wobble wobble wobble
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
RE: wobble wobble wobble
I think the wobble you are referring to is the wobble felt on many if not all baggers with the batwing fatring and tour pack. I have felt it so many times I can't count on my 2007 screamin eagle Ultra. The only thing I can say is don't panic and make any fast movements when it startsjust let off the throttle slowly. It happens when mostly when traveling above 70 mph into tigher curves. I think it's a combination of the buffeting in the batwing, the high mounted tourpack and the rubber mounting of the engine. Take it for what it is because it's the nature of the beast. I just purchased an 08 street glide after riding my friends and never could quite duplicate the same thing. So that leads me to believe it's more than likely the high mounted tourpack. I'm no stranger to sportbikes as I ride them also but they do not encounter the wobble nearly as often but when they do watch out. Due to the light front ends on those bikes it can get really scary really fast.
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Van. Canada
RE: wobble wobble wobble
had the wobble on my 07 RK Custom
took it back to the dealer, they used wieghts on the front wheel
took it to my local and though a stability test found
the front end assembly to be loose. Fixed it and not a
problem since. He chalks it up to the lil strike.
took it back to the dealer, they used wieghts on the front wheel
took it to my local and though a stability test found
the front end assembly to be loose. Fixed it and not a
problem since. He chalks it up to the lil strike.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,603
Likes: 10
RE: wobble wobble wobble
most of yall are suppose'n the wrong reasons for the wobble....only a few hit the prob on the head....its rubber mounted...swing arm in rubber as well....the drivetrain is located in two places with stabilizers but needs three...the rear of the drivetrain is held by the swingarm pivot which goes thru rubber....it does deflect, even on new bikes...it does not give a tank slapper and you will most likely not go down when it happens....it feels much like grooved pavement on the rear only....the solution is with a True Track or Ride Str8 stabilizer....either one works excellent and ties the side to side deflection in the rear/bottom of the drivetrain....either will make your bike feel like its on rails....i run the TT, some of my buds use the RSTR8...both are about 400 bucks....dont even think the dealer will do anything or can do anything about the prob cause they dont admit it happens....some of yall should seriously look at aftermarket parts bc they work far better than the moco's offering
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 527
Likes: 3
From: Columbus GA / Phenix City AL
RE: wobble wobble wobble
Happened to me for the first time yesterday....the usual situation...about 75 MPH into a turn. Felt like I was in a groove in the road, being yanked around. I thought about all you guys and this danged conversation 
Stage I
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From:
RE: wobble wobble wobble
I went through the same thing on my Ultra. It just did not feel stable at any speed. Above 65 it was a nightmare.
After looking at all the options out there I bought the STA-BO bushings.
I installed then and noticed the difference in handling right away. The suspension works like it should and no wobble. I think the folks that say the problem is in the rubbermounted swingarm shaft are correct. Its still alittle twitchy over 80 but I think that is due to the 26 degree rake.
After looking at all the options out there I bought the STA-BO bushings.
