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[JimsSEEG]

Was wondering if anyone had been able to get the new units installed and if they think they are worth the money.

Jim

[Twolanerider]

Jim,
I was the first of the "group" to do the install and posted some pics of the process over in that original thread.  Was a very straightforward install.

In the first very few days afterward didn't have the chance to ride the bike on stretches of road that might challange or really highlight what I was wondering some differences might be.  Over this past weekend perhaps I did.

Got a couple of chances to run the bike up in speed a bit.  It had always seemed stable up through 100 or a bit more.   Much beyond that it would occasionally have a moderate wander.  Not a hard wobble but definitely a wander.  Ran it up through speeds that this would have occurred in before four times last weekend and ran it there long enough for it to show up.  No wander.

Going through twisties and curves the bike is very solid.  It was ok before.  Any perceived difference might be just in my head.  But I think it feels like the ass end says behind me better.

One unexpected thing.  Streets around the residence have recently been going through a repaving.  Lots of scraped roads with "corrugated" undersurface exposed for new black top.  The bike really tracks the corrugations in the surface from its back end.  Much more pronounced than I'd noticed it or any other bike I've been on do before.  Not a dangerous thing.  But certainly a surprise the first time you're not expecting it.

[JimsSEEG]

Thanks Twolane -

Was wondering since this is the first bagger I've owned. There is a stretch of road on the way home (4 lane, good blacktop -chip seal type material - definitely not smooth as a worn stretch of hiway) posted limit is 70. I can track thru there 85 or so and there is a slight twitch or wiggle depending on your definition. It's noticible, not like the back end is going to come out from underneath you, but similiar to what you described on the fresh cut road. Of course my last tank slapper was at over 170 at Texas World Speedway back in the early 80's. So my definition may be a little different....  [smiley=surprised.gif]

Just keeping an eye on the wobble / wiggle issue that some are having before I find out about it on my way home.. Think I would have grown up by now and quit trying to play  road racer on an 800lb bagger....

Jim

[MYCVO]

JimsSEEG.... Like you this is my first bagger, and I've just now been catching up to speed on some thread.  I have the 04 and I'm not sure how this feels when it happens [smiley=nixweiss.gif] Dont know if I've already felt it or not (like a oil spot in the road) or what,, I've looked back from time to time to see if I ran through something. My brother and I are always breaking the law [smiley=oops.gif] sorry policeman I'll try not to do that again.  But if thats what it is I better go ahead and do that up-grade so I can continue to try not to break those damn speed limits [smiley=oops.gif] bet I'll fail on that to !

[spydglide]

Wow!  170mph tank slapper.  I can not imagine that.........'cause a 70mph tank slapper made me a believer!  Guess that would make you quit road racing (one way or the other).    [smiley=nervous.gif]   spyder

[MYCVO]

Wow!

[JimsSEEG]

My last run was at Daytona in '84 was 232 mph - Yamaha TZ750. Had a few connections at Team Yamaha. Tank slapper wasn't the reason for leaving, team I was with got offered a full ride by a beer sponsor - made the decision that riding would have  been a job. So a couple of the team went on to go the full pro route and the rest of went to the stands.

Don't regret it - was a fun time for a few years. and you thought HDs were expensive. Not quite as bad as a top fuel car though...

Jim

[JR]

Jim,
I was the first of the "group" to do the install and posted some pics of the process over in that original thread.

[110tHunDer]

JR, I'm not Donnie Boy, but I'm doing about the same thing.  Mine's going in for the 10,000 mile service and a new rear tire and I'll have the alignment checked then.  In looking at the service manual, you probably gleened that it's more involved than just making sure the rear tire is centered and the fender is probably not the perfect reference point to compare with or draw conclusions from.  Having said all that, I think It'd be pretty tough for one of these to be out of alignment if it was done correctly at the factory, but if you're taking yours in anyway, you might as well have it checked out.

Re the steering head bearings, I had mine tightened awhile back and really haven't noticed a difference.  Still have a wobble at times (usually can make happen on sweeping on/off ramps) that wasn't there when the bike was new.  If the Ride-Str8 and new tire don't cure things, then I'm not real sure just what I'll do next. [smiley=nixweiss.gif]

[JR]

Hey Brian! [smiley=beerchug.gif]

Did you get your Ride-Str8 installed yet? Curious if this helped your wobble on the ramps. Did you go back with H-D Dunlop rear tire or did you try something new? I was thinking about trying out them Motobitchieskocamuga, oops, I meant Metzler tires.  [smiley=huepfenlol2.gif] Bless Ya Bro!

