As I continue on my journey on this Harley Highway I'm captivated by all the descriptions and concerns of the vibration associated with the ownership of a Harley. How much is too much? What is considered normal and what's not? I try to make it a point to read the threads and actually put myself in the authors' shoes creating my own empathic bubble in order to be able to "relate".

We've had a history of potential causes ranging from twisted flywheels to broken motor mounts, but how many of these or any other description of vibration is a characteristic of the design versus a true anomaly?

One hot summer day I was partaking on a journey of stretching the legs on my trusty steed when I approached a train crossing. As I surveyed my surroundings while coming to a stop I noticed an old rugged rusted-out pickup truck with a sunbaked farmer behind the wheel. As I came to a stop along side of this brethren I could "feel" him staring at my existence. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the window come down, spit from the chaw of tobacco splatter the ground and then the conversation ensued. "Howdy partner!" he said. I responded with a polite "Evenin Sir" complete with the head nod. He followed by saying, "Boy that thing sure shakes alot." As I continued to reel myself into this converstion, I could see what he was getting at. As I looked at my hands holding the reins of my stallion, I looked like Michael J. Fox off of his meds! Geez, I thought this was normal coming from a 45° single crankpin alpha platform. He then followed up by asking what kind of motorcycle was I riding. I sucked in my gut, threw out my chest and boastingly replied "A Harley, what else?". By now I was looking straight into the windows of his soul. Attempting to ascertain what the old man would say next he certainly did not disappoint. "Well, the Honda Goldwing doesn't shake like that". As I remembered my upbringing with the instilling of respecting your elders I simply replied, "The Honda Goldwing doesn't have a soul that's caged up inside American iron attempting to get out, hence the wrestling betwixed my legs". He just smiled, spat again, and drove off. It was at this time I noticed the huge rear window plaquard on his truck enscribed "HARLEY DAVIDSON"............whoda thunk I'd been punked!?!??

I guess it would suffice me to say I may have a problem I'm too dumb to know I have......or do I? My flywheels would have to blow out of the side of my case, or the whole front fairing crash to the ground before I'd stop long enough to say "Hmmm.....maybe there is some vibration to this thing." To me, Crankshaft runout is just that, my crankshaft just ran out of the side of my case!

Oh well, ignorance is bliss. Maybe next week I'll examine "THE WOBBLE"............ again.


Disclaimer: I'm in no way implying that those that experience undo vibration do not potentially have a mechanical disaster in the making. My post is for entertainment purposes only.

 

My SUzuki Volusia 800 is so smooth i can barely....Oh1 crap wrong bike...that's my wife's.....My 07 FLHTC shakes and feels great....i test drove several HD's and mine feels about like the other big twins i rode so i am not to concerned...Hell my wifes is always a bit excited when she gets off of it so it must be working fine right...The old man might have been on to something though...you may want to ride another bike to make sure yours is running bad....plus you'll test drive another bike which is always fun...

Maybe just ride the crap out of it like you stole it....

 

Hahahaha...Nice, but dude you're reading way to much into it....

 

most of the rubber mounted tc engines dance pretty good(shake).. thats what draws alot of eyes when you are sitting at a lite.. its normal !!!!

 

I know....That's why i just ride it like i stole it....Here we just shoot the crap...The old Man in the truck was prbably an old was pretty sharp wrencher that know a whole lot more that it seems....Never judge a book by the cover right?

 

Simply put, its suppose to shake the bars at a stop, but its also suppose to smooth out at speed. I had an 03 Ultra that did exactly this. I switched to an 06 Roadking and apparently the change to the harder compound rubber motor mount did not allow the ride to smooth out like the Ultra in 03. Kept the RK about 2 years, then went back to an Ultra in 09, what a difference. I never really understood why the 06 RK had such a vibration problem.

 

ROFL... That was good.

 

Hey UK! what a great post!

I loved it! You're description of painting the scene, the old timer in the beat up pick-up, the drawl, they respectful nod, all of it.. just Stephen King level writing! Thank You!

Even better the description of the conversation, "The Honda Goldwing doesn't have a soul that's caged up inside American iron attempting to get out, hence the wrestling betwixed my legs". He just smiled, spat again, and drove off.

It just brought such a huge smile to my face.

..and it's so true, as the owner of a Honda Valkyrie and a 07 EKG that has had broken brackets and various shake and bake rattle and wobbles, I can truly say, I like them both, but the Harley got's soul and the vibrations are just a part of it's character.

But the voice of it's soul is truly "the sound", and what can be better than the fabulous sound of a nice H-D with the right pipes.

Thank you God for the joy of my HD!

 

Unless its shaking the fillings out of your teeth, it is normal on a Harley. I love the vibes at a stop light. Makes me think of riding a fat chick and she still moves after stopping.

 

CLASSIC Good One!