Fairing vibration
Stage II
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
I bought the brackets from Ragan Fab last night and installed... took about an hour to install all four. Problem solved !
My left upper bracket was broke at the mounting tab.
Very easy to install and they are machined perfectly to fit the OEM brackets.
http://www.nwmachine.com/rfw//Gallery.htm
My left upper bracket was broke at the mounting tab.
Very easy to install and they are machined perfectly to fit the OEM brackets.
http://www.nwmachine.com/rfw//Gallery.htm
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: ALABAMA
Probably front engine mount if you are noticing more shake everywhere on the bike. I had an 07 and when the front mount went out I would see 3 of everything at a redlight but it smoothed out when I hit the gas.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
The handlebar bushings are very soft from the factory and mine used to shake pretty good. when I went with rigid bushings with my 14" apes there is no movement. If it were me, I would not only rework the fairing bracket but change out the bushings to the poly. my .02c
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
The '07's were particularly bad about shake at idle, apparently a combination of the first-year 96" motor and the old motor-mount system. Newer bikes (not sure about '08) had a revised motor-mount system and are much smoother at idle.
The '07 is brutal on fairing brackets, especially if you've added heavier speakers, and I've been through probably three sets of horizontals in 55k miles. The right vertical broke and instead of replacing it I repaired it, also fortifying the left one. That was 32k miles ago and the fix is still intact even after an accident during that time period. I did a write-up here, and another one about adding a second horizontal bracket to fortify the area when using heavy aftermarket speakers.
There were no aftermarket fixes available at that time, but after looking at the Ragan kit I would probably recommend that instead of doing a fabrication like I did. OTOH it isn't rocket science and if you can use a hacksaw, drill, and bench grinder you can make a bracket to fortify or fix the verticals. The horizontals are another story and I couldn't figure out a way to fix/fortify those with my limited metalworking skills.
The '07 is brutal on fairing brackets, especially if you've added heavier speakers, and I've been through probably three sets of horizontals in 55k miles. The right vertical broke and instead of replacing it I repaired it, also fortifying the left one. That was 32k miles ago and the fix is still intact even after an accident during that time period. I did a write-up here, and another one about adding a second horizontal bracket to fortify the area when using heavy aftermarket speakers.
There were no aftermarket fixes available at that time, but after looking at the Ragan kit I would probably recommend that instead of doing a fabrication like I did. OTOH it isn't rocket science and if you can use a hacksaw, drill, and bench grinder you can make a bracket to fortify or fix the verticals. The horizontals are another story and I couldn't figure out a way to fix/fortify those with my limited metalworking skills.
Last edited by iclick; Jul 25, 2012 at 11:47 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 57
From: PA
My 08 was definitely NOT smooth. I did the Glide Pro front mount and that helped, but still a lot of vibration at idle.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Yeah, the '08 had the same frame and I think motor mounts as well, but a different location of the turnbuckles. They addressed the jackhammer effect in '09 by changing the frame and mounts. There's a big difference between an '07 and '09 at idle.
mine started a vibration about 3 weeks ago. also the sound was not "usual". the vibration was not bad when accelerating but bad on decel along with the "sounds". after removing the oil cooler and Voltage REg. found that the support bracket had one bolt snapped off and the other loose along with the side stablizer bolt missing. the front mount was actually ok except for a crack that was starting underneath. I went ahead and replaced the rubber mount when i fixed it. it's the new one from HD and is a little more vibration that before. everything is good now...
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