Bagger wobble exposed!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
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.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 815
Likes: 28
From: Ontario, Canada
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.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 419
My wife now rides an 06 ultra the used to be mine. I never experienced a "death wobble" on it but there are 2 sweeping curves on the interstate near home that have rain grooves in the concrete. I used to get a slight wobble on those curves that unnerved my wife when she was on the back. Someone suggested I check the drivetrain alignment. After a little research I found a video on the Glide Pro website that addresses drive train alignment. I bought a couple magnetic laser levels and went to work. My horizontal alignment was dead on but the rear wheel was slightly out of alignment with the front wheel by 3/16 of an inch in the length of the bike. I spent about 45 minutes getting it as close as possible. I took it out and hit the interstate curves and it was smooth as glass. I went home and picked up my wife and she was impressed with the difference. What I learned from all this is that good drivetrain alignment is also critical for good handling. When I bought my 2012 ultra classic the salesman asked if I could tell how well it handled compared to the 06 ultra. I honestly had to tell him I couldn't tell the difference. I know it was because I had the 06 so well aligned.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 19
From: Cypress, TX
You can make anything wobble under the right conditions. I've made just about every bike I've ever had do it either from out riding its capabilities or not maintaining something correctly. Never had my '09 FLHX wobble unless under those conditions. Sorry, to those that have experienced it. Neither one of these is me by the way.
at 1:05 just lots of stupidity before that.
Here's how to save it.
at 1:05 just lots of stupidity before that.
Here's how to save it.
Last edited by rg_dave; Jul 18, 2012 at 12:38 PM.