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Author Topic: Bike wobble at high speeds  (Read 18017 times)

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ltank

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #15 on: February 27, 2014, 12:35:48 AM »

Its the windshield. Remove and then go enjoy a high speed Ride!
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CVO2FIXUP

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #16 on: February 27, 2014, 10:42:41 AM »

 Every thing on these touring bikes is rubber mounted. So that's the swing arm, tranny and engine. This whole rubber mounted apparatus is not very well secured. And I am sure that on some bikes it's worse than others. I changed my bushings swing arm axle to Glide Pro system. And it madea  HUG difference in the stability and feel of the bike. When you compare the stock bushings and especially swing arm/axle bushing fitment to the glide pro your head will spin at how chitty the stock system really is. My builder had a bike strapped down to a work bench ( 09 street glide ) he grabbed the rear wheel with both hands and he could move it side to side ( flex in the rear axle and bushings ) 1 to 2 inches. So that's where all this instability comes from.  I am sure you guys get that left pull / weave when taking off from a stop! Thats the flex. The glide pro set up is a tollerence fit between the bushings and the swing arm axle. So no more play or flexing of the swing arm under load.
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CVO2FIXUP

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #17 on: February 27, 2014, 10:43:08 AM »

Another
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tennisman

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #18 on: March 04, 2014, 09:07:39 AM »

Check the neck bearing adjustment.

Al
DITTO....my 08 doesn't do it, so nix that previous comment on the pre-09 bikes.  I have 102,000 miles and it doesn't do, never has.
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DCC

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #19 on: March 04, 2014, 01:28:25 PM »

I'll chime in about the pre-09 bikes.  I have two 08 touring bikes and neither exhibit this behavior.  I'd be double checking your neck bearings for grease and adjustment.  No surprise that it's dry of grease either.  I'm amazed at how many bikes I've seen that never get greased.
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FlaHeatWave

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #20 on: March 04, 2014, 01:47:53 PM »

Every thing on these touring bikes is rubber mounted. So that's the swing arm, tranny and engine. This whole rubber mounted apparatus is not very well secured. And I am sure that on some bikes it's worse than others. I changed my bushings swing arm axle to Glide Pro system. And it madea  HUG difference in the stability and feel of the bike. When you compare the stock bushings and especially swing arm/axle bushing fitment to the glide pro your head will spin at how chitty the stock system really is. My builder had a bike strapped down to a work bench ( 09 street glide ) he grabbed the rear wheel with both hands and he could move it side to side ( flex in the rear axle and bushings ) 1 to 2 inches. So that's where all this instability comes from.  I am sure you guys get that left pull / weave when taking off from a stop! Thats the flex. The glide pro set up is a tollerence fit between the bushings and the swing arm axle. So no more play or flexing of the swing arm under load.

On the '06+ ('am pretty sure that HD made a change to the neck in '06) bikes, crank down the steering neck past the specs.

'Have the GlidePros in both the '05 and '09, big improvement!
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Rooster

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #21 on: March 04, 2014, 08:46:28 PM »

My 07 has never wobbled either
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OlDog

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #22 on: March 05, 2014, 01:23:56 PM »

my flhxse2 had a wobble at low speed- 30mph. adjusted tire pressure to 5psi over factory and set up rear shock for 2 up. didn't cure the problem but much much better. never had a problem with my '08 streetglide so its not just the pre '09 machines.
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DLSSOJC

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #23 on: March 05, 2014, 04:34:45 PM »

I have never experienced this on my 05 FLHTCSE2, or any of the many Harley's I've owned over the years. But I did go into a very  disturbing front end shake at about 120 MPH one time on a 05 Yamaha V-max I owned. I had a small detachable windshield mounted on it at the time, needless to say I never tried to go that fast on it again with that windshield on.  :(
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Steve_G

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #24 on: March 12, 2014, 12:21:27 AM »

I get a kick out of the BS of how the new '09 and up frames are SO much better than the earlier ones on the touring bikes.  I am calling BS!
My '08 Bike doesn't wobble. 
BTW, I have a new '14 SG Special, and I've owned 16 new Harley's.
My USE3 rides like a dream. 
Who knows, maybe the new 2015's will run cool without radiators and will go 140 mph packed up with gear and bsr through steep curves where you can drag your shoulders on the tarmac- and you won't feel a wiggle.
Maybe the MoCo will have yet a NEW frame!
I'm truly sorry so many of you with newer bikes have a wobbling problem. -Glad I don't.
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1abastarsmda

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #25 on: March 12, 2014, 12:24:25 AM »

I had the problem described on my 09 SEUC and it was the wheel bearings.  I unbolted the calipers and slid them off so I could see if there was any play.  Sure enough, I could move the front wheel side to side and hear a (I guess you could call it a light clanking noise) indicating it was loose.  When I did the same on the rear, I could hear a sort of grinding noise when I would spin the wheel.  I took it to the dealer, told them what I found and they replaced both.  Problem resolved.  Of course, this was after the dealer played trial and error with many other things before I dug in myself.
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RayG

