So I finally experienced the much talked about high speed wobble this past Saturday. I was riding 3rd guy back on the Interstate doing about 85 mph. As we passed a car hauler and all its turbulence, my front end got extremely light and started to oscillate laterally (left/right) and I almost lost it!

Normally I'm the lead guy (aka Road Captain) so the air is cleaner up front so I've never had issues passing big rigs. Plus I'll usually only go 75 mph max.

I don't intend to over-analyze the situation, but a couple of obvious factors were in play:

1. Low fuel state - front was light.
2. Higher tire pressures - changed my psi to 38 from 36 (Metzer ME 880 wants around 40 psi) the night before the ride

I remember not long ago responding to a post about this issue thinking how fortunate I was that this was not a problem for me. Since HD has made two changes since my 2007 (08 got an extra engine stabilizer and '09 is a complete re-design) it's obvious they were addressing the problem.

I overheard someone say something about a class-action law suit against HD. Well, it never happens at "safe" highway speeds, so do we really have an argument when we tell the judge we were cruising at 90 mph?

Either way I am getting one of the aftermarket stabilizers NOW!

 

Glad you were able to ride it out. It is scary!
I have had a wobble in the past but did not seem as intense as yours was. I was in a sweeping curve holding at about 45mph when it felt like the rear tire had gone flat. I dont know if it was rear steer/wobble or what due to the fact that most cases I hear about are at higher speeds.
I have not had it happen since but I sure did pucker up. Right after this I concidered the bagger brace but am not sure as it has not happened again.

 

I could be wrong but thats not the wobble everyone speaks about. I brought a stabilizer and installed it on my 2008 UGC but I wont say the name because the sum of bit didnt give me a shirt to go with my purchase.

 

The bat wing bike get wobble from the flow off large trucks and crosswinds. That's why I went with the Road Glide instead. They will just lift and push with less wobble.

 

Not saying this will fix it, but I did a long tour recently and experienced some disconcerting wobbles at higher speeds (85 to 90). Fortunately I took the shock pump with me as I wanted to experiment with different settings.

Pumped up to 22psi (I was heavily laden) and the bike was a completely different bike, I was amazed at the difference. I would check that if you haven't already

 

When I got my new RK it had 10 psi in the shocks. Looked in the book and it said It should be 30 psi for my weight. Thats without the bike being loaded with anything but yours truly. Maximum pressure in the shocks according to the book is 50 psi. Like the previous post, the difference between 10 and 30 psi was night and day. Have had it to 110 mph and it tracks straight with no wobbles. And its rock solid.

 

The front end wobble you describe has nothing to do with the rear end "wobble" the class action or HD's '09 changes address. A rear stabilizer will not cure your problem since it is unrelated. You have a different problem, maybe steering head bearings or adjustment. tire problem, etc.

 

Cant agree with you all anymore about the pressure in the rear shocks. I will not be purchasing a stabilizer as I think that is the latest fad. What I have done is kept my pressures on the high side and have never had an issue with over 35,000 miles on my 07 ultra. I think that speaks for it's self just doing what the manual says it should be set at.

 

I agree that your wobble was probably due to the wind turbulence and fairing. A frame stabilizer is meant to help control rear steer when cornering.

 

Although the wiggle/oscillations felt as though it started in the front, it quickly transferred to the rear wheel and then back again.

In aeronautical terms it can be called "hysteresis."

I knew when I posted this it would generate some good discussion. Funny how we all seem to be right in our opinions.

"....An argument is what you wind up with when you don't have all the facts."