High Speed Wobble...When?
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 774
Likes: 21
From: Florida
High Speed Wobble...When?
Ok, so what's the hubub about riders who are experiencing a high speed chassis wobble. I have an '07 Road King Custom. If anyone has experience the "anomaly" I'd love to know what it's suppore to feel like. My scoot is smooth and steady
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,698
Likes: 10
From: Longview, Washington
First time I felt the wobble . . .
was coming down the hwy from Mt. St. Helens following a group of riders going faster than I usually ride. Went into a long sweeping corner at around 90. I could clearly see at least a mile ahead. The road is very new and smooth although this corner had a few bumps part way through the corner. When I hit the bumps, the rear end bounced as expected and then bounced again on the second bump and this is when the front and back of the bike started to "wiggle". Bike felt very loose like I was on wet pavement. Would not stop until I rolled off the throttle and got down to around 60. I think my heart skipped a few beats in the meantime.
I could also get my bike to feel loose by wiggling the bars back and forth quickly at any speed. Feels like the back of the bike is wagging back and forth. Since installing the stabilizer, this is gone.
I understand completely when someone posts that they haven't felt the wobble. It is hard to describe unless you've felt it.
However, it is easy to feel the difference in my bike since installing the stabilizer.
If you haven't felt the dreaded "bagger wobble", you are fortunate. Several articles in the magazines can attest to it. Hundreds of forum members can also and have installed some form of a rear stabilizer to cure this design flaw. In fact, entire companies have built their businesses around it. Sta-bo, Ride-Str8, Allow Arts, True Trac, TWR, just to mention a few.
Lastly, I believe that the MOCO would be selling a kit just like everyone else BUT that would involve admitting a design flaw. So what did they do? . . . redesign the entire frame and engine mounting system for 09. Now there is your real answer!
Just my 2 cents (maybe 10 cents)
on this issue.
Steve
I could also get my bike to feel loose by wiggling the bars back and forth quickly at any speed. Feels like the back of the bike is wagging back and forth. Since installing the stabilizer, this is gone.
I understand completely when someone posts that they haven't felt the wobble. It is hard to describe unless you've felt it.
However, it is easy to feel the difference in my bike since installing the stabilizer.
If you haven't felt the dreaded "bagger wobble", you are fortunate. Several articles in the magazines can attest to it. Hundreds of forum members can also and have installed some form of a rear stabilizer to cure this design flaw. In fact, entire companies have built their businesses around it. Sta-bo, Ride-Str8, Allow Arts, True Trac, TWR, just to mention a few.
Lastly, I believe that the MOCO would be selling a kit just like everyone else BUT that would involve admitting a design flaw. So what did they do? . . . redesign the entire frame and engine mounting system for 09. Now there is your real answer!
Just my 2 cents (maybe 10 cents)
on this issue.Steve
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
High speed sweeping turns.
I have a highway interchange I hit everyday on the way home with a long sweeping right hand curve. If I am over 70 I feel it everytime. Speed limit is 60. If you stay in the speed limit and don't push it in curves, you'll probably never feel it.
In a curve like that you will feel the rear end wobble. Feels like the rear end is following a groove. It will make you pucker the first time you feel it but when you get used to it, know what causes it and when it might happen, and know that you can control the bike through it, it's not that big of deal.
In my opinion, unless you go all out in every curve you come across, it's not worth spending $400+ on a ridestr8 or something similar. If you ride like that all the time, I'd recommend you consider something other than a touring bike.
I have a highway interchange I hit everyday on the way home with a long sweeping right hand curve. If I am over 70 I feel it everytime. Speed limit is 60. If you stay in the speed limit and don't push it in curves, you'll probably never feel it.
In a curve like that you will feel the rear end wobble. Feels like the rear end is following a groove. It will make you pucker the first time you feel it but when you get used to it, know what causes it and when it might happen, and know that you can control the bike through it, it's not that big of deal.
In my opinion, unless you go all out in every curve you come across, it's not worth spending $400+ on a ridestr8 or something similar. If you ride like that all the time, I'd recommend you consider something other than a touring bike.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 394
Likes: 29
From: Georgia
I think the bikes prior to 06 were more susceptible to it. I haven't had a lick of problem with my 08, but my 04 is all over the place. I don't even like going over the dashed lines or reflectors when changing lanes at freeway speed on the 04. Georgia State Patrol uses 07 FLHTP's and they've complained of the high-speed wobble. I've heard it's a problem with the frame. The 09's have probably fixed all that.
Ben
Ben
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 1
From: Matthews, NC
Trending Topics
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
If you haven't felt it, "PRAY THAT YOU NEVER DO!"
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Its about the same feeling as lose or bad stearing head bearings. If its a real bad wooble you can end up going down. Some bikes have it and some don't.
I had a 04 eglide that wouldn't wooble untel in the triple didgets in long sweepers that were rough.
Tuna
I had a 04 eglide that wouldn't wooble untel in the triple didgets in long sweepers that were rough.
Tuna