be a flat spot worn on your tire, or un balanced tire.
It could be the fork oil is different in one fork than the other.
It could be spokes or something of that nature.
It may be your steer head bearings need to be tightened up, correctly.
Have you added any weight or drag to you front end, meaning the handle bars or fork or fairing area? This may affect your self centering and a change may be needed on the steering head bearing. Just a thought.
Are you sure it's the front end making it shake?
It could be rear shocks not having enough air, or
a loose nut on a shock,
leaking oil from a rear shock,
tire problems,
rear end out of alignment, measure or use the 'cams' to assure alignment.
basically all the stuff mentioned above.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 914
Likes: 1
From: Republic of Texas
RE: batwing "shimmy"
With a wide flat piece attached to the handlebars, as the "batwing" is, feeling air turbulence in the handlebars is inevitable.
If you want to stay with that bike configuration, you'll have to learn to live with it.
If you can't deal with it, you'll have to go to a bike configuration where the fairing is frame-mounted. This configuration results in much less suceptibility to the effects of wind.
If you want to stay with that bike configuration, you'll have to learn to live with it.
If you can't deal with it, you'll have to go to a bike configuration where the fairing is frame-mounted. This configuration results in much less suceptibility to the effects of wind.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 0
From: pensacola, fl
RE: batwing "shimmy"
ORIGINAL: bbaadd
get a road glide and you won't have any of those problems
get a road glide and you won't have any of those problems
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