High Speed Wobble...When?
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
From: New Kensington, PA
Felt it on a curve in the road at around 60. Was a bumpy road. Felt it, or what I thought it was on a grated bridge. Back tire felt like it was about 3 grooves over from the front. Never felt it that bad any other time I rode across a grated bridge on a different model. I have an '08 FLHR.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 20
From: Salem, Or
Got a wobble a few weeks ago on a two lane from phoenix to las vegas, I was going about 105 around a long sweeper and hit a bump, This is on my 2010 rk. I've had the wobble from the neck bearings on my vrod, 120 straight down the road and I almost lost it. The wobble on my king was not nearly as bad as the vrod but still made me pucker. I think some suspension upgrades will help alot, I also tightened the risers on my handlebars, they were a bit loose and with apehangers this amplified the wiggle, I had to let off the throttle and loosen my grip on the bars to get the wobble to stop, it sounds weird but holding the bars tight actually makes the wobble worse.
Thanks for the response. So far on my 2010 Ultra the ride has been great. When going through sweepers the bike seems like its on rails. I was hoping the issue was fixed with the new frame design.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
i'm guessing that it's nowhere near as scary as a tank slapper that i used to experience with my moto guzzi lemans. now those tank slappers are a hoot to ride through. i've had no handling issues with my 08 streetglide at all. i did however, have that drunk butt wiggle with the stock rear tire when riding over the hiway where they have rain grooves. the dunlop elite 3's cured that though.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I think you need to look into that! There are things that can improve your bike's handling, but it sounds like you may have something that needs sorting first. If you are not confident doing it yourself get a dealer or independent to check it over.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
My '05 EGC had this - a slight shimmy when taking a tight turn, such as a freeway ramp at higher speeds. I'm not an aggressive rider so rarely felt this as I don't usually take turns at higher speeds to begin with so not much of an issue to me. I did feel it a few times though so know what it is.
The '09 RK is smooth as glass, they've eliminated this phenomenon in the '09 and newer Touring models.
The '09 RK is smooth as glass, they've eliminated this phenomenon in the '09 and newer Touring models.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 7
From: guntersville, al
i put 70K on my 01 RK on all kinds of road conditions. there are plenty of curves and hills here in NE Alabama and NW Georgia. i never experienced what many complain about. several coworkers here have pre-09s with lots of miles and have never experienced the effect.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 1
From: SC
I'm with you EMWOLB, I used to ride a honda cbr929rr. That thing could get like a bucking bull sometimes with the tank slappers. If anyone watches the superbike races on speed and see's the front end wobble and the bike bounce around that's it. I have yet to experience anything like that on my SG. This thing is smoothe as silk even around a 100.
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