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[BubbaBlue]

I'm new to the Ultra Classic ride so I am wondering if a squirm or slip is typical on this model? I have about 40K miles on the same roads with a RK and FXD and have never felt a slipping or squirming sensation in cool weather on tar strips used to seal hot mix road surfaces. On several occasions I have experienced this on my 2011.5 UCSE and wondered if it is normal or I have something loose in the front end. I'm about ready for my 1K mile service and don't know what to ask to have checked, if anything.

[2k]

The only time I have felt a squirm is on a damp/wet solid yellow lane marking. Bad enough to make me very careful when one must be crossed

[copout221]

I have only experienced that on stripped roads that were still under construction and while crossing certain bridges that have steel grate surfaces.

[kraut]

frequently had little slips on wet/cold road marks and wet/hot bitumen (frequently used for cheap road repair over here) with all my bikes, nothing special with the FLHTCUSE.

[bigdave110]

Agreed.
I have had it happen with any bike I have owned.
Depends on temp outside, road and how fast and hard I am taking a corner.
I hate it but what can you do.
It's a cheap way to seal cracks here in PA so they do it.
Hope this helps.
Dave

[grc]

Not terribly uncommon in my experience.  And it's not just certain models or even brands of bikes either, it has more to do with the relatively small contact patch of the tires and the tread patterns.  You may be noticing it more with the new bike because it's a lot heavier than your previous bikes, plus it's still new to you (less than 1000 miles).

You could ask the dealership to check the steering head bearing preload (fall away) during the 1k inspection to ease your mind about any possible mechanical problem.  Also, make sure your tire air pressures are correct, low pressures will allow extra "squirm".  Can't think of anything else at the moment.


Jerry

[Chief_M]

+1 on the tire pressure.

[phato1]

I hate that feeling. It happens on all my bikes, the 2001 Fatboy with Metzler tires, the 2011 CVO Ultra with the Dunlops and my 1996 Ducati 900ss with Metzlers. So it's not the tires, it's the darn "tar snakes" and when the temp  outside rises the 'squirm' is worse. The sealant mixture never seems to fully harden and gets more flexible as it gets hot so the sealant is actually "moving" under the force excerted by your tires. Go out on a hot day and press on one of the sealant strips with your hand on a hot day - it will actaully deflect under you hand pressure. Not much you can do about it except be aware of it and excersize restraint on curvy back roads with blind corners -- I have had the bike change line mid corner when riding over those stupid sealant strips and that can/will cause a change of undergarments 

[kerb]

I'm new to the Ultra Classic ride so I am wondering if a squirm or slip is typical on this model? I have about 40K miles on the same roads with a RK and FXD and have never felt a slipping or squirming sensation in cool weather on tar strips used to seal hot mix road surfaces. On several occasions I have experienced this on my 2011.5 UCSE and wondered if it is normal or I have something loose in the front end. I'm about ready for my 1K mile service and don't know what to ask to have checked, if anything.

How many miles on your tires?

I put about 20k on my previous UC in about a year and a half.  I don't recall ever slipping on a tar strip.
Wet painted lines, now.. different story.  Them I am leery of.

[kraut]

I put about 20k on my previous UC in about a year and a half.  I don't recall ever slipping on a tar strip.

it depends on what material they use for road repairs. Over here some communities use the cheap bitumen and some don't.

[dartman]

Agreed.
I have had it happen with any bike I have owned.
Depends on temp outside, road and how fast and hard I am taking a corner.
I hate it but what can you do.
It's a cheap way to seal cracks here in PA so they do it.
Hope this helps.
Dave

two Harleys and a metric all slip on the crack filler, gets worse with higher temperatures.

[DESERTBEAR54]

This is normal in the summer time here is AZ. They do road repairs with tar and when it gets up to 110+ the tar gets very soft so you have to watch the road and these tar strips. A Normal Pucker Factor!!

[Hugh Janis]

Happens A LOT to me.  perhaps it's living in the NE where they're always trying to repair and seal the cracks in the road to prevent frost heave.  It's pucker inducing at 1st, especially in a curve on a wet road.  I've learned that the wheel will dance until it catches solid pavement and just maintain the course.  BTW, my front tire was brand new on the trip to KY and it happened several times in the 2,000 miles there and back over the last several days.

[BubbaBlue]

I want to thank all the members for their thoughts on this problem. This has made me look a little deeper and I think I have the answer to my own question. I'd be glad to listen to any comments on my theory. All my riding of the CVO has been on dry roads at temperatures between 40 and 70 F. I've been riding since 1965 but only been on Harleys since 2003. The problem "I believe" is the tire tread design. The CVO uses a D408F front tire that's unlike my other two bikes that use a D402. The D408F does not have the continuous center groove that the D402 has and the 2011 parts cat. shows a Michelin tire having the same center groove. I never felt this sinsation with either of my two bikes having the D402 tire on the same roads and under similar conditions. I'm going to have the "fall away" checked at my 1K maintenance but I'll bet it is OK. Any thoughts?

[kraut]

Hmmmm, I used to have D402 on my bikes before the FLHTCUSE4, to my impression the 408 is rather less affected.