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[pj57]

From day one my SEEG2 has given me intermittent problems with front end wobble/weave at 75-85 mph.  Several other members have mentioned similar chassis feedback ranging from mild to tank slapper. Mine is so weird. I've noticed on really cold days (20-30 degrees), there's rarely a problem (neck bearings more rigid due to stiffer grease?).  It also seems to make a difference if I've got a full tank or almost on "E" - under lots of throttle it's okay...when I back off after hard throttle wobble is induced.  There was a good deal of improvment after Ridestr8 was installed but it's still there enough where I don't trust the bike a high speed.  Dealer has (supposedly) checked frame/engine alignment, engine stabilizers, motor mounts (lower replaced with new version) and they've played with the neck bearing adjustment.  I looked at the shop manual to study the "steering fall away"  Does anybody know how accurate a test that is?  To me, it seems like there's too many variables to really make a proper adjustment.  If I'm doing the test correctly, my current adjustment is way too tight.  With bike suspended, tires level, front end goes from full left to right, then barely back left.  According to the manual, travel should go left to right; to left then finally travel right.  The manual also says overly tight will cause the bike not to be able to absorb a weave...too loose will cause the bike not to be able to absorb a wobble.  Not to sound overly stupid, what the heck is the difference between a weave and a wobble? Anybody got any ideas?  My thinking all along was that if anything the adjustment was too loose.  Will an overtightened front end cause my type of symptoms?  I've come to trust the advice here far more than my dealer who probably didn't check a d*&n thing.  Thanks, PJ

[Twolanerider]

PJ,
I've come to believe that for some the stability problem is like chasing ghosts.  Everything seems to come in to play.  A little tighter than spec on the neck seems to be a benefit.  I know it was for me.  The dealer should be able to check for driveline and frame alignment.  That's something they really don't have to be all the bright to do.  They just have to read the tools.

A contributing factor on our bikes is definitely the fairing.  Turbulence coming up the inside of the fairing can and will sometimes a give a case of the shakes.  If you recognize it for what it is that's actually not a big deal.  Not recognizing it, however, and overcompensating could certainly be a problem.  Things like changing the position of your legs (and thereby changing wind patterns under and on the dash side of the fairing) or having the lowers on and off have all been reported to make real differences on the same bikes.

Because it is such varied issue the best advice anyone has chosen to follow is to be methodical.  Have those physical things that can be checked well checked.  Double checked if need be.  But make sure.  From there when the problem happens pay special attention to current conditions and circumstances.  Are you on the rear quarter of a semi kicking up a different turbulence pattern or might you be in the vortice created by his trailing air?  Can you shift postition in the seat or of your legs and have a positive or negative impact?  Take the lowers off and see if the problem will repeat in otherwise identical conditions.  

If any of those latter things make a difference than you know it's not something that a mechanic will "fix" on the bike.  It'll be something you have to compensate for by your riding style or preparation.  If the problem is always there, however, and nothing you do ever changes it then, conversely, you get to keep complaining to the shop until they find something to fix.

[Bulldog]

I have had the same problems you have mentioned, and I believe it is definately the turbulence coming between the lowers and the batwing fairing. Case in point six of us rode to Daytona for the Fall Rally from Charlotte, NC just stopping for fuel. To say we were riding hard is a understatement. Most the time above 100 MPH and on several ocassions I noticed moderate to fairly severe front end instability. So out of curiosity I streched my legs out and rested them on top of the lowers and this gave me the smoothest no wooble high speed feel I have ever experienced on my SEEG all the way up to 120 MPH no wooble, it did not matter if I was coming in or out of traffic, behind 18 wheelers or different throttle responses I could not make the front end wobble with my feet resting on the fairing lowers. I know that sounds crazy and a strange, but very comfortable way to ride down the road. But I will tell you this when my buddies wanted to run them hard going down I-95 I felt alot more comfortable this way.

Go figure - Bulldog [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=cherry.gif] [smiley=cherry.gif]

[HUBBARD]

I have had the same problems you have mentioned, and I believe it is definately the turbulence coming between the lowers and the batwing fairing. Case in point six of us rode to Daytona for the Fall Rally from Charlotte, NC just stopping for fuel. To say we were riding hard is a understatement. Most the time above 100 MPH and on several ocassions I noticed moderate to fairly severe front end instability. So out of curiosity I streched my legs out and rested them on top of the lowers and this gave me the smoothest no wooble high speed feel I have ever experienced on my SEEG all the way up to 120 MPH no wooble, it did not matter if I was coming in or out of traffic, behind 18 wheelers or different throttle responses I could not make the front end wobble with my feet resting on the fairing lowers. I know that sounds crazy and a stange, but very comfortable way to ride down the road. But I will tell you this when my buddies wanted to run them hard going down I-95 I felt alot more comfortable this way.

