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[GregKhougaz]

          Don't know if this is a significant issue or not.  Coming home Sunday it was 41* in Santa Paula.  Not cold for many of us but here in So. Cal., that's cold!  So, approaching a light, I took my hands off the bars to warm them for a couple of seconds.  As the SERG decelerated, at 40 mph the front end & handle bars began to shake back and forth an inch or so in each direction.  Never experienced this before and I'm not encouraging anyone to ride without both hands on the bars.  But did repeat the process to make sure.  Seems the wobble occurs between 40 and 30, only and only with hands off the bars.  What gives?  Anyone else experience this or have a theory?  $.02?       

Thanks for the input!! 

Greg

[Hoist!]

Good ole rear wheel steer is still there on '09's too! Well, well, well! New frame and all!!!

Time for Traxxion and True Track on your '09's too!

Hoist!

[TN]

          Don't know if this is a significant issue or not.  Coming home Sunday it was 41* in Santa Paula.  Not cold for many of us but here in So. Cal., that's cold!  So, approaching a light, I took my hands off the bars to warm them for a couple of seconds.  As the SERG decelerated, at 40 mph the front end & handle bars began to shake back and forth an inch or so in each direction.  Never experienced this before and I'm not encouraging anyone to ride without both hands on the bars.  But did repeat the process to make sure.  Seems the wobble occurs between 40 and 30, only and only with hands off the bars.  What gives?  Anyone else experience this or have a theory?  $.02?       

Thanks for the input!! 

Greg

steering head bearings loose. i've been through this myself on the 08 & 09.


my guess anyhow.

good luck

TN


try the swing test in the manual. i got 6 er so on the 09.

[grc]

steering head bearings loose. i've been through this myself on the 08 & 09.


my guess anyhow.

good luck

TN


try the swing test in the manual. i got 6 er so on the 09.

    Head bearings would be my first thought, along with front wheel balance. 

Jerry

[arcticdude]

It's also caused by low tire pressure or even tire tread, depending on the road surface.  Virtually every FL made will do this to some degree given the right road surface.

[GregKhougaz]

Thank you all.  Very good information.  I will check all of the above!  Bike has to go in nest week for paint peeling off the starter.  Dealer can check what I can not.  Anyone else?  Thanks again!

Greg

[BLM777]

Greg .... I agree with the steering head diagnosis and would add that being a new bike it is likely that you need to lube the neck.  Don't know why, but many are shipped with no lube in the neck at all.  Expect to pump about 1/2 to 3/4 of a tube in.

[Dash Riprock]

Same thing happened to me on my '01....scared the crap out of me! I was moving slow....maybe 30 mph, and let go to adjust myself as I approached a light. The wobble seemed a little more violent than you describe....I reached and grabbed the bars and got control.

I spoke to the local dealer who mentioned the tire pressure (checked) tire wear (checked) and potential for loose bearings.

Glad to know it isn't just mine....

[boerne free bird]

steering head bearings loose. i've been through this myself on the 08 & 09.


my guess anyhow.

good luck

TN


try the swing test in the manual. i got 6 er so on the 09.

This is normally what causes the wobble - the swing test should confirm it,
Good luck with the dealership

[Gone Fishin']

Good ole rear wheel steer is still there on '09's too! Well, well, well! New frame and all!!!

Time for Traxxion and True Track on your '09's too!

Hoist!

I'd be pretty certain it has nothing to do with the "old" rear wheel steer. It can be anything from cables, tire pressure, tire itself, road surface, wind, bearings, etc. I don't think anyone has had the same behavior on the '09. Or else, speak up! ;-)).

Ride safely,
Louis

[mr_magoo]

Just went thru this on my 08 and it was rear swingarm bushing that where bad.

[GregKhougaz]

          Thank you all for the information.  Love you guys!  Experience the "rear wheel steer" on the 04 RG and turned out that I had a rear tire which required 50 psi.  Tire pressure checked and is fine.  I'm certainly no expert but the loose steering head / lube diagnosis seems logical.  Not sure what the "swing test" is but will check the manual. 

          It's raining this week so have to wait to get bike to the shop.  I'll report in when dealer diagnosis. 

Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays to all! 

[Gone Fishin']

          Thank you all for the information.  Love you guys!  Experience the "rear wheel steer" on the 04 RG and turned out that I had a rear tire which required 50 psi.  Tire pressure checked and is fine.  I'm certainly no expert but the loose steering head / lube diagnosis seems logical.  Not sure what the "swing test" is but will check the manual. 

          It's raining this week so have to wait to get bike to the shop.  I'll report in when dealer diagnosis. 

Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays to all! 

In any case you might go ahead and read this thread  http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=21601.0  which deals with a lot of wobble issues.

Ride safely,
Louis

[GregKhougaz]

Update, 

          Finally got the bike into the dealer and reported the "wobble."  Service tech said this was not the first bike and said they'd check the steering head bearings which turned out to be loose.  No wobble now!  Thanks again to all for the information!!  Happy New Year!! 

Greg

[Hoist!]

Update, 

          Finally got the bike into the dealer and reported the "wobble."  Service tech said this was not the first bike and said they'd check the steering head bearings which turned out to be loose.  No wobble now!  Thanks again to all for the information!!  Happy New Year!! 

Greg

Yep, not the greatest prep work in the world going on here, either by the dealers or the MoCo! Mine were way out, and dry as a bone. The Timkens need to be packed with grease thoroughly by hand. That grease gun in the zerk thing doesn't get the grease INTO the bearings very well. And if they weren't properly packed with grease at the onset, chances are they're never gonna be packed properly til taken apart! STF & STD!!!

Hoist!