Need your feedback about turbulence

[snooper]

The dealer takes it seriously, as he experienced himself the problem.

They also look at the tires... Today they added a bit of air in the rear absorber to raise it to 25psi. They checked the steering head bearing (was fine). Then we ended up trying different shields, and the best so far is the one on the attached pic. Ok you get more wind, but I have to say it's a different bike in terms of controllability !

But while they were doing all their checks, they lend me a "basic" Street Glide, and the feeling in terms of control is much better - and by far - than my yet improved CVO :-(

I have to admit I'm a little confused now...

Thanks anyway to all of you for your valuable & useful comments.

Antoine

[Midnight Rider]

You've got problems that changing a windshield is not going to solve.  If they have actually checked all the things you mention, I'd start checking wheel/motor alignment.  There's something wrong with your bike...

[Eqcons]

You've got problems that changing a windshield is not going to solve.  If they have actually checked all the things you mention, I'd start checking wheel/motor alignment.  There's something wrong with your bike...

Agreed, I fear. 

And you say "raise" the rear suspension to 25 PSI?  This is not like older bikes, and 25psi is low!  I run mine at 45 or 50.  (But that isn't going to have an effect on your handling.)
Jim

[Hound Dawg]

Snooper,

Did you ever resolve this handling issue?   I have the same thing on my '12 SE7.  I tried the steering head bearing.....was a bit tight....but still hasn't fixed problem.  I'm going to have to go to a Road Glide Ultra if this is how this SE7 handles.   I love this bike too!

HD

[Tweeter13]

just wondering if any one checked wheel runout on either one of these bikes.  I did have steering head bearing loose one mine right off the bat.  But the dealer said there was nothing wrong sitting in the serive bay.  I told them they had to drive it.  soon as he got back he said now I know what you are talking about.    Not to be off the subject also.  I am not sure which windshield company that I read this on so I dont know how true it is.  That our ultras have up lift at high way speeds and no down force.  The by putting their windshield on you would get I think 25lbs of down force.  Dont know if this is propaganda cause I would have no way of ever testing that.

[snooper]

Did you ever resolve this handling issue? 

Hi HD,

Unfortunately not!

During the first 1000 Mi maintenance they have checked the entire bike, from wheels to bearings, and they did not find anything out of normal range. They start to talk about the tires, but I don't believe they would be the source of the issues.

I've tried again and again to understand the origins, but I have clearly a bike that becomes dangerous to ride on an highway at or above 65 Mph.

It's a wonderful bike... as long as you don't ride it, and this is becoming a real problem.

So I'm going to ask an expertise (not sure about the term) or if you prefer someone approved by a Court to test ride the bike. If the expert conclusions are in the same directions than mine (and surprisingly some of the dealer's staff members who tried it out) I will have to ask Harley for a refund.

Nevertheless, I would rather find another option than this one :-(

Cheers,
Antoine

[Hound Dawg]

Snooper,

I'm going in Saturday to ride another SE7 just like mine to see if it's my bike or just the design.  The more I think about it....it could be the faster we go the more "uplift" we get potentially caused by the newly designed lowers...causing less weight on the front tire and thus that unstable feel we are experiencing.  I've had Ultra's before....and never had this issue....although the last one I had was an '03. 

More to come.....if I find that my hypothesis is right....and they make a SE Road Glide Ultra for '13.....my relationship with Lucy just may be short-lived.

Cheers,

HD

[Jenady]

Yes, it's the change in the design of the lowers that have caused the problem.

The FLTR deflectors pretty much fit straight on - might need a little trim, but nothing at all difficult. There's a picture of them in the link I posted.

Jim

I made exactly this same discovery today. I have a new FLHTCUSE that I am still getting to know. I have been riding with a full face helmet and have been getting a lot of buffeting at highway speeds. Today I wore a Skid Lid. First thing I noticed was less buffeting. That is when I realized the trouble was from below not above. The wind was getting up under the bottom of the full face. Today my beard was reshaped toward my ears/eyes!

Jim,

I am going to the dealer for the FLTR deflectors. Thanks for the tip.

[CowboyBagger]

Eqcons,  how would you modify them to fit a Batwing?

[Eqcons]

Eqcons,  how would you modify them to fit a Batwing?

They just need a little trim - obvious when you see one on.

Jim

[Alremc]

Eqcons,  how would you modify them to fit a Batwing?

Cowboy, as Jim stated, once you have them on and you turm the steering, you will see where the deflector hits the fairing and you just start trimming away. It's hard plastic, so you might need a Dremel. it is what I used. It has helped alot on decreasing the wind coming form in front of the gas tank for sure.

[110tHunDer]

 
Got some pics?

[hep0950]

The  buffeting may be coming up from between the forks and the gas tank. They make a chrome dam piece for that area. It is usually held on with 3 screws on an Ultra, but I see no reason it would not fit with two over the chrome piece they have between the forks. That should help. We are ordering a 9 inch Long shield also. Most of the wind I get was from between the tank and the forks. I am 5'8" now.

[Eqcons]

I see no reason it would not fit with two over the chrome piece they have between the forks.

It does.

That should help.

It doesn't. Much.

[hep0950]

Thanks Eqcons. Good to know it fits.