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[wreckdiving]

Just wondering if this is normal or not, But about a month ago I bought a new 11 roadglide Ultra CVO.  The question I have is, while decelerating if I just lightly take my hands off the grips my front end starts to wobble.  My brother said its a reaction from the tranny slowing the bike down.  Is this true or does the bike need to have its wheels re balanced. I dont recall ever feeling this on my roadking.  Any advice before I call the dealer and have them give me a bunch of excuses I would like to hear from the RG owners out there.  I appreciate it!

[grc]

Just wondering if this is normal or not, But about a month ago I bought a new 11 roadglide Ultra CVO.  The question I have is, while decelerating if I just lightly take my hands off the grips my front end starts to wobble.  My brother said its a reaction from the tranny slowing the bike down.  Is this true or does the bike need to have its wheels re balanced. I dont recall ever feeling this on my roadking.  Any advice before I call the dealer and have them give me a bunch of excuses I would like to hear from the RG owners out there.  I appreciate it!

There are existing threads on the site concerning this very subject, and many Road Glide owner's have had similar experiences.  The short answer is NO, it is not normal.  The dealer needs to check the steering head bearing preload.  And he needs to make sure he is using the latest specs for Road Glides, which is different than the other Touring models.


Jerry

[GregKhougaz]

A front end decerleration problem on a Road Glide is not "normal" (whatever that is) but very "typical."  See here:   Front End wobble at 45-50 mph.  Jerry is correct.  This has been common since the 2009's.

[Texas 103]

Just wondering if this is normal or not, But about a month ago I bought a new 11 roadglide Ultra CVO.  The question I have is, while decelerating if I just lightly take my hands off the grips my front end starts to wobble.  My brother said its a reaction from the tranny slowing the bike down.  Is this true or does the bike need to have its wheels re balanced. I dont recall ever feeling this on my roadking.  Any advice before I call the dealer and have them give me a bunch of excuses I would like to hear from the RG owners out there.  I appreciate it!

Tighten the head bearings up. Had the same issue, mine are set at 1 swing. Tighter than HD specs and I really don't care , problem solved..     

[Ghost__Rider]

I've got a friend with a 09 and his has been in to the dealer more than once and steering head brgs tightened and still will tank slap if you let go of the bars on decel.

[grc]

I've got a friend with a 09 and his has been in to the dealer more than once and steering head brgs tightened and still will tank slap if you let go of the bars on decel.

Tell him to find a different dealer.  It's a well publicized problem, and unless there is something seriously wrong with wheel balance or runout, setting the steering head bearing preload correctly will take care of the problem.  The specs for a Road Glide are significantly different than those for an Electraglide, and if the "technician" is just setting the swing to 3 or thereabouts like he would on an e'glide, he's way off.


Jerry

[RickD]

I'm with Texas, mine had the same issue, 1 swing cured it....

[Cvostu]

Of Course this is my favorite topic on here.   Do exactly what Jerry says or you will be miserable with that bike. A front end wobble is nothing to ignore. Get that corrected. 

[jcd520]

My SESG did this also right out of the crate----------------no it is not normal but as stated above ----commonplace. Always run proper air pressure(helped mine---42 lbs. front) and have your steering head bearings tightened. It might still do it some but it will help. Secondly, don't ever let  go of the bars!

[jessie2011]

I too had this problem from the show room floor, my local dealer rebalanced the front wheel and adjusted the fall-away.  I continued to have this problem.  I road to myrtle beach bike week and then to Daytona last week and the wobble drove me crazy, so I had the Daytona dealer check both the balance and the fall-away again and found the balance out.  Afterwards the bike was a different bike, perfect.  It was a joy to ride the 600 miles ride home.  Don't give up.
Jessie

[Falcon 2000]

Just had the dealer tighten my head bearing, problem went away.

