I have a RKC and never felt a wobble until I got a fairing at 75mph I felt a little wobble from the rear.

Is this normal and something I just get used too or can i help counter the wobble at higher speeds?

Any help would be great-

 

I developed a bad wobble last year after new set of Avons were put on. I checked everything and was going crazy tring to find the problem, so I added glide pro rear,(with the front glide pro previously installed, along with the bagger brace) and checked the alignment, neck bearing tire pressures. until I took the front tire back to my indy and he found a separation in the inside, replaced and all was good after that. I can tell you even before that instance there was always a little wobble in the front at high speed that I thought were from some of my accessories fairing, wind deflectors, fork deflectors ect. this past winter I installed the CCE top tree and can say this bike is so stable and tracks so straight its unbelievable now. so the after market fairing is not the problem, but would just happen to amplify something else that you need to address, and correct. good luck and hope you find the solution quick.

 

I had a Memphis Shades batwing fairing on my 2004 Road King. It did seem to add a bit of tendency to the bike to 'wobble'. My take on it was that this came from the wind over the fairing, as I'd only feel it when passing a semi when the air was turbulent. That is, the wind 'pushed' against the fairing side to side, alternately, and so was an input to the steering at those times. Once I became aware of this effect (after it occurred a couple of times) and was ready for it, it wasn't too freaky. I got used to it.

There was a separate effect with that bike (and with my '14, too) wherein there'd be some rear-steer (same feeling, but a different cause) under certain conditions. The 04 was more prone to this, but for me my '14 still will do it in more extreme conditions. This type of 'wobble' (not the exact word I'd use, but I'll stick with the convention in this thread) comes from the rear end putting slight steering inputs into the bike as a result of the 'play' in the flexible/rubberized bushings that isolate vibration, and fit between the swing-arm and the the chassis where the swing-arm mounts (the rear of the tranny).

The rear steer thing's the result of a trade-off. To lessen the amount/degree of vibration the rider/passenger feel, the swing-arm has rubber 'dampers' where it attaches to the frame to keep the engine vibration less objectionable. The trade-off part is, they could have put solid bushings in rather than the flexible ones. But this would have increased vibration the people onboard feel.

So yeah, with a batwing fairing on your bike I'd say it's very likely you're feeling more 'wobble' than you did without a fairing, with or without a windshield, and that this is probably 'normal'.

Take it in to have it checked out and make sure everything else is kosher, frame alignment, steering-head bearing adjustment, etc. If no problem is found, then ride it.

Keep the bike maintained, including air pressure in both tires, etc., and you'll mitigate the 'wobble'. Not eliminate…but you can lessen the probability it'll occur under any given riding condition. Plus, knowing your bike is properly maintained/adjusted, when the 'wobble' does occur, you'll be prepared to ride through it without freaking out. (When my bikes do it, it lasts only for a few seconds, then it passes. In my experience, anything more than a 'few seconds' of 'wobble' is not normal).

Oh yeah…on my 04 I had one of those chassis braces (mine was a Touring Link, but there are others just as good) and that helped limit the rear-steer effect. Not sure such would help you with the fairing steering inputs, but it would help lessen the 'rear-steer' effect that's a result of the flexible swing-arm bushings.

Alan

 

Thats great information. I just had the 20k done so I feel good about maintenance- What do you think about installing the stabilizer? Ive heard about this a few times its a few hundred bucks and its supposed to feel like a different ride after install.

 

Yes do the rear stabilizer for sure that help's the rear steer or bagger wobble

 

I had a '03 RK that had that issue with or without the fairing I placed on it. Had to replace the rear swing arm(cracked) and swing arm bushings then it went away for some time but always had a little wobble in high speed cornering with any wind to speak of. Fairing seemed to amplify the issue but the benefit of the reduced wind/turbulence on me made up for it. DCC makes the best fairing for MHO.

 

I put a fairing on mine a couple weeks ago and what I've noticed is at 75-90 mph is that it feels like the weight is unloaded off the front. My guess is that this would transfer the weight balance to the rear which may cause the wobble. I have no noticeable wobble but if I ever experience one a stabilizer will be the next addition.

 

I have a 09 RK with a Woody fairing. I love it. I did not notice any change in wobble or handling except for cross-wind. It is a real challenge compared to the standard windshield. The fairing comes off in 2 minutes by loosening the 4 acorn nuts and disconnecting power (I have a quick disconnect connector for power to the fairing). I can go back to different looks quickly. Fairing, stereo, amp and paint ran about $1100 all totaled.

 

I have the DragonFly- I've looked at all of them and only like the DF because to me its looks like it sits right compared to others. The closest to a street glide fairing IMO.

Now that I've done some thinking I do think I had a minor wobble before I would feel but always thought or noticed it when near water and windy situation. Now with the fairing and how it pushes wind its making it more noticeable is what Im thinking for what I've read on here and remember.

I hate to keep putting more $ into the bike as that's the reason i didn't get a new street glide .In June Ive done a 20k service a tire and the fairing and hard bags this month but it looks like Ill need to throw in some more money for some stabilizers.

 

Darkmatter the stabilizers and new motor mounts are cheap for the rear wobble, but to cure the front wiggle save for the CCE top tree