Free Fix for Touring Wobble
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 165
Likes: 70
From: Northhern Mississippi
I own an 08 Ultra. Not my first bike and probably not my last. I am also more of a reader than a poster when it comes to these forums. I read about the "wobble" and the fixes for it, so I decided to sign up on the forum and post my thoughts. Isn't that what this forum is for? My question is legitimate and it was respectfully asked.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: USA
Take this from an oldMan: you can thank god you never experienced the "wobble".
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 307
Likes: 2
The wobble is over exaggerated. Not a big deal at all. If you're flying around a gentle curve at 80 mph especially when riding 2 up you may feel somewhat of a rear end wobble if you go through any kind of dip in the curve. It is normal, they do it, I love it! It reminds me of when you're driving in your car in California on the rain grooves and you feel the steering wheel pull left then right as it follows a groove. No biggy. Not gonna make you crash. Ride on!
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From:
Not saying that the wobble has not occurred for some, but from my own personal observation it must be very uncommon. I have been riding Harleys for 38 years and have never experienced the wobble myself. During those 38-years I have rode many miles in groups of other bikes and I have never saw the wobble on any of those bikes or heard any of the riders complain of experiencing the wobble. My conclusion is that if the reported wobble was indeed a design flaw the problem would be observable in most bikes. Since I have not observed the wobble in my own bike or any of the thousands of bikes I have ridden with I can only conclude the problem is caused by external factors. Having never experienced it myself, I have no idea if these external factors are loading, weight distribution, air pressure, mechanical wear, pavement irregularities, or any combination of the above, or something else entirely. If those who have actually experienced the wobble would list the conditions it might be useful.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 0
From: Hoboken, New Jersey
I own an 08 Ultra. Not my first bike and probably not my last. I am also more of a reader than a poster when it comes to these forums. I read about the "wobble" and the fixes for it, so I decided to sign up on the forum and post my thoughts. Isn't that what this forum is for? My question is legitimate and it was respectfully asked.
Contrary to many of the "old timers" here, I think you're asking a good question. As a longtime supporter of the TWR missing link, I was one of the first on this forum to open this can of worms. Some people say they've never felt the wobble. Some people say they almost died from it. What do you believe?
Do a search for "TWR MISSING LINK." This will educate you.
I personally feel that the $335 I spent was the best money I've spent so far on safety and rideability for my bike. I felt the difference immediately as have many others.
Why hasn't the MOCO admitted fault. That should be obvious. On they other hand, they completely redesigned the chassis of their touring bikes this year touting it as a huge step forward. What does that tell you.
My advice. Spend the money and enjoy the ride. It's just another form of the "Harley Tax" we all pay just like doing a Stage 1 upgrade to your engine. This is a Stage 1 upgrade for your chassis.
Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps. (I didn't even flame you!
)
BTW Clint, you sound like a great guy. Remember to keep that attitude and develop thick skin. You sometime have to weed through a lot of BS until you get a useful answer. It's what makes it FUN!
Steve
Do a search for "TWR MISSING LINK." This will educate you.
I personally feel that the $335 I spent was the best money I've spent so far on safety and rideability for my bike. I felt the difference immediately as have many others.
Why hasn't the MOCO admitted fault. That should be obvious. On they other hand, they completely redesigned the chassis of their touring bikes this year touting it as a huge step forward. What does that tell you.
My advice. Spend the money and enjoy the ride. It's just another form of the "Harley Tax" we all pay just like doing a Stage 1 upgrade to your engine. This is a Stage 1 upgrade for your chassis.
Just my 2 cents. Hope it helps. (I didn't even flame you!
)BTW Clint, you sound like a great guy. Remember to keep that attitude and develop thick skin. You sometime have to weed through a lot of BS until you get a useful answer. It's what makes it FUN!
Steve
The wobble is over exaggerated. Not a big deal at all. If you're flying around a gentle curve at 80 mph especially when riding 2 up you may feel somewhat of a rear end wobble if you go through any kind of dip in the curve. It is normal, they do it, I love it! It reminds me of when you're driving in your car in California on the rain grooves and you feel the steering wheel pull left then right as it follows a groove. No biggy. Not gonna make you crash. Ride on!
There is a loose feeling that I felt from day one.....sort of a feeling like the rear tire was following a rain groove that aint there. I thought it was just the POS Dunlop tires.