Go figure - Bulldog [smiley=nixweiss.gif] [smiley=cherry.gif] [smiley=cherry.gif]

Yeah, 'er 'uh, Bulldog,
  This is exactly what I experienced at Biketoberfest.  I mean, I was in a Violent High Speed Wobble, WFO, in 6th.  I think some of the guys here, were skeptical of my discovery.  Glad you found it, too.  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif] I took my Lower-Leg Fairings off, day one, and put high way pegs on the crash bars.  Left foot up on the peg, and poof, Wobble Gone!  It's posted on here, somewhere.   Later--HUBBARD

[Twolanerider]

Just had an idea.  Has anyone who is experiencing a possibly turbulence induced front end wobble/shake/whatever ever played with HD part # 58520-79TC (picture below).

It's an air dam on the back side of the tree.  I had this piece on my Road Kings and this little thing made a surprising difference how much air came up on the rider position.  Would therefore accept as possible it would alter the flow of air up under the fairing too.  Don't know if it would alter for better or worse.  But it's a cheap part to find out with.

[110tHunDer]

Don, I had a similar thought awhile back about that piece.  It would be worth a try, but you'd have to eliminate the chrome lower triple tree cover that comes on our bikes stock.

[HUBBARD]

Yeah, 'er 'uh, Twolane,
  Maudie', who was born in '02, didn't have that option.  Before I found the cure to my Wobble, I had asked Tilley about that particular type of air dam.  He said they stopped using that type when 2-Cams came out.  Said it interfered with air flow, or cooling, on a 2-Cam, which operated much Hotter than an EVO.  [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]  Later--HUBBARD  

[Twolanerider]

Don, I had a similar thought awhile back about that piece.

[Twolanerider]

Yeah, 'er 'uh, Twolane,
 

[110tHunDer]

Yeah, 'er 'uh, Twolane,
 

[Fired00d]

Just had an idea.

[110tHunDer]

'd00d, I put one on my '02 Electra Glide.  I don't know why the piece has three holes in it.  It comes with the hardware and they only provide two screws, one for each outside hole.  The piece is thin enough, you might even be able to use the hardware from the stock triple tree, not sure.

[Fired00d]

Hmm, I never bothered to check to see how many screws came with part. After noticing that it had three holes, and I only had two just figured it wasn't going to work. I'll have to re-evaluate this now. Also have a buddy that just put one on his Street Glide so I can look at his install to determine further if I want to do this. Thanks for the info.

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[Twolanerider]

Hmm, I never bothered to check to see how many screws came with part. After noticing that it had three holes, and I only had two just figured it wasn't going to work. I'll have to re-evaluate this now. Also have a buddy that just put one on his Street Glide so I can look at his install to determine further if I want to do this. Thanks for the info.

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

Dood, it's using the same two outer holes.  There's only three holes total on the back side of the tree.  That lower cover we get stock on the bike just doesn't come punched for the middle one of the three.  If I were to put this air dam on I'd mount it with the outer two holes and never give it a second thought.  

Keep an eye on it at car wash time later.  If you start to see cracking from like harmonic vibration then pull the dam and the stock lower cover.  Use the dam as a template for the cover and drill the third hole.

More I think about this more I think I'm going to put one of these on before spring gets here hot and heavy.  Will then play with it on the highway around the rear quarter of semis.  That's where I know I get the most turbulence affecting the ride (well, there and at "moderately" higher speeds).

[Grover]

I've never had this wobble at straight line speed. Only a few times in sweepers.

Last August we where heading north on I-77 from Charlotte N.C. back to Bristol TN. I was riding solo. Just out of boredom I set my cruise at 80-90 mph. Put my feet up on the highway pegs, leaned back on the backrest and road no handed for over 25 miles. Did lane changes around semi's hit a pot hole all at 80-90 mph with no hands 25 miles, no wobble. Used my knees to grab air to direct bike where I wanted it to go. Traffic was light so I didn't have to use sharp moves around traffic. The other guy riding along with me said I was a crazy fool and couldn't believe I did what I did.
But I had no wobble. Also, my lowers where off.

Just my 2cents.

Take Care,

Grover