True-track installed!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 9
From: Cherokee Co. Georgia
Nope, just reduces it. The wobble is caused by the engine and swingarm bushes flexing sideways. The 09 up 5 point mount improves things, but the bushes still have flexibility and this results in wobble.
I am saving up for one of these at the moment.
having a 200 on the back makes the wobble much worse, and a 200 pumped up too much makes it terrible. I have found running 32psi or less cuts it down. going back to 180 next tire.
I am saving up for one of these at the moment.
having a 200 on the back makes the wobble much worse, and a 200 pumped up too much makes it terrible. I have found running 32psi or less cuts it down. going back to 180 next tire.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 171
From: Simi Valley, CA
18K on the 10 Ultra loaded touring. No wobble ever. Did the Dragon. Did highway 1 from Seattle to San Francisco loaded bags and I weight 230. No wobble on that bumpy twisting road. No need to waste money.
1K on the 12 RG. Have started hard tight cornering with it. Tracks like on rails. Zero wobble. Won't waste money there also.
1K on the 12 RG. Have started hard tight cornering with it. Tracks like on rails. Zero wobble. Won't waste money there also.
My 2011 Limited gets the wobbles on long high speed sweepers (75+ mph). Especially if you hit a bump or dip in the road while going through the turn.
If you're a 55 or 60 mph rider, you'll probably never feel it on the new frames, and if you do it's not going to be that bad at those speeds.
This is my experience anyways.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 2
From: Australia
The swingarm and engine actually pivot and move, it feels like there is a hinge under the seat. The bushes push the swingarm back into place, but they act like a spring and push it too far, and start an oscillation.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 9
From: Cherokee Co. Georgia
Hmmmmm, okay guys,,, Thanks!!! I think ya'll educated me here a lil. I have never experienced anything like so called "death wobble" I have heard about & actually seen at one time. I ride the mtn. twisties here in N.Ga. ALOT & have felt some of what you are describing. Nothing bad, but had to pull leather out of my azz a time or two. I dont drag knees or floorboards, as I believe that is a warning, not a goal. I have had to wonder what that twitch was when on decel & then rolling in the throttle in the middle of a switchback. I am guessing that is what this is about. Will do more research into this. Interesting!
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 344
Likes: 4
From: Kailua, Hawaii
My 12 SG had some wobble in hard corners, if you dont try to corner hard its probably not a problem but I like to speed around turns and the true track made a huge difference in how the bike feels. I scrape the floor board mounts not saying thats cool but I try to push the bike to the limit without going to far. The true track was a huge plus for me.
Jay
Jay
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,547
Likes: 7,153
From: Oxford, Nc
Slightly bumpy country road sweepers at 60mph plus is the best place to see if you've got any wobble at all.
The Dragon won't show it, nor willl sitting on a Super Slab, ( unless you're right behind a big truck maybe.)
You have to give the frame enough time for it to try and oscillate a bit, then you'll feel a little bit of wobble.
After 12 years and close to 100,000 on this bike, I might look into one...but the wobble on my 2000 has been so insignificant to me that it is a 'want to, (maybe,) not a need to, for me.
The Dragon won't show it, nor willl sitting on a Super Slab, ( unless you're right behind a big truck maybe.)
You have to give the frame enough time for it to try and oscillate a bit, then you'll feel a little bit of wobble.
After 12 years and close to 100,000 on this bike, I might look into one...but the wobble on my 2000 has been so insignificant to me that it is a 'want to, (maybe,) not a need to, for me.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Having ridden baggers for over twenty years, the subject of wobble has been a regular subject of debate. There are many riders who never experience it or have no interest in sorting it out and a relatively small number of us who are keen to improve their ride.
Then the 09 frames came along and a lot of riders thought the problem was miraculously cured. Funnily enough, many riders of the latest bikes have never experienced it or have no interest in sorting it out and there is a relatively small number of us who are keen to improve their ride.
So if you are happy with your ride, don't knock those who want to improve things!
The engine/trans/swingarm are all mounted in rubber. By definition rubber is flexible, which smoothes out engine vibration and makes our bikes much more comfortable than they otherwise would be. Unfortunately it also allows some sideways movement and twist of that great mass of engine etc. Harley has sorted this out on all Buells and rubber-mount Sportsters, but has never properly sorted out the baggers. The 09 and later bikes are better, but not cured.
I am happy to explain kinematics to anyone interested! It is something Harley does not properly grasp.
Then the 09 frames came along and a lot of riders thought the problem was miraculously cured. Funnily enough, many riders of the latest bikes have never experienced it or have no interest in sorting it out and there is a relatively small number of us who are keen to improve their ride.
So if you are happy with your ride, don't knock those who want to improve things!
The engine/trans/swingarm are all mounted in rubber. By definition rubber is flexible, which smoothes out engine vibration and makes our bikes much more comfortable than they otherwise would be. Unfortunately it also allows some sideways movement and twist of that great mass of engine etc. Harley has sorted this out on all Buells and rubber-mount Sportsters, but has never properly sorted out the baggers. The 09 and later bikes are better, but not cured.
I am happy to explain kinematics to anyone interested! It is something Harley does not properly grasp.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 2
From: Australia
I think HD grasp it, they just figure that for the majority of riders it isnt a problem.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 280
Likes: 10
From: Knoxville, TN
Apparently not all Harleys have it. I have an '08 and Mine had a wobble in curves when I first got it. When the rear tire wore out, I changed both front and rear to Dunlop E3s and it got rid of the wobble. I ride pretty hard at times, and it has no wobble at all and feels tight in curves.