Then there is more of what I would call a wallow. This can be felt while taking a sweeping turn at any speed over about 50MPH if you go over any sort of dip or bump in the road. Some times it is more serious than others, and sometimes you hardly feel it. It is there though....and it is far from normal feedback that a bike should give.
I installed the TWR Missing Link and the loose feeling was gone, as was any degree of wallow. So....I could care less what others feel or dont feel. My bike had a problem common to ALL HD touring platforms. I fixed it with a $300 or so part. It feels like a totally different bike in the turns now, and my riding enjoyment has increased by several orders of magnitude. Now after I put on a nice set of Metzler 880's this Winter, I think the SG will have road manors more in line with what the bike was made for.
For what I would call a very small investment in the overall scheme of all things Harley I have made my bike much more enjoyable and comfortable to ride.....no different than changing a seat IMHO. I never hear people crying to the MOCO that they bought a touring bike, but they can only ride it for three hours before their a$$ starts hurting. No they just go out and buy a better seat and ride on.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 285
From: Edmond Oklahoma
""It is there though....and it is far from normal feedback that a bike should give.""
I don't know what is normal for a Harley touring bike, but I think that is subjective. I felt the discussion was a suggestion that MOCO should take some responsibility in fixing the wobble. My opinion is that while I know there is a wobble, so few riders feel it because the bike has to be pushed out of the average riders operating envelope. I think the stabilizers are a great mode just like I think the tachometer is a great mod for the RK. But I don’t think MOCO should help me with the cost anymore than they should help me add the tach. No maybe my opinion will change in time. But that’s how I feel at the moment.
Beary
I don't know what is normal for a Harley touring bike, but I think that is subjective. I felt the discussion was a suggestion that MOCO should take some responsibility in fixing the wobble. My opinion is that while I know there is a wobble, so few riders feel it because the bike has to be pushed out of the average riders operating envelope. I think the stabilizers are a great mode just like I think the tachometer is a great mod for the RK. But I don’t think MOCO should help me with the cost anymore than they should help me add the tach. No maybe my opinion will change in time. But that’s how I feel at the moment.
Beary
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,352
Likes: 7
From: Keene, CA
If you have experienced the wobble, found it less than enjoyable, and wish to avoid repeating the experience, then there are several products on the market that will reduce your perception of the wobble. I experienced it a little on my '06 Road King, but really felt it on my '07 Road Glide. The Glide is heavier, and I tend to ride it faster, but I'd pulled off to check tires several times - it really felt like a rear losing pressure. I had come to the conclusion that it was a symptom of riding a heavy bike too fast - although the bike seemed to wallow if I went too slow, as well. I kept changing my riding style to suit the bike, figuring that was just part of The Harley Experience.
Then the '09s came out with the new frame, and it got rave reviews because it handled better - and many reviews included comments with the words "wobble" or "wallow" in them. OK - maybe it wasn't my riding style! Several members here had posted about braces, and not a single person said "Boy, I'm pi$$ed - I spent $400 on this brace, and it didn't improve anything!". No, the reviews usually included "Best $xxx I've spent on my HD".
So I paid my $ and I made my choice. VERY glad I did. End of story.
OTOH, if you are not experiencing wobble - don't fix it!
Then the '09s came out with the new frame, and it got rave reviews because it handled better - and many reviews included comments with the words "wobble" or "wallow" in them. OK - maybe it wasn't my riding style! Several members here had posted about braces, and not a single person said "Boy, I'm pi$$ed - I spent $400 on this brace, and it didn't improve anything!". No, the reviews usually included "Best $xxx I've spent on my HD".
So I paid my $ and I made my choice. VERY glad I did. End of story.
OTOH, if you are not experiencing wobble - don't fix it!
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 9
From: la grange, il (near chicago)
part of my justification in getting a stabalizer (but you have to remember, my wife says i can justify anything) is that regardless of wether i feel one or not, i do believe that the rear wheel could be more stabilized, if you will.
so if one day i am riding along in a normal fashion and then bang, something happens and i have to rely on the bike super performing in some manuver, i might think that i have a better chance of completing the manuever with an additional stabilizer.
so i would think it is like an insurance policy - there if i need it, but hoping i never do.
so if one day i am riding along in a normal fashion and then bang, something happens and i have to rely on the bike super performing in some manuver, i might think that i have a better chance of completing the manuever with an additional stabilizer.
so i would think it is like an insurance policy - there if i need it, but hoping i never do.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
Likes: 444
From: Ohio
Buy a brace if you want, but stop denying there is an issue.