In my continuing effort to keep my old bike fresh, today I installed this swing arm bushing set from V-Twin Manufacturing.



My 2000 Road Glide has never experienced the "death wobble" ( though I've tried to induce it sometimes,) but there's no question that the back end of the early Dressers has always been soft.

I was coming home form my annual trip up North and left Charleston, W Va a couple of weeks back at 6:00 a.m. and got on I 77 South, the W Va Turnpike. I ran into a couple on a SE Road King just a gettin' it through the high speed curves over the mountain and I decided to ride with them for awhile. Ran pretty consistently around 80 to 85 mph. An hour or so down the road they cut off onto I 81 and I stayed on 77.

During that time I felt the need to "set up" the curves. I know how the rear end "shifts" a bit up there and it was fun, if a little looser than I'd like.

So with the original (!) clevis blocks still in the swing arm I knew that they'd have to go anyway so that's where I'd look for the stabilzer upgrade too.

Stabo offers a similar kit made out of "Delrin" for about $200, Glide Pro offers their system ( but you have to buy their swing arm axle and its kind of pricey too. The "Nylatron" kit I bought retails for $132.

So next I got on the 'net and learned what I could about Nylatron vs Delrin on chemical websites and such and discovered that they're quite similar in composition, strength and heat tolerance. Nylatron might be a bit stiffer.

A quick look at the Rivera Primo site displays their "Stiffy," a set of offset supports that go inside the frame rubbers ( biscuits) on all 80-08 touring chassis'. They want $100 for a set. (They are similar to the 2 smaller pieces to the right of the above pic that do the same thing in this application.) Reviews on their site from customers indicated an increase in vibration so I wasn't surprised if that's what happened with my bike too.

So I had my Indy order them in from V Twin earlier this week ( I could have gone on line as I usually do but I don't give him enough parts business as it is,) and this morning I brought him my swingarm.

I could never have gotten the old clevis blocks out. His press and a heavy hammer got it done though. If clevis blocks are leaking silicone they're shot. Interestingly, mine still hadn't leaked at 137,000 miles.

He pressed in the 2 larger bushings keeping them 4.520 " apart ( the tranny boss is 4.50".)

I cam home and installed it, finishing with the 2 small off set rings pushed into the swingarm rubbers. ( Those rubbers aren't that old, just replaced last year.)

It does shake more. Lower rpm particularly, it reminds me of my shovel days starting off from a light, but at 2500 rpm and up it the vibration was still there but not bad for a V Twin touring machine IMO. And as with any rubber I've ever installed on her, there is a break in period too where things settle down somewhat.

Handling Improved? Immediately noticeable. Throw the bike back and forth and the rear end follows, you don't have to wait for it anymore.

So I'm going to ride it this way for awhile. I suspect that I made a good investment for a total of $169 ($144 parts w/ tax and $25 worth of my Indys time.) I'll know more tomorrow. ( Sunny and 70 .)

 

Update: Just rode about 40 miles today and the increase in vibration is minimal at any rpm except 2200 to 2400 where its still significant.

Because of the Rivera Primo reviews I'm pretty convinced that the outer "Stiffy"-like rings that are inserted in the outer frame rubbers are the cause. And from my research, the Nylatron bushings are pretty stiff all by themselves ( they're a common component in automobile suspensions,) and would do well all as a stand alone too.

So I may pull those outer rubber supports someday just for sh*ts and grins and compare the rides, but for the moment I'm enjoying my high speed country sweepers. I'll leave them in awhile and see how they settle in.