Death wobble
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Never had a problem I didn't cause.
Sounds like rider was coming in too hot, trying the change speed in the middle of a curve ( remember if you hit the rear brake, the bike will stand up and go straight) and loosing mental control of the ride.
Jeez, I gotta lot of miles under easy and hard riding, never felt that stapling a ladder brace under my bike would correct my faults, just about any bike out there will do more than I can
Sounds like rider was coming in too hot, trying the change speed in the middle of a curve ( remember if you hit the rear brake, the bike will stand up and go straight) and loosing mental control of the ride.
Jeez, I gotta lot of miles under easy and hard riding, never felt that stapling a ladder brace under my bike would correct my faults, just about any bike out there will do more than I can
My bike has developed a bit of what I call a "weave" more than a wobble, I think if not ridden right it could develop into a wobble/tank slapper. The bike is in the shop now getting a new rear tire and the steering head bearings are being checked and fork oil is being replaced, hoping it goes away or makes it better. I really did not notice it until I got up there in mileage and it's not like the earlier bikes that I've rode they just felt loose to me. It occurs on long high speed sweepers, have felt it on other bikes besides Harley's especially on long wheelbase bikes, I'm aware of it and I know what to expect and I know how to control the throttle to make it a non eventful experince. BTW tight roads I don't have any problems.
Even the 09's have some handling quirks, every vehicle seems to have some.
Even the 09's have some handling quirks, every vehicle seems to have some.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Bronx
The first time I felt that wobble I was 2 up and on my way to Blue ridge Hyw. Bike was loaded with luggage and we were rolling along. Bike was New maybe a Month old
was also getting it at very slow speed coming to a stop, took the bike to a dealer down there for it's first service and had them check it. He said the bike was overloaded shock air was low so he made the adjustments necessary and still was bad. Well got rid of the air shocks and added the progressive touring link (link down below) and it has gotten a lot better almost totally gone just. It's a HD thing that they will not correct I think. Just glad hear you made it good luck
http://www.progressivesuspension.com/productlinehd.html
was also getting it at very slow speed coming to a stop, took the bike to a dealer down there for it's first service and had them check it. He said the bike was overloaded shock air was low so he made the adjustments necessary and still was bad. Well got rid of the air shocks and added the progressive touring link (link down below) and it has gotten a lot better almost totally gone just. It's a HD thing that they will not correct I think. Just glad hear you made it good luck
http://www.progressivesuspension.com/productlinehd.html
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 92
From: Michigan
Last fall I was riding along about 50 with the cruise set and I took both hands off the bars to tuck my gloves into the sleeves when I hit a crack in the road, not big or anything but it was higher on one side than the other, anyway, she went into a little wobble getting bigger and bigger but I easily stopped it with just my hands, no braking.
Took it home, put it on the stand and could find nothing loose, broke, sloppy, nothing.
Now and then I give it the test by slapping one side or the other of the bars and it may do nothing, it may wobble a little and stop on its own or it may do like the first time and wobble more and more. I'm guessing if you let it go it would probably get quite bad and loose control.
Other than that I can take corners with the best of them. Any ideas besides dont take you hands off the bars dummy??
Took it home, put it on the stand and could find nothing loose, broke, sloppy, nothing.
Now and then I give it the test by slapping one side or the other of the bars and it may do nothing, it may wobble a little and stop on its own or it may do like the first time and wobble more and more. I'm guessing if you let it go it would probably get quite bad and loose control.
Other than that I can take corners with the best of them. Any ideas besides dont take you hands off the bars dummy??
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Last fall I was riding along about 50 with the cruise set and I took both hands off the bars to tuck my gloves into the sleeves when I hit a crack in the road, not big or anything but it was higher on one side than the other, anyway, she went into a little wobble getting bigger and bigger but I easily stopped it with just my hands, no braking.
Took it home, put it on the stand and could find nothing loose, broke, sloppy, nothing.
Now and then I give it the test by slapping one side or the other of the bars and it may do nothing, it may wobble a little and stop on its own or it may do like the first time and wobble more and more. I'm guessing if you let it go it would probably get quite bad and loose control.
Other than that I can take corners with the best of them. Any ideas besides dont take you hands off the bars dummy??
Took it home, put it on the stand and could find nothing loose, broke, sloppy, nothing.
Now and then I give it the test by slapping one side or the other of the bars and it may do nothing, it may wobble a little and stop on its own or it may do like the first time and wobble more and more. I'm guessing if you let it go it would probably get quite bad and loose control.
Other than that I can take corners with the best of them. Any ideas besides dont take you hands off the bars dummy??
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 8
From: antelope valley ca.
My 05 standard did it even with a tru track, steering damper and different tires. My 10 is fine.
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
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 507
Likes: 3
From: 2 miles from the Sun!
Things to check
Front motor mount
Depending on your milage it might be the swing arm pivot bushings.
Went thru problems w/ my 05 flht Dealer fought me on it. Let them do the what they said would cure it Steering head bearing adjustment (not covered). They did not want to look at Pivot bushing because was a lot of work and who would pay if they were good. Finally when they looked they were bad. Wow what a difference. I do not think that I ever got the death wobble, but you could feel it on the freeway when the pavment had grooves or slightly different elevations. Not 100% but I think the the "True Track " and others like it could mask potentially worn parts. just my 2 cents. I have also noticed that when tire pressure is off you can notice it.
Front motor mount
Depending on your milage it might be the swing arm pivot bushings.
Went thru problems w/ my 05 flht Dealer fought me on it. Let them do the what they said would cure it Steering head bearing adjustment (not covered). They did not want to look at Pivot bushing because was a lot of work and who would pay if they were good. Finally when they looked they were bad. Wow what a difference. I do not think that I ever got the death wobble, but you could feel it on the freeway when the pavment had grooves or slightly different elevations. Not 100% but I think the the "True Track " and others like it could mask potentially worn parts. just my 2 cents. I have also noticed that when tire pressure is off you can notice it.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
This past Sat. I road with 7 other guys, I hate to say two Victories were ahead of me along with a Glide and a Heritage. We hit a left hit a left hand marked 50mph at 70, everyone went through like they were on rails. My 05 Electra Glide went into a violent wobble that put me right up to the graveled shoulder. I let off some and tire to hold her into the turn, looked real bad for a bit. I was thinking this is really going to hurt, hope I don't get paralyzed. By leaning real hard I made it. The guy behind me on another Heritage pulled up on the side of me and said what the hell was that. I said death wobble, he said it was close to being just that, he didn't think I was going to make the turn. Scdared me real bad, rode the rest of the way home like everyone else except didn't try the hot turns, don't know if I ever will. The wind was blowing, don't know if that was a factor on the batwing.