2010 Road Glide...Wobble @ 40 mph???
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
lp:
You might want to try this with the cruise on...Take engine-braking out of the picture...This will isolate the issue. If you do have loose bearings, it's probably something you want to address...Cheers!
Jim
You might want to try this with the cruise on...Take engine-braking out of the picture...This will isolate the issue. If you do have loose bearings, it's probably something you want to address...Cheers!
Jim
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,475
Likes: 3,001
From: Charleston, SC
When you tighten the neck bearings you are just adding resistance (to change) kinda like a steering stabilizer does. It makes sense that by doing this it eliminates the oscillation. However I believe you are only masking the symptom of whatever is making the front end oscillate in the first place.
And what I think is causing it...is the engine jerking around in the frame and probably the IDS compressing and expanding etc.
Could be? Who knows. All i know is that today was the first real ride of the year and it was friggin awesome! 300 Miles in 53 degrees. Winter sucked.
lp
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 899
Likes: 2
From:
OK...So for all of you friggin' morons who want to poke fun, and for all of you others who have had the same issues, or at least were "nice" about it, here's what the Harley dealer said about this problem:
"There was a NEW service bulletin that was issued 15 days ago from Harley due to MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS...The bulletin referred to the manner in which the steering head bearings are evaluated and then tightened. Apparently, the "old" way of doing this was to raise the bike off the ground, so the front end was unloaded, and then pull the bars all the way to the right and let go...The "old" correct evaluation was for the bars to swing full to the left, then back to center and stay there...The "NEW" correct evaluation is to to the same thing, but to tighten the bearings so that when released, the bars just swing to center and stop..."
Therefore, the steering head bearings on my bike, and perhaps some of yours, were too loose. Also interesting to note, Harley will repair this under warranty only if the bike has <1,000 miles on it...Otherwise, it is seen as an "adjustment" and will be dealt with out of warranty.
For what it's worth, either use this, or keep laughin'...As I said, no difference to me...
Jim
"There was a NEW service bulletin that was issued 15 days ago from Harley due to MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS...The bulletin referred to the manner in which the steering head bearings are evaluated and then tightened. Apparently, the "old" way of doing this was to raise the bike off the ground, so the front end was unloaded, and then pull the bars all the way to the right and let go...The "old" correct evaluation was for the bars to swing full to the left, then back to center and stay there...The "NEW" correct evaluation is to to the same thing, but to tighten the bearings so that when released, the bars just swing to center and stop..."
Therefore, the steering head bearings on my bike, and perhaps some of yours, were too loose. Also interesting to note, Harley will repair this under warranty only if the bike has <1,000 miles on it...Otherwise, it is seen as an "adjustment" and will be dealt with out of warranty.
For what it's worth, either use this, or keep laughin'...As I said, no difference to me...
Jim
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
Service Bulletin...
Rex...
Thanks...The Service Bulletin was quite interesting. The more I thought about why this was happening, the more things I started to notice...Before they adjusted the bearings, it would happen at 40 on every road I tried it on (Don't get carried away folks--You know who you are...I only tried it like 3-4 times on 3-4 different roads to make sure this was a "real" problem...). After they made the adjustment though, it only does this on certain parts of my street. I then noticed that the road kind of oscillated, sort of like gentle bumps, fairly regularly, but only in certain spots. It was at these spots where it will still do this to the bars, otherwise it's now solid as a rock. Thanks though...Very interesting...
Jim
Thanks...The Service Bulletin was quite interesting. The more I thought about why this was happening, the more things I started to notice...Before they adjusted the bearings, it would happen at 40 on every road I tried it on (Don't get carried away folks--You know who you are...I only tried it like 3-4 times on 3-4 different roads to make sure this was a "real" problem...). After they made the adjustment though, it only does this on certain parts of my street. I then noticed that the road kind of oscillated, sort of like gentle bumps, fairly regularly, but only in certain spots. It was at these spots where it will still do this to the bars, otherwise it's now solid as a rock. Thanks though...Very interesting...
Jim
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 117
From: Ashby, Ma
I had a wobble in my 07.. after the dealer changed a set of of tires. I went with Metz 880s. It was just a strange small vibration kind of wobble, but it bothered me.
Finally they changed the tires.. same deal. Then one day I looked down and noticed that the valve stem was pointing away from the lean of the bike, on the side stand, not toward it. They put the wheel on backwards.
On the 07s this was common because on order to decrease brake noise Harley mounted the disc rotors backwards, so the one labeled R was on ther L side and visa-versa.
have you ever changed tires on this bike?
Finally they changed the tires.. same deal. Then one day I looked down and noticed that the valve stem was pointing away from the lean of the bike, on the side stand, not toward it. They put the wheel on backwards.
On the 07s this was common because on order to decrease brake noise Harley mounted the disc rotors backwards, so the one labeled R was on ther L side and visa-versa.
have you ever changed tires on this bike?
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
Nope...Brand new bike...three weeks old...When the dealer tightened the steering head bearings, the problem went away...Just got back from a breakfast run and everything is right with the world...and the bike...
Novice
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: ohio
I had a similar condition on my 07 RG since new-one hand on the bars at 40 would shake -didn't matter what gear -was ther from day one-dealer said don't take one hand off-so I checked everything possable & finally replaced front tire -problem solved
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
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
Novice
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis mo
Had the same wobble at 40 MPH to 50 MPH only had 150 miles on my 2010 RG,took it back to the dealer , they test rode it ,felt the wobble and put a new front tire on and cured 99% of the wobble . The mechanic will tighten the steering head while he is installing new handle bars,he thinks it will 100% wobble free.,
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 33
From: TEXAS
My '09 Ultra developed a wobble between 30-35 MPH, took it to the dealer, he checked the front tire, said it was scalloped and replace the front tire under the recall thing on the Dunlop 407s/408s, can't remember which. The wobble is gone and has stayed gone.