Bagger wobble exposed!
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: USA
Do you think there is any merit to bracing the frame at all, e.g. the later baggers have a light brace across the front downtubes?
Or do you think the frame is rigid enough to cope? I know your experience is "don't worry about it Graham" and I am sure you are right.
I'm going off to measure the free play on my pivot ... it certainly rattles and I remember Hillside (?) saying they re-machine theirs to a fine tolerance or running fit.
Or do you think the frame is rigid enough to cope? I know your experience is "don't worry about it Graham" and I am sure you are right.
I'm going off to measure the free play on my pivot ... it certainly rattles and I remember Hillside (?) saying they re-machine theirs to a fine tolerance or running fit.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 288
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From: UK
Check again.... The FXR has an additional crossmember that would make a significant difference to the rigidity of the frame.
Banned
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 678
Likes: 1
From: LA
The later baggers also have a brace across the front downtubes and a larger plate at the rear where the center fitting stabilizers attach.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 288
Likes: 3
From: UK
Yup, I've wondered about that. IT has a cross member under the engine/transmission ... but it is to brace or just to attach the jiffy stand too? (Honest question).
The later baggers also have a brace across the front downtubes and a larger plate at the rear where the center fitting stabilizers attach.
The later baggers also have a brace across the front downtubes and a larger plate at the rear where the center fitting stabilizers attach.
It mounts the mid controls and centre stand. It is much more substantial than the rear crossmember.
It would be an interesting exercise to get a bike that "wobbles" and fit a crossmember where the FXR has one and see if this has an effect. The solution to all these problems may just be a bolt in brace on the frame where the FXR has one (and they don't wobble!)
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
No, the top stabiliser between the heads does that. However motion arising from the lack of a stabiliser, say in a fast bend, may well feel strange in all manner of ways!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: poway
The late baggers have the whole rear section boxed in where the FXR has an oil tank..
Bottom side both have cross braces that keep the frame from spreading and act as a sheer panel. FXR might be a little wider there..
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 288
Likes: 3
From: UK
One way to check the frame stiffness in this area is ondo the bolts that hold the rear mount plates in place untill you have lost the preload. Take an accurate measurement of accross the frame then bolt the plates up again to see if it has spread the frame at all when the preload comes back on again.
Last edited by 4_stroke; Aug 18, 2014 at 01:40 PM.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
The FXR and Touring frames are similar, but not the same, the FXR is more compact. So with or without additional bracing they are going to behave differently and have different degrees of stiffness.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: poway
It mounts the mid controls and centre stand. It is much more substantial than the rear crossmember.
It would be an interesting exercise to get a bike that "wobbles" and fit a crossmember where the FXR has one and see if this has an effect. The solution to all these problems may just be a bolt in brace on the frame where the FXR has one (and they don't wobble!)
It would be an interesting exercise to get a bike that "wobbles" and fit a crossmember where the FXR has one and see if this has an effect. The solution to all these problems may just be a bolt in brace on the frame where the FXR has one (and they don't wobble!)