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[Black Diamond]

I've just returned from a trip to the Tenn / N. C. area. Went riding with 7 buddies from the old job. During the ride home, I opened her up on I-40. She got over the 115 mph mark and was rock steady. As I was closing on other traffic I released the throttle. At first all was fine. Some where around 95 mph she started an extreme high speed wobble.

Yes, I admit it is not the "right" thing to do riding that fast. I have done this on the rare occassion in the past. Most of the time the most I'll do is a "1st to 100" which isn't all that bright either. For those that wish to post telling me I'm "stupid", feel free.

However, I'm trying to figure out why this is occuring. She has never done this in the 30000 miles I have on her. Recently I had Wild One 513 Mini Apes installed as well as an Andrews 30T front pulley and new belt. I have never experienced this wobble before and perfer to never have it happen again. 

JW

[Devil Dog]

JW
I haven't experienced the high speed wobble on THIS bike, 2010 SE ULTRA ( I also have an 05 regular Ultra) but I have on the other at around 65 -75mph. I tried to see what the new one would do. but the speedo would not go past 109 mph and the bike was still pulling.
You say that your speedo was reading over 115 mph?

Lou

[Black Diamond]

JW
I haven't experienced the high speed wobble on THIS bike, 2010 SE ULTRA ( I also have an 05 regular Ultra) but I have on the other at around 65 -75mph. I tried to see what the new one would do. but the speedo would not go past 109 mph and the bike was still pulling.
You say that your speedo was reading over 115 mph?

Lou

I did not experience the wobble during acceleration. She was stable and still pulling until I opened my right hand. The wobble started during decel, after dropping to around 90 mph. I slowly added a little throttle and she did not wobble quite as bad. I was not certain I was going to get her back under control for a second. Damn scary. Won't be do that again.

My speedo is off because of the 30T mod. My buddy in the lane next to me said we were just over 115 mph. I take him at his word.

JW

[Twolanerider]

Jeff, unfortunately there isn't a single cause that always explains this.  Neck bearings, rear steer, swingarm bushings, aero induced from rider position; it all gets blamed.  And at different times it's also all probably at least part of the fault. 

FWIW the Road Glide never has.  The SEEG hasn't either.  At least not bad.  It's had a mild wiggle a time or three.  My last Road King, however, did scare the crap out of me a couple times.  Both times were like you described today.  Coming off power. 

I changed swingarm bushings as it seemed to feel like it was coming from the rear.  Though I wouldn't have sworn to that.  It never did it again after the bushing change.  Could never induce it at will before though.  Just happened on its own twice in about 50k miles.  Sold the bike at about 60k.  Hadn't happened again in that last 10k.

[Black Diamond]

Jeff, unfortunately there isn't a single cause that always explains this.  Neck bearings, rear steer, swingarm bushings, aero induced from rider position; it all gets blamed.  And at different times it's also all probably at least part of the fault. 

FWIW the Road Glide never has.  The SEEG hasn't either.  At least not bad.  It's had a mild wiggle a time or three.  My last Road King, however, did scare the crap out of me a couple times.  Both times were like you described today.  Coming off power. 

I changed swingarm bushings as it seemed to feel like it was coming from the rear.  Though I wouldn't have sworn to that.  It never did it again after the bushing change.  Could never induce it at will before though.  Just happened on its own twice in about 50k miles.  Sold the bike at about 60k.  Hadn't happened again in that last 10k.

Oh it's a real waker-upper! We rode back @ 80 + with no problems. She's never scared me before! I'm unable to say if it was from the front or rear. How do you feel / tell the difference. Never experienced this before so I'm uncertain.

JW

[Gone Fishin']

Before you start tearing your fine bike apart, first thing I'd do is check the tire pressure. I had a similar "one time" event on the '07 SERK, and all it got me to do to fix it was to change the tire pressure (it was too low). If this does not help, than go back to the many suggestion to be found on this site when you enter "wobble" into the search box. Unfortunately the '08 is the last year of the old frame, and there is always a chance for some issues at higher speeds built into these.
Cheap upgrade, by the way, is the air baffle under the triple tree.

Ride safely,
Louis

[Twolanerider]

Oh it's a real waker-upper! We rode back @ 80 + with no problems. She's never scared me before! I'm unable to say if it was from the front or rear. How do you feel / tell the difference. Never experienced this before so I'm uncertain.

JW

Since it's not always the same root cause the "feel" is likely not to be the same either.  The red bike, when it wiggled in the sweepers was always aero induced.  Once it did it the first time and I'd had a mental chance to prepare for it could tell.  That baffle Louis mentioned helped.  Lowers on or off made a difference.  Quarter trailing position behind a semi and it's turbulence could often induce it.  That Road King was definitely swimming from the rear though. 

If the bike just gets all wonky and you can't tell it's going to be worse.  Hubbard found he could cause and mitigate some wild gyrations with Maude by where he hung his long legs sticking out on the pegs.  Air up under the inside of the fairing shaking the whole nose.

Like anything start simple and work your way up.  Tire pressure, add the baffle at the back of the tree, consider one of the rear stabilizers (they're not necessarily cheap but they are easy).  A guy around here was sure his front end waggles was induced by wheel hop.  He talked himself in to do the Traxion front end after riding mine and has also convinced himself that fixed it.  Though whether it's "fixed" or just hasn't happened yet again is only known to the Travel Gods.

