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[Jerry/MD]

FYI: Got the call from my local dealer today that YES the steering bearing was loose on my bike. Now, the only reason I'm bringing this up AGAIN is apparently my 'symptom' was different then what has been reported by many on here. Mine was a slight back-and-forth motion below 20 mph...and was noticeably worse with the BSR on board. So, it appears this whole loose steering head bearing issue can show up in a few different ways. Just sayin........

Jerry

[dlhovland]

  Thanks for the info. I noticed that on mine when making low speed parking lot turns with a passenger on board. my handell bars walk back and forth. left to right slightly. Makes turning in parking lot a bitch.

[King Glide]

I'm waiting another 1000 mi. till my 10000 mi. service but the swing test is at 4 swings because it was at 1 3/4 at 5000 mi. and I got the old it's normal from the service manager. Now I can feel the forks rocking forward and backward on rough roads or small potholes and I don't dare take my hands off the bars. If I could just have another stealer close that was worth a chit.... And don't even get me started on my separating seat !!!!

[grc]

I'm waiting another 1000 mi. till my 10000 mi. service but the swing test is at 4 swings because it was at 1 3/4 at 5000 mi. and I got the old it's normal from the service manager. Now I can feel the forks rocking forward and backward on rough roads or small potholes and I don't dare take my hands off the bars. If I could just have another stealer close that was worth a chit.... And don't even get me started on my separating seat !!!!

I don't understand the thought process that says I'll live with a serious defect until a particular service interval.  If the swing test has gone from 1.75 swings to 4.0 swings in 4000 miles, you have a serious problem, not normal wear and tear.  And the longer you let it go, the more likely that dealer and H-D will blow you off and say it's your responsibility as routine maintenance.


Jerry

[sadunbar]

I'm waiting another 1000 mi. till my 10000 mi. service but the swing test is at 4 swings because it was at 1 3/4 at 5000 mi. and I got the old it's normal from the service manager. Now I can feel the forks rocking forward and backward on rough roads or small potholes and I don't dare take my hands off the bars. If I could just have another stealer close that was worth a chit.... And don't even get me started on my separating seat !!!!

If you "don't dare take your hands off the bar", then you have a serious issue that needs addressing now, not in another 1000 miles.  You'd feel mighty foolish if you found yourself in a situation that caused you to go down, damaging your bike and perhaps injuring yourself or your BSR.

Just saying...   

[King Glide]

The conversation is documented both on paper invoice as well as digital voice on my iPad. Because shops are few and far between the average wait for service is three weeks and they have customers by the balls. I'm in line and putting my foot down when my turn comes. Meanwhile it's not a problem because I don't let go of the bars and it handles just fine at any speed, just has excessive noise with the movement of the bars.

The shop says bike is safe and I don't feel uncomfortable riding around town at 35 mph on Sunday mornings and some of us just don't have the skills, time or friends with skills and time to solve the harder issues.

Of course, if you have the time and desire to come to South Louisiana ....

[sadunbar]

The conversation is documented both on paper invoice as well as digital voice on my iPad. Because shops are few and far between the average wait for service is three weeks and they have customers by the balls. I'm in line and putting my foot down when my turn comes. Meanwhile it's not a problem because I don't let go of the bars and it handles just fine at any speed, just has excessive noise with the movement of the bars.

The shop says bike is safe and I don't feel uncomfortable riding around town at 35 mph on Sunday mornings and some of us just don't have the skills, time or friends with skills and time to solve the harder issues.

Of course, if you have the time and desire to come to South Louisiana ....

     (Sorry, my apologies, I couldn't help myself...)

[Twolanerider]

The logic of these explanations from the shop and their acceptance equate to the statements "it's not broke and made you crash yet" and "it's ok" being the same thing.  They aren't the same thing.  Fall away changing that much over such a short period of time is a significant portent of something wrong.  It hasn't crashed you yet; but it's not ok.