New Road Glide -dangerous shaking-front end
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,437
Likes: 15
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 185
From: Mountain West, Big Sky Country
its is the steering head. Have the dealer tighen the hell out of it so the flop is no more than 1.5. If this does not work, have them replace the bearings. my 2010 RGC did this, until the steering head bearings were replaced. It stopped and has not done it again in over 25K miles
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
DECEL WOBBLE - ROAD GLIDES '09 & newer- FALL AWAY SPECS
mine just started at 4200 miles, same as everyone else states. I took mine to service dept and borrowed a grease gun and filled the neck and bearings with grease until it came out the top and bottom. As soon as I finished I took it for a spin and no wobble! The head shake stopped. Now my thoughts on this are that the grease took up the space that allowed the wobble. Now I get 1.5 instead of 3 on the test... I don't think it will hold this tolerence for long and the ultimate fix is to tighten the steering head bearings... It's a good way to see what's up...
This is the link for the Service Bulletin for the '09 & new Road Glides which gives you the specs for the steering head bearings & 'Fall Away'
http://www.glide-pro.com/wp-content/...djustment1.pdf
Ours is a 2011 Road Glide Ultra. Our problem(s) was they had our 'Fall Away' @ 3 (none of the mechanics had read the service bulletin).
After a month of having the bike - they stumbled upon the solution when another rider came in who owned a Road Glide & he told them how much he loved the bike - but had the same decel wobble. Turns out the guy investigated on the web & found the service bulletin & told his dealership - & Wow his bike was fixed! Our dealership then went & checked they service manual & Wow - there it was the whole time!! had someone just bothered to double check!! We didn't have the bike for the month of August - what a drag.
Anyway - our bike's Fall Away is between 1 & 1.5. There are some variations depending on the model. This is in the above noted link for the SERVICE BULLETIN.
Apparently the bearings should be checked @ every service & adjusted to spec if necessary.
Good luck - Hope this helps you & some of the other ROAD GLIDE owners!!
Last edited by ShakeyGlide; Sep 22, 2011 at 07:14 PM. Reason: error in wording.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 15
From: Qualicum Beach, B.C. CAN
Been following this for a few weeks.
Shakeyglide said "Apparently the bearings should be checked @ every service & adjusted to spec if necessary."
this issue is not isolated to touring bikes. My 98 Wideglide has struggled with this issue. Likely your fairings made it more noticeable on the bigger bikes, but nevertheless, one scary issue.
I had my head bearings changed last summer (10) and they loosened up, so I tightened them up myself and went too far, indenting the races.
Changed them out again in June 2011, and all was smooth as glass.
Until a long ride 3 weeks ago when things came loose again and got ugly.
Tightened them very slightly myself, and when I got home I took her to the dealer.
They explained the new bearings need to be adjusted about 1000 miles after installation, and then checked regularly (like with oil changes)
I can do it myself, but there really is a protocol to follow, to get it right.
Sad that it is such an important and difficult fix.
As a sidenote, my buddy with a 2001 FXDX has never had to adjust his steering bearings. Google Dyna steering setups sometime to see how it could be for all HDs.
Ride safe, men.
Shakeyglide said "Apparently the bearings should be checked @ every service & adjusted to spec if necessary."
this issue is not isolated to touring bikes. My 98 Wideglide has struggled with this issue. Likely your fairings made it more noticeable on the bigger bikes, but nevertheless, one scary issue.
I had my head bearings changed last summer (10) and they loosened up, so I tightened them up myself and went too far, indenting the races.
Changed them out again in June 2011, and all was smooth as glass.
Until a long ride 3 weeks ago when things came loose again and got ugly.
Tightened them very slightly myself, and when I got home I took her to the dealer.
They explained the new bearings need to be adjusted about 1000 miles after installation, and then checked regularly (like with oil changes)
I can do it myself, but there really is a protocol to follow, to get it right.
Sad that it is such an important and difficult fix.
As a sidenote, my buddy with a 2001 FXDX has never had to adjust his steering bearings. Google Dyna steering setups sometime to see how it could be for all HDs.
Ride safe, men.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 4
From: South Jersey, AC area
I just adjusted my fall away down from just a little over 2 swings to almost 1 swing. took the bike out for a ride and the shake is GONE!
I couldn't find a screwdriver long enough so I found this at Harbor Freight for $4.99, that price was for two 22" long screwdrivers, one Phillip and one straight.
it didn't work well until I put the same bend in it at the end... worked like a charm!
I couldn't find a screwdriver long enough so I found this at Harbor Freight for $4.99, that price was for two 22" long screwdrivers, one Phillip and one straight.
it didn't work well until I put the same bend in it at the end... worked like a charm!
Last edited by Deuce Bigelow; Sep 22, 2011 at 08:18 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,331
Likes: 4
From: South Jersey, AC area
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Badlands of ND
I have never had this problem with a Harley Davidson bike, but I did with a Yamaha that I had. It was caused by the bearings in the stearing head. That is where I would start. I imagine that is what the dealer is doing though. I would like to know how this is resolved, so please post the results.
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Joined: Feb 2008
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Before to go nuts and totaly blame it on the neck bearing.
here is something to consider if the shake is at low speed 20-40 while slowing down . It very well maybe a defective front tire.
My 2011 RGU started doing this in the first 100 miles. I know all about neck bearing been riding many miles on Hd for years. On new bikes I normal need to have them adjust under warranty then after that good for 60-70K. So like most I though that was the issue it turned out after they tried to adjust it was still there so they replaced front tire gone.
It easy to jump on the latest Internet rumor. find the real cause.
here is something to consider if the shake is at low speed 20-40 while slowing down . It very well maybe a defective front tire.
My 2011 RGU started doing this in the first 100 miles. I know all about neck bearing been riding many miles on Hd for years. On new bikes I normal need to have them adjust under warranty then after that good for 60-70K. So like most I though that was the issue it turned out after they tried to adjust it was still there so they replaced front tire gone.
It easy to jump on the latest Internet rumor. find the real cause.