Bagger wobble exposed!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
My mistake G., I thought you meant other MFRs use the rubbermount engine/trans/swingarm group design, when in fact you said others use the method of "mounting the swingarm on the transmission casing", they just don't employ the rubbermount to go along with it, which makes the whole thing a sloppy mess. HDs design is poor, that is my very thoughtful opinion after much study on the topic.
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I've studied the history of rubber mount patents and several of the bike manufacturers have successfully applied for them, including Honda, Kawasaki, BMW and Moto Guzzi, so this is a widely interesting subject! At the root of a rubber-mounted engine in a motorcycle is maintaining the drive line from trans to rear wheel. That cannot be achieved in a satisfactory way unless the rear wheel is attached, via the swingarm, to the transmission.
Harley is the only firm who use the Touring and Dyna systems, although there are others. The Harley way is the correct way, the most feasible way, no matter what those with no engineering experience may think. I can expand on that if required! See my link in post #2 for more on wobble and the Harley rubber-mount system.
Harley is the only firm who use the Touring and Dyna systems, although there are others. The Harley way is the correct way, the most feasible way, no matter what those with no engineering experience may think. I can expand on that if required! See my link in post #2 for more on wobble and the Harley rubber-mount system.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
I'm confused, if this system is so great why does it require an add on stabilizer product to improve it? Maybe other MFRs applied for the patents but no other production motorcycle employs this type of "soft mount" driveline design, because its crap.
It doesn't matter how firmly the rear wheel is attached to the swingarm/transmission/engine, the fact remains that even under the best of conditions the entire driveline assembly flexes out of alignment with the chassis, steering, and front wheel. I could expand on that with zero engineering experience, but its not necessary because that's pretty much it in a nutshell.
It doesn't matter how firmly the rear wheel is attached to the swingarm/transmission/engine, the fact remains that even under the best of conditions the entire driveline assembly flexes out of alignment with the chassis, steering, and front wheel. I could expand on that with zero engineering experience, but its not necessary because that's pretty much it in a nutshell.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 290
Likes: 21
From: Portland Oregon
I've studied the history of rubber mount patents and several of the bike manufacturers have successfully applied for them, including Honda, Kawasaki, BMW and Moto Guzzi, so this is a widely interesting subject! At the root of a rubber-mounted engine in a motorcycle is maintaining the drive line from trans to rear wheel. That cannot be achieved in a satisfactory way unless the rear wheel is attached, via the swingarm, to the transmission.
Harley is the only firm who use the Touring and Dyna systems, although there are others. The Harley way is the correct way, the most feasible way, no matter what those with no engineering experience may think. I can expand on that if required! See my link in post #2 for more on wobble and the Harley rubber-mount system.
Harley is the only firm who use the Touring and Dyna systems, although there are others. The Harley way is the correct way, the most feasible way, no matter what those with no engineering experience may think. I can expand on that if required! See my link in post #2 for more on wobble and the Harley rubber-mount system.
Why are the Baggers having the Wobble problems Exactly??
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Doesnt the Dyna Wide Glide have the same Swing Arm connection that the baggers do? I checked with the company that makes those stabilizers for the baggers and they said they don't make them for the Wide Glide.
Why are the Baggers having the Wobble problems Exactly??
Why are the Baggers having the Wobble problems Exactly??
As for 'why', please read my thread, link in post #1.
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 523
Likes: 13
From: Arizona
Never experienced any wobble but after the post first originated I installed a True-Trak stabilizer on my 11 FLHRC.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Coastal Carolina
OK, I'll ask. Why? (Although I've heard that the stabilizer is a great elephant repellant also. No one with one has ever had a collision with an elephant!)
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 689
Likes: 6
From: Glen Rose TX
I guess you're just better
I have had two brand new Harleys and both exhibit a little wobble when pushed hard. The first one a Dyna Fatbob which is highly acclaimed as one of the better handling Dynas ever built wobbles. Now if it was a high miles bike I'd understand that maybe me in my ignorance had let maintenance lapse but it was essentially new when purchased with less than 500 miles on it.
2013 Streetglide is pretty much the same deal .. bought brand new yet it wags it's head at anything over what i'd call a 6/10ths speed. I'm not coming on here whining about the way they handle as they are pretty much what I expected based off of my research prior to purchasing them and neither of them does anything real unpredictable but both my 950cc Adventure bike and my 1000cc Ducati Monster Hooligan bike are more stable going through a fast sweepers than either of the two Harleys.
As for my riding skills, which you say must suck, I've been riding for 40+ years, have done a little racing and owned a Motorcycle Tour company which operated in the Andes Mountain of S. America. I check tire pressures, set sags, weight the outside pegs, countersteer, and while I don't consider myself fast (I know those who are) I can run a pretty good pace and do it without upsetting the chassis by abrupt inputs. Typically I'm either on the brakes slightly into the corner and transition into a on the throttle...
So tell me and others what it is we are doing wrong?
Me thinks it is that I try to take a corner that is posted as 50 at 75 and you are taking it at 55. Or a broad sweeper that is designed for a 65mph speed limit I like to take at 85-90mph... In other words my bet is you ride granny style
... and nothing wrong with that...