Touring steering stabilizer
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
As Tony says (I don't know him well enough to call him 'fat', so won't!) Harleys have plenty of trail, so that feature of them gives great stability. However they do carry other baggage in their design! Their suspension is not great and the engine/transmission/rear wheel are mounted in the frame on rubber. The stabilizers you have found are intended to reduce movement in them (but I suggest we come back to them if needed).
As for the wobble you describe, my money is on the front tyre. By all means check all the usual suspects such as neck bearings and alignment. I live in the UK where riding is quite different to much of the US (I have also ridden my own bike over there) and we value grip and handling, while many US riders value tyre life more highly.
As a fellow sport bike rider I suggest you chose a different brand to the stock Harley tyres. My choice is Avon and I have Venoms both ends of my Glide. If you call into the Touring forum and Search on 'tyres' (you may have to spell that differently!) you will be there forever, but get a better measure of the alternative brands of tyre.
Hopefully that will cure that problem and we can move on to further improvements, if you feel they are desirable!
As for the wobble you describe, my money is on the front tyre. By all means check all the usual suspects such as neck bearings and alignment. I live in the UK where riding is quite different to much of the US (I have also ridden my own bike over there) and we value grip and handling, while many US riders value tyre life more highly.
As a fellow sport bike rider I suggest you chose a different brand to the stock Harley tyres. My choice is Avon and I have Venoms both ends of my Glide. If you call into the Touring forum and Search on 'tyres' (you may have to spell that differently!) you will be there forever, but get a better measure of the alternative brands of tyre.
Hopefully that will cure that problem and we can move on to further improvements, if you feel they are desirable!
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: DFW
Thanks Graham,
I was think about the tire/tyre lol too. I just talked to a buddy in Chicago with a SG and he said his bearings were loose at 15k. Which is about were I am. So as I get some time I will check them out. If that don't get it I might replace the tire. I just replaced the rear and stuck with Dunlops cause I wanted same front and rear tires. Front is in good shape as far as I can tell. Figured next time around I replace both with better tires. (need to research those yet).
Thank ya'll
I was think about the tire/tyre lol too. I just talked to a buddy in Chicago with a SG and he said his bearings were loose at 15k. Which is about were I am. So as I get some time I will check them out. If that don't get it I might replace the tire. I just replaced the rear and stuck with Dunlops cause I wanted same front and rear tires. Front is in good shape as far as I can tell. Figured next time around I replace both with better tires. (need to research those yet).
Thank ya'll
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
A True-Track will IMHO give the greatest benefit, so if you are wondering what to do first, that is the one I recommend, then tyres next. I would leave getting a steering stabilizer until after you have got used to the way your bike rides with the other two.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 171
Likes: 5
From: Gifhorn, Germany
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,310
Likes: 1,079
All newer model HD Touring bikes come with a stock stabilizer link for the front steering. In fact you can even upgrade from the stock one to a chrome version http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Stage IV
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
You want a Harley Davidson FLHT Steering Damper. Search PN83808-09A. I think this is what everyone is really looking for.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 983
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
All newer model HD Touring bikes come with a stock stabilizer link for the front steering. In fact you can even upgrade from the stock one to a chrome version http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Last edited by vzts4q; Mar 16, 2013 at 02:08 AM.