Death wobble
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 943
Likes: 41
You have a classic case of the famous bagger wobble. It's well documented and you're correct in getting a brace, it will help fix the problem. Don't listen to the nay sayers, they don't know what they're talking about. A bagger brace will fix this problem. Personally I haven't got one. I put on a center stand on my road glide that uses the piece of frame where the brace would otherwise go. So i do get the wobble sometimes. It normally occurs in a high speed sweeping corner with mild undulations in the road. The bike starts to wobble when it goes over an undulation, a second one will put it into a serious wobble. Usually I will pull back on the outside bar putting the bike into a steeper bank. You have to stay away from that outside shoulder, you don't want to leave the road. lol.
Stage IV
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
I have a center stand and couldn't use the brace underneath either. My solution was buying the Alloy Art top brace that attaches to the upper frame and starter bracket. Very simple installation, looks good and the bike just feels more stable and seems to track better. Never had the wobble on the Harley but have experienced on other bikes and don't ever want to experience it again. Peace of mind is good.
Best of all, it's $99.95 and free shipping!
I want to say I am in no way affiliated with the seller. Just a very satisfied biker trying to help out.
Hope this helps- st
Last edited by sthdrider2000; Mar 26, 2014 at 01:49 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 895
Likes: 27
From: Outside Dover, OH
All bikes are prone to this problem, not just HDs. I had an old 650 Yamaha did that to me several times, sold the bike. If you can't find an obvious cause, I'd do the same with yours. Don't care how experienced you are, it's ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 153
From: Fayetteville, NC
I'm that guy who will hit a 50mph curve at 70mph....but not when riding in a group---if the group just so happens to be riding like this, we make sure there is plenty of space behind each other----I'm not a hot rod or anything---but years of racing on sport bikes has taught me to brake first (slow down), set up for the curve on the outside, shoot for the apex and throttle out hard. It works for me, while others may have other things that work for them----I'm surprised at how well this thing leans and handles curves---but I will not enter a curve at 70mph thats meant for 50....but once set up properly and looking completely "thru" the curve to where I want to go---I'll smoothly grab the throttle
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Our touring Harleys have a very particular potential weakness, which has been addressed often enough on HDF, not least in my post on Bagger Wobble.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Ditto on that. If you want to ride the Tail of the Dragon on your Harley bagger because it's a chance to "Really dive into those curves", then I suggest you have purchased the wrong bike. I love mine, have lots of fun on it. But I know my and my bikes limitations, and I try to stay far away from them!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 761
Likes: 9
From: lewisville, nc
I'm that guy who will hit a 50mph curve at 70mph....but not when riding in a group---if the group just so happens to be riding like this, we make sure there is plenty of space behind each other----I'm not a hot rod or anything---but years of racing on sport bikes has taught me to brake first (slow down), set up for the curve on the outside, shoot for the apex and throttle out hard. It works for me, while others may have other things that work for them----I'm surprised at how well this thing leans and handles curves---but I will not enter a curve at 70mph thats meant for 50....but once set up properly and looking completely "thru" the curve to where I want to go---I'll smoothly grab the throttle
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
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Jesus that is scary! Being a Jeep guy the "death wobble" is all too familiar term. There are as many threads on my Jeep forum on this matter as Oil Threads on here. My TJ still does it. I have replaced EVERYTHING trying to cure it, goes away then creeps back. Jeeps are just prone to it. Doesn’t matter what year, what suspension you have.
I have lost count of how many bikes I have had, sport bikes & Harleys NEVER had it happen (KNOCK ON WOOD).
I don't see the point of pushing a Bagger through a curve plain & simple. Good luck with that.
I have lost count of how many bikes I have had, sport bikes & Harleys NEVER had it happen (KNOCK ON WOOD).
I don't see the point of pushing a Bagger through a curve plain & simple. Good luck with that.
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
That can do it. You could also run over something to start a micro slide, like a tar snake. When that happens, a rider sometimes goes into a death grip on the bars which actually amplifies the wobble.
70 into a 50, and an "outside" curve is what makes organ donors. In a left hand curve you are usually riding less of a bank than a right hand "inside" curve because of the road pitch. And sometimes, you are even riding on an INVERTED bank on some roads.
I've weeded out probably 30 or so riding buddies over the years. When they ask why I won't ride with them, I tell them I don't want to be a witness for the coroner.
I've been riding since 1966. Went down once in 1973. Decided I didn't like it. So I'm not going to do that again
Not trying to blast you...... glad you lived to tell the tale. Be careful out there..... and get a better gremlin bell.
70 into a 50, and an "outside" curve is what makes organ donors. In a left hand curve you are usually riding less of a bank than a right hand "inside" curve because of the road pitch. And sometimes, you are even riding on an INVERTED bank on some roads.
I've weeded out probably 30 or so riding buddies over the years. When they ask why I won't ride with them, I tell them I don't want to be a witness for the coroner.
I've been riding since 1966. Went down once in 1973. Decided I didn't like it. So I'm not going to do that again
Not trying to blast you...... glad you lived to tell the tale. Be careful out there..... and get a better gremlin bell.