[NoMore]

GET THAT BIKE IN ASAP!!! My friends had the EXACT same problem. Took it to the dealer and said "oh yeah know exactly what the problem is" they were aware of this problem evidently from what the mechanic said. They made an adjustment and it solved the proble for a bit. Then while in the hills of TN it started again only this time at less than 25mph the bike would not round a curve. The riders behind him said they saw him fighting with the handlebars to steer since leaning wasnt doing the trick and they crashed. She lost her leg. No lawyer would take the case here in Texas but I directed them to BAM(EVERY biker should be a member and it's free). A group of lawyers went out to the auction house where the bike was set for sale by the insurance. They inspected the bike and found a flaw in the design and now have the bike in storage and are going after Harley for this. Do NOT risk it. I don't know all the details but from what I have gathered so far something in the cabling but if your dealer says it is just an adjustment bolt they are lying. It is something more.

[Midnight Rider]

GET THAT BIKE IN ASAP!!! My friends had the EXACT same problem. Took it to the dealer and said "oh yeah know exactly what the problem is" they were aware of this problem evidently from what the mechanic said. They made an adjustment and it solved the proble for a bit. Then while in the hills of TN it started again only this time at less than 25mph the bike would not round a curve. The riders behind him said they saw him fighting with the handlebars to steer since leaning wasnt doing the trick and they crashed. She lost her leg. No lawyer would take the case here in Texas but I directed them to BAM(EVERY biker should be a member and it's free). A group of lawyers went out to the auction house where the bike was set for sale by the insurance. They inspected the bike and found a flaw in the design and now have the bike in storage and are going after Harley for this. Do NOT risk it. I don't know all the details but from what I have gathered so far something in the cabling but if your dealer says it is just an adjustment bolt they are lying. It is something more.

Never, ever heard of that before...would be interested to hear more detail about a "cable" causing someone to crash.  The steering head bearings must be seated and tightened appropriately or you get the wobble.  As mentioned, HD revised the spec on the Road Glide to 1-1.5 "swings".  Once that adjustment has been made correctly the problem goes away...the key word being correctly.  It can happen on a Batwing bike as well, but is not as common from reports I've read, and the number of swings on a Batwing is different than on a RG.

Whatever the case, I hope they get to the bottom of it and take care of your friend.

[pj57]

Just picked up an 11 FLTRUSE and experienced the same thing. Dealer adjusted it but said there still might be "some wobble." Yes indeed there was still "some" wobble - idiot!!!  Went to another dealer and problem solved.  Second dealer actually tore the front end apart, replaced the bearing, lot's of lube and set to one swing fall away. Problem solved, however, this begs the question: I thought the new frame was designed to eliminate the tank slapper problems with the old frame? With all the lawsuits and bad publicity HD got back then, you would think they'd get it right this time.  Finally, if I hear one more service manager say "you should keep your hands on the bar at all times" I will attempt to wring his neck. I think HD gave them all the same script as if to place blame on the rider and minimize the MoCo's liability. Thanks for hearing me out.  PJ

[Midnight Rider]

Just picked up an 11 FLTRUSE and experienced the same thing. Dealer adjusted it but said there still might be "some wobble." Yes indeed there was still "some" wobble - idiot!!!  Went to another dealer and problem solved.  Second dealer actually tore the front end apart, replaced the bearing, lot's of lube and set to one swing fall away. Problem solved, however, this begs the question: I thought the new frame was designed to eliminate the tank slapper problems with the old frame? With all the lawsuits and bad publicity HD got back then, you would think they'd get it right this time.  Finally, if I hear one more service manager say "you should keep your hands on the bar at all times" I will attempt to wring his neck. I think HD gave them all the same script as if to place blame on the rider and minimize the MoCo's liability. Thanks for hearing me out.  PJ

The old frame design could cause the tail to wag the dog, particularly in high speed sweepers...a different kind of wobble than is being experienced because of the neck bearing not being adjusted correctly, or not assembled correctly.