I installed then and noticed the difference in handling right away. The suspension works like it should and no wobble. I think the folks that say the problem is in the rubbermounted swingarm shaft are correct. Its still alittle twitchy over 80 but I think that is due to the 26 degree rake.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
From: Winston Salen, NC
RE: wobble wobble wobble
ORIGINAL: Bryan TTM
most of yall are suppose'n the wrong reasons for the wobble....only a few hit the prob on the head....its rubber mounted...swing arm in rubber as well....the drivetrain is located in two places with stabilizers but needs three...the rear of the drivetrain is held by the swingarm pivot which goes thru rubber....it does deflect, even on new bikes...it does not give a tank slapper and you will most likely not go down when it happens....it feels much like grooved pavement on the rear only....the solution is with a True Track or Ride Str8 stabilizer....either one works excellent and ties the side to side deflection in the rear/bottom of the drivetrain....either will make your bike feel like its on rails....i run the TT, some of my buds use the RSTR8...both are about 400 bucks....dont even think the dealer will do anything or can do anything about the prob cause they dont admit it happens....some of yall should seriously look at aftermarket parts bc they work far better than the moco's offering
most of yall are suppose'n the wrong reasons for the wobble....only a few hit the prob on the head....its rubber mounted...swing arm in rubber as well....the drivetrain is located in two places with stabilizers but needs three...the rear of the drivetrain is held by the swingarm pivot which goes thru rubber....it does deflect, even on new bikes...it does not give a tank slapper and you will most likely not go down when it happens....it feels much like grooved pavement on the rear only....the solution is with a True Track or Ride Str8 stabilizer....either one works excellent and ties the side to side deflection in the rear/bottom of the drivetrain....either will make your bike feel like its on rails....i run the TT, some of my buds use the RSTR8...both are about 400 bucks....dont even think the dealer will do anything or can do anything about the prob cause they dont admit it happens....some of yall should seriously look at aftermarket parts bc they work far better than the moco's offering
Banned
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 1
From: St.Louis, MO.
RE: wobble wobble wobble
ORIGINAL: CoyoteJoe
I took my hands off the bars of my 07 Fatboy to change glasses at about 25mph and I was surprised to see a wobble and I put my hands back on immediately. I found a quiet street and performed some experiments, and even got my girlfriend on the back to shoot videos (ok maybe not the smartest thing). When I took my hands off, it started to wobble and with eachiteration it grew more violent - I let it go about 2" back and forth before I stopped it. I was holding my hands about 1" away from the bars, so I could grab it quicky. I googled this, cause I was really surprised as I saw lots of harleys coming to a light, and the rider would put a cigarette in his mouth and light it, taking both hands off for a little while. While googling it (you can google yourself) I found a lot of incidences, and several deaths. The most publicized seemed to be an auto dealership owner, who got a wobble at 55mph and died - with lots of witnesses. they called it a "tank slapper". I read the biggest issues with wobbles were 1) Loose Spokes, and 2) inproperly inflated tires 3) deceleration induced wobble. I don't have spokes on my bike, I have the solid wheel, and I checked the pressure and it was fine, and I tried letting go in neutral also. I have a friend thats an ex-harley mechanic, and I emailed him the videos and he said to take it to the dealer immediatey. I called the dealer, and first he said thats normal, all his rental heritages wobble if you take your hands off, and he told me that I'm not supposed to take my hands off. I told him I don't have spokes and it shouldn't wobble, and he told me to not to ride it anymore and they will send a truck to pick it up and they did. While it was in, they took everything apart, I could tell because the wiring, cabling and bars was different, and put it back together. The dealer told me that they didn't find any problem. They also told me that they took everything apart, and retightened it to specs, so they don't know if something was out of spec or not. It took me a day or two to get up enough courage, to try it and I performed a bunch of tests, and even increased the speeds to 45mph, but there isn't any wobble at all any more. My guess is that there was something loose in the front end, or an out of balance tire.
http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/lawsuit1.htm
http://www.bikernewsonline.com/2007/...ley-wobble.htm
http://www.macon.com/198/story/271654.html
http://www.*****************/forums/tw...on-wobble.html
http://www.1personalinjurylawyers.co...ry-harley.html
Oh, I read about other bikewobbles, its not just Harley, and it is a good idea to always keep your hands on the bars.