                                                     [smiley=banana.gif]JR [smiley=banana.gif]

[110tHunDer]

JR, haven't finished it yet, just went as far as installing the Ride-Str8 swingarm bracket (see post in the "junkies" thread).  Still gotta get another 300 miles on her in between work and other stuff before she's ready for the 10,000 mile service/alignment check.

Funny you should bring up the Metzlers, been thinking about going that route myself.  Local dealer her frowns on installing anything other than H-D branded Dunlops (go figure) so not sure at this point what I'll do.  The thing about tires, though, is a new set always feels better no matter what brand.

[110tHunDer]

I completed the Ride-Str8 install on my bike last night after getting it home from the 10,000 mile service where I had them check the vehicle alignment for me.  It was spot on  [smiley=banana.gif] so, as it turned out, I guess I coulda hooked the transmission bracket up when I installed the swingarm bracket, but I wanted to be sure, first.

During the service, I also had a new rear tire installed and the neck bearings were lubricated, so I dunno if I can say this is all due to the Ride-Str8, but today I took the bike out and attacked some of the on/off ramps and gentle sweepers around here that I was getting the wiggles on before and now, HOLY CHIT, my bike is back on rails again! [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] [smiley=2vrolijk_09.gif] [smiley=1syellow1.gif] [smiley=2vrolijk_20.gif] [smiley=2vrolijk_21.gif] [smiley=shocked2.gif] [smiley=vrolijk_19.gif]

Not since before this past spring's CVO Smoky Mountain Gathering have I felt confident that the bike would hold it's line through a sweeping turn at any speed in excess of 75.  Today, I just picked my line and went!  Feels like new again.  It's hard to describe the subtle improvement in the bike's behavior when rolling on the throttle exiting a turn now, too.  But, when you hit it, the bike maintains a more "natural" line than what I experienced prior.  Simply put, it continues going in the same direction it's pointed instead of wandering a bit.  Felt great!

I suppose I should've ridden it hard before hooking the Ride-Str8 up, but I gotta give at least some of the credit to it.  Consider this: 04hd103 still had the wiggles in Maggie Valley even with a brand new rear tire.  Tightening the steering head bearings cured it for him.  So, I had the bearings on mine tightened, but it made no noticeable difference.  Now, I have tight bearings, a new rear tire, and the Ride-Str8 and NO WOBBLE!  WOO-F'N-HOO!!!!

[Twolanerider]

That's great news Brian.  After having had mine on for a bit I have actually found some subtle (and not subtle) differences where the bike is more stable now.  The new rear tire helped too.  But in ways I didn't quite realize at first the bike is better.  With what you were trying to get cured on yours I'm really glad you're seeing such a good difference.  These things are a lot more fun to ride when they are a lot more fun to ride  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] .

[MObe]

  I've had mine on now for about a week and I can say that it absolutely helped the handling on my bike. Before, everytime I hit it going up the on ramp to the interstate it would do a hula dance, and a couple of weeks ago on a long sweeper at admittedly high speed it went into a really scary weave. I rolled off the throttle gently and rode it out, but was a bit shook up.
  I tightened up the neck bearings and it helped but didn't stop the weave.
 Now with the ride str8 the bike holds it's line and I can relax a bit in the twisties instead of wondering what the bike is going to do.
 It now holds a solid line through the turn like it is supposed to. I do not notice any increased vibration or any other differences in the bikes behavior.
  I thought about keeping the stock bracket so I could take the ride str8 with me if I ever sold the bike, but after riding it with the ride str8, I wouldn't feel right selling the bike to anybody without it.
  One thing that I would really like to see is the ride str8 with a transmission bracket cradle like the true track, as I am a bit nervous about the loads being placed on such a small area of the transmission.  
  I do realize that the placement of the bracket at the rear imposes much less load on the transmission than if it were located further forward like the true track. I just feel if the ride str8 had a full pan bracket as well as being located further to the rear that they would have a bullet- proof set up.
  I honestly do not believe that transmission cooling due to the full pan bracket would be a factor and in fact could cause a venturi effect resulting in increased cooling.

[110tHunDer]