It it's a tank slapper it's more likely coming from the front.  If it wheels like one end is chasing the other its more likely coming from the rear.  What's causing it at either end, however, is as shrouded in mystery sometimes as the rationales for White House foreign policy..

[Black Diamond]

Before you start tearing your fine bike apart, first thing I'd do is check the tire pressure. I had a similar "one time" event on the '07 SERK, and all it got me to do to fix it was to change the tire pressure (it was too low). If this does not help, than go back to the many suggestion to be found on this site when you enter "wobble" into the search box. Unfortunately the '08 is the last year of the old frame, and there is always a chance for some issues at higher speeds built into these.
Cheap upgrade, by the way, is the air baffle under the triple tree.

Ride safely,
Louis

I have one of those laying in the garage. I'll have to install it and see. The tires (Metzler 880) are aired up. 42 front / 50 rear per info on the sidewalls. My experience with these tires has not been good. They are loud, slick in the rain & tar strips and transfer road vibrations more so than the Dunlops. But I don't think they caused this issue. 

[Black Diamond]

Like anything start simple and work your way up.  Tire pressure, add the baffle at the back of the tree, consider one of the rear stabilizers (they're not necessarily cheap but they are easy). 

It it's a tank slapper it's more likely coming from the front.  If it wheels like one end is chasing the other its more likely coming from the rear.  What's causing it at either end, however, is as shrouded in mystery sometimes as the rationales for White House foreign policy..

My guess is it was coming from the rear since adding a little power helped straighten her back out. But man, those handlebars were dancing. Good shoulder work out but I don't recommend it.

JW

[09S/E roadglide]

Jeff, same thing on my 09.  I know how you feel. wish I had an answer. I changed the back tire. gonna get the neck greased at my next service. I have a low speed wobble at 40 mph now so we will see if the neck fixes that. Had the glide up to 120 at Ribfest with no high speed problems.  good luck. Ill be watching.

I will say this it has taken a long time to regain confidence in the bike at high speed.

[TN]

I've just returned from a trip to the Tenn / N. C. area. Went riding with 7 buddies from the old job. During the ride home, I opened her up on I-40. She got over the 115 mph mark and was rock steady. As I was closing on other traffic I released the throttle. At first all was fine. Some where around 95 mph she started an extreme high speed wobble.

Yes, I admit it is not the "right" thing to do riding that fast. I have done this on the rare occassion in the past. Most of the time the most I'll do is a "1st to 100" which isn't all that bright either. For those that wish to post telling me I'm "stupid", feel free.

However, I'm trying to figure out why this is occuring. She has never done this in the 30000 miles I have on her. Recently I had Wild One 513 Mini Apes installed as well as an Andrews 30T front pulley and new belt. I have never experienced this wobble before and perfer to never have it happen again. 

JW

i've experienced this on my 08tr once   had her fully equipped, ktp, lowers ect. not loaded down though. happened on a long straight away and i hope to never experience it again. i just changed my rear shocks to 12.5" 440hd progressives and after futher review i found they were not set properly.  i keep thinking suspension related.  not saying this was the cause but hasn't happened again, will not try and duplicate either. ain't thought about this in a long time.

some scary chit


TN

[Gone Fishin']

I have one of those laying in the garage. I'll have to install it and see. The tires (Metzler 880) are aired up. 42 front / 50 rear per info on the sidewalls. My experience with these tires has not been good. They are loud, slick in the rain & tar strips and transfer road vibrations more so than the Dunlops. But I don't think they caused this issue. 

JW, I am not advocating any tire here, but many people I know did use the Metzler's only once and went back to the H-D Dunlops. Just sayin' . From my experience the tires (we're talking Road King here) are the biggest factor when you experience a wobble. I also read that you were able to straighten the bike out by accelerating. When the wobble was caused by the rear and/or frame, accelerating would make it worse in most cases. So another argument for (against?) the tires.

Ride safely,
Louis

[moscooter]

 
BD.....not sure how many miles you have on the bike,  but in addition to all the things mentioned already to check,  I would add taking a look at the IDS setup in rear hub.   I've heard say that the rubber cushions in there should be replaced at every tire change.   Not enough miles on mine yet to have that concern,  but I'm wondering if any "slop" there could effect handling

Also,  (if possible).......next time, do NOT let the throttle slam shut........ease her back down.

[miker]

Buy a gixxer and go fast on that...

Glad you are here to beeyatch about it!

[110tHunDer]

Jeff, like Don said, everything gets blamed and no two bikes seem to react the same to the "fixes," but ... on my '04 (same frame as Lexi) replacing the rear swingarm bushings made a HUGE difference.  That bike was rock-solid new and nothing ever upset it.  Then, about 15,000 miles, all hell broke loose at 90 mph in a sweeper down in the Smokies.  After that, I installed a Ride-Str8, replaced tires with Michelin's and did a few other things at folks suggestions (all except slowing down, Miker! ), including Traxxion and Bitubos.  Got so bad it was doing it on on/off ramps around here and even the 30mph curve going into work that I like to lean it over on.  It wasn't until I talked with Pete_4854 and heard how he has his rear swingarm bushings replaced periodically that I found something that actually works ... at least on my bike.

I think it's worth a shot to do that, and then also grease, grease, grease and grease once more the neck bearings.  I've got all the confidence back in the bike now ... 119 per the GPS just yesterday and 106 exiting a nice sweeper on route 54 on the way down!