I took my hands off the bars of my 07 Fatboy to change glasses at about 25mph and I was surprised to see a wobble and I put my hands back on immediately. I found a quiet street and performed some experiments, and even got my girlfriend on the back to shoot videos (ok maybe not the smartest thing). When I took my hands off, it started to wobble and with eachiteration it grew more violent - I let it go about 2" back and forth before I stopped it. I was holding my hands about 1" away from the bars, so I could grab it quicky. I googled this, cause I was really surprised as I saw lots of harleys coming to a light, and the rider would put a cigarette in his mouth and light it, taking both hands off for a little while. While googling it (you can google yourself) I found a lot of incidences, and several deaths. The most publicized seemed to be an auto dealership owner, who got a wobble at 55mph and died - with lots of witnesses. they called it a "tank slapper". I read the biggest issues with wobbles were 1) Loose Spokes, and 2) inproperly inflated tires 3) deceleration induced wobble. I don't have spokes on my bike, I have the solid wheel, and I checked the pressure and it was fine, and I tried letting go in neutral also. I have a friend thats an ex-harley mechanic, and I emailed him the videos and he said to take it to the dealer immediatey. I called the dealer, and first he said thats normal, all his rental heritages wobble if you take your hands off, and he told me that I'm not supposed to take my hands off. I told him I don't have spokes and it shouldn't wobble, and he told me to not to ride it anymore and they will send a truck to pick it up and they did. While it was in, they took everything apart, I could tell because the wiring, cabling and bars was different, and put it back together. The dealer told me that they didn't find any problem. They also told me that they took everything apart, and retightened it to specs, so they don't know if something was out of spec or not. It took me a day or two to get up enough courage, to try it and I performed a bunch of tests, and even increased the speeds to 45mph, but there isn't any wobble at all any more. My guess is that there was something loose in the front end, or an out of balance tire.
http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/lawsuit1.htm
http://www.bikernewsonline.com/2007/...ley-wobble.htm
http://www.macon.com/198/story/271654.html
http://www.*****************/forums/tw...on-wobble.html
http://www.1personalinjurylawyers.co...ry-harley.html
Oh, I read about other bikewobbles, its not just Harley, and it is a good idea to always keep your hands on the bars.
Have ya tried it without the tour pack on it????
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Banned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 845
Likes: 4
From: ID ho
RE: wobble wobble wobble
Anyone who is refering to the "hands off the bars wobble" or "tank slapper" either on dressers or other models and makes is experiencing a loose neck bearing.
On a dresser the neck bearings are preloaded to a spcific swing pattern. Raise front wheel, make sure nut is tq'd, pull bars full left, and let go. front end should swing back and forth and stop on the 3rd swing.
On a softail, dyna sportster, there is a fall away spec. Rotate bars lock to lock , bring back towards center until front end will hold in place, put a pointer on fender or tire and tap tire in same direction until it "falls away". Spec on most models is 1"-2". Heritage and FatBoy's frequently need the bearings tighter than that to stop decell wobble, sometimes as much as 5"-6".
This is something completely different than the Through a turn wobble.
Bryan is right about the True Track or Ride STR8, although the MoCo DOESN'Toffer anything for this.
On a dresser the neck bearings are preloaded to a spcific swing pattern. Raise front wheel, make sure nut is tq'd, pull bars full left, and let go. front end should swing back and forth and stop on the 3rd swing.
On a softail, dyna sportster, there is a fall away spec. Rotate bars lock to lock , bring back towards center until front end will hold in place, put a pointer on fender or tire and tap tire in same direction until it "falls away". Spec on most models is 1"-2". Heritage and FatBoy's frequently need the bearings tighter than that to stop decell wobble, sometimes as much as 5"-6".
This is something completely different than the Through a turn wobble.
Bryan is right about the True Track or Ride STR8, although the MoCo DOESN'Toffer anything for this.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 776
Likes: 1
From:
RE: wobble wobble wobble
I put the sta-bo 3on my old (01) road king.The sta-bo 3 allowsyou to install the later model swingarm. They don't recommend using the sta-bo with the other type (tru-trac etc...)stabilizer. It really tightened up the feel of the rear wheel. It feels like it tracks much straighter, and when you're coming out of a curve, it seems to want to straighten up much quicker. Even when changing lanes,the bike seems tostraighten up much quicker,and doesn't have that wallow (soft mushy) feeling.Everyone that's been on it so far, really likes the feel of it. I'm probably going to go ahead and put it on my street glide as well.