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #26 on: March 12, 2014, 12:04:09 PM »

It's a good idea to check the items listed but 1000 miles might tell the story that it may have been like that right from the factory.  I just finished doing the alignment process using the Glide Pro front motor mount and swingarm kit while using their instructional video.  My bike is a 08 SERK with 70,000 miles.  I would start with making sure the neck bearings are greased, tire pressure and Harley shocks would be my next area to check.  Make sure your tire gauge is accurate, my HD model was over 3 pounds off.  Shocks should be on the stiffer side.  Back tire balancing should not make that much of a difference unless the tire was so bad they mounted a pile of weights and they came off.  It should still be checked when you get a chance.  Does the bike vibrate excessively when stopped? If your bike does not wobble or vibrate excessively at slower speeds even when cornering hard it may be an alignment issues that may have arrived from the factory in that condition.  When my bike was new it handled OK on slow speed riding but a high speed downhill left hand sweeper brought it into a violent wobble.  The dealership was no help at all but a guy heard me describe my situation and suggested I check the torque settings on my swingarm, I checked it right there and found the bolts were so loose I could move it by hand. The shop torqued the swingarm and it was improved but there was damage since it was so loose so I had the parts replaced under warranty.  Once I replaced the parts we were good until I hit 70,000 and that's when I installed the Glide Pro products and did the alignment procedure mentioned above.  The alignment was way off but I'm not sure it cured anything until the snow melts and I can give it a good test.
If you are patient and thorough you should be able to make you bike handle better that most think they can.  It can be frustrating but the end result will make it worth it.  We have all seen guys on older bikes that corner beyond what we thought was possible.  Some are lucky while some just fixed the problem.   

 I hope to purchase my own tire installation & balancing tools so I can do my own installs and balance the wheels in stages, not really necessary but 6 tires every year will pay for itself in no time.  Have you tried using two 8 foot fluorescent lightbulbs to check for a basic wheel tracking test?  Easy & cheap to do.  If you are going to ride at high speeds this needs to be fixed or you need to avoid those situations.  We are here to help, but be careful until you have this solved!   
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grtguy657

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #27 on: March 12, 2014, 06:19:18 PM »

I have a tru-trac that will fit, never used it traded bikes. fits an o8 ultra i'll get you more info if your interested PM me
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RayG

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #28 on: March 13, 2014, 01:46:11 PM »

I also have a True Track and plan to put it back on after I test ride the bike with the modifications I just did.  Just remember the True Track may or may not cure what is wrong with your bike.  It will not fix your wobble if it is neck bearings, wheel bearings, bad tire, wheels out of alignment etc.  You really need to check all the easy stuff and make sure that it is functioning properly.  Once you are sure you have your frame level & your rotors read 90 degrees while your wheels are running on the same plain test it out, if done correctly your bike will handle as well as it possibly can.  At that point you can decide to use one of the aftermarket items for added insurance.  I'm not opposed to using a stabilizing device in fact I would recommend that you use one but you just can't bolt it on if there is something else wrong.  I went through the entire process so I can have full confidence that it will keep me from harms way.  Your manual is a good place to start although I don't see the real benefit of using the alignment tool, the second method mentioned in the manual makes sense since everything is related to each other and can be adjusted by the two motor mount adjusting bolts (stabilizer links).  It's a shame that you and others have to slow it down to avoid another hair raising experience.  As others have stated most handle well and have the capability of handling well.  If they don't something is wrong and should be corrected.  A word of caution here:  It's been my experience as well as others that to trust a dealership to take the time necessary to check every item that could affect the handling under different riding conditions just won't happen.  Possible but highly unlikely, most shops will replace the swingarm components and forget about the two stabilizer links necessary to bring everything level and in alignment, that can take time to get it right.  You won't regret the time spent of doing it yourself, if you need assistance send a Pm & I will try to get you started so you can enjoy your bike again. 

Good Luck   
         
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Bike30

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Re: Bike wobble at high speeds
« Reply #29 on: March 13, 2014, 02:49:57 PM »

We discussed this topic a couple of days ago at the local dealership...high speed vs low speed wobble. "Assuming" the frame, wheels, and other stuff is in order, too tight steering neck bearings can create a high speed wobble. They can actually get tighter with use, according to their most experienced mechanic. Not sure why, but that's what he's seen...bearing friction and grabbing maybe the cause. He also recommends using the leaky HD Special Grease for the pack as it continues to flow and lube (and drip out).

So do a fall away (via the old # swings, or newer left-right-center fall-off distance technique) to check the bearing tightness after lubing.

Low speed (~40-50 on decell) wobble is too loose bearings, an imbalance/tire cupping, or whatever. Loose bearings in my experience with a RG I used to own. Never had the high speed problem.

Just sharing an opinion here, I'm not a suspension expert.
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