Bagger wobble exposed!
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 3
I say very little on this fourm but I must jump in here. I am a retired LEO and was a motor officer in the early 80's. My first motor was a1980 FLH which was after the buy out. This was probally the sorriest motorcycle ever built buy anyone. However that being said, early in training we were taught that a 900 pound bagger had limitations and had to be ridden likewise. I rode this bike for a year in every situtation one can imagine and never pushed it into a Death Wobble. These bikes can be pushed to a point they are not designed to be riddin. I have a 03 classic I have riddin for 50k and have never had a wobble issue. You can change many things to redesign these bikes to make them safer to ride faster, however the best fix IMHO to to start with the NUT holding the handle bars.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 194
Likes: 1
From: Louisville, Kentucky
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 10
From: Scotland
I say very little on this fourm but I must jump in here. I am a retired LEO and was a motor officer in the early 80's. My first motor was a1980 FLH which was after the buy out. This was probally the sorriest motorcycle ever built buy anyone. However that being said, early in training we were taught that a 900 pound bagger had limitations and had to be ridden likewise. I rode this bike for a year in every situtation one can imagine and never pushed it into a Death Wobble. These bikes can be pushed to a point they are not designed to be riddin. I have a 03 classic I have riddin for 50k and have never had a wobble issue. You can change many things to redesign these bikes to make them safer to ride faster, however the best fix IMHO to to start with the NUT holding the handle bars.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 198
Likes: 15
From: NE Iowa
Excellent write-up, Graham! I will consider it my Bday present since you posted it on my birthday. I currently ride an '05 EG Standard and would appreciate being on your PM list with your suggestions! I experienced the wobble once and was able to correct it at the onset, but I would like to move towards eliminating, or at least, decreasing it.
Thanks!
Joel
Thanks!
Joel
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 5
From: IOWA
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Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
However that being said, early in training we were taught that a 900 pound bagger had limitations and had to be ridden likewise. I rode this bike for a year in every situtation one can imagine and never pushed it into a Death Wobble. These bikes can be pushed to a point they are not designed to be riddin.
I have a 03 classic I have riddin for 50k and have never had a wobble issue. You can change many things to redesign these bikes to make them safer to ride faster, however the best fix IMHO to to start with the NUT holding the handle bars.
I have a 03 classic I have riddin for 50k and have never had a wobble issue. You can change many things to redesign these bikes to make them safer to ride faster, however the best fix IMHO to to start with the NUT holding the handle bars.
That 1980 bike of yours had a solid mounted engine, but a hinge in the middle! Around that time I so desperately tried to like one enough to buy, but just couldn't. The handling behaviour of those bikes was even worst than later ones, but the cause is unrelated.
I would also like to emphasis that this thread is nothing to do with riding fast. It is everything to do with identifying and discussing the cause of poor handling that reveals itself most when riding fast. Our bikes can and should ride much better, in all conditions. With a suitable stabilizer kit they can!
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
Thanks for the info and explaination Graham. I have an 06 RKC and have purchased a tru-track but have yet to install it. please add me to your PM list and let me know if I should install the tru-track or if you have better advice. I have experienced the wobble twice. once in a long left handed sweeper at about 50 mph and the other in the mountains in NC and only by the Grace of God did I get my bike under control and made the next hard left turn in time to not go over the edge. When we got off that mountain and stopped for a moment, my riding buddy behind me pulled up and said, "nice save back there Michael". I asked him how close it got and he told me that my rear tire was within 4 inches of the drop off to nowhere...