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[donald p]

The real issue here is not what kind of cycle or what caused it. It is that when the wobble happens you hang on tight. NOT a loose grip on your bars or it will be DEATH.

[Mano]

The real issue here is not what kind of cycle or what caused it. It is that when the wobble happens you hang on tight. NOT a loose grip on your bars or it will be DEATH.

X2.

[CVOSE]

Out of my own experience, and learned at advanced motor training, tight holding your grips increases the wobble.

If you loosens your grip and press your legs against the tank the wobble disappears.

The wobble is often started by the wind pressure on your shoulders. thats why you should relax and loosen your grip.

[dlaws01]

Out of my own experience, and learned at advanced motor training, tight holding your grips increases the wobble.

If you loosens your grip and press your legs against the tank the wobble disappears.

The wobble is often started by the wind pressure on your shoulders. thats why you should relax and loosen your grip.

Also, I would add, is to close your eyes.

[yellow103]

I can't speak for others experience with this so called wobble, but I do know what I experienced, had I relaxed my grip on the bars, I know without doubt I would have been kissing pavement. As for squeezing my legs against the tank, I think there may be dents where my knees pressed into the sides of the tank. Hope to never experience that ever again.

[Coyote.]

Have you guys with wobble just tried tightening up the neck bearing? I find I have to do that with every bike as they are loose from the factory. I don't mess with the fall away test but just tighten them a couple of teeth and it's amazing how much better the bikes handle.

[lowflight]

I rented an Ultra RG at one point to check out how I liked the ride, never considered that I would buy one but thought due diligence would be to give a ride. At one point after some miles I took my hands off the bars and the wobble started and increased in frequency, every time I completely relaxed my grip the wobble would start again. When I took the bike back and informed them of the problem and that it needed to be fixed before someone was seriously hurt the dip sh-t at the rentals says "well your suppose to hang on tight, that would be what anybody would do and then you wouldn't have that problem". Besides his total lack of anything close to being human I suspected that that particular bike had head bearing toque or bearing issues.

[05Train]

I rented an Ultra RG at one point to check out how I liked the ride, never considered that I would buy one but thought due diligence would be to give a ride. At one point after some miles I took my hands off the bars and the wobble started and increased in frequency, every time I completely relaxed my grip the wobble would start again. When I took the bike back and informed them of the problem and that it needed to be fixed before someone was seriously hurt the dip sh-t at the rentals says "well your suppose to hang on tight, that would be what anybody would do and then you wouldn't have that problem". Besides his total lack of anything close to being human I suspected that that particular bike had head bearing toque or bearing issues.

I've ridden 5 different Road Glides, and they've all done this...Some worse than others.

[Mano]

I can't speak for others experience with this so called wobble, but I do know what I experienced, had I relaxed my grip on the bars, I know without doubt I would have been kissing pavement. As for squeezing my legs against the tank, I think there may be dents where my knees pressed into the sides of the tank. Hope to never experience that ever again.

X2.

Yellow103, you have explained it exactly how it has happened to me too.

This is not your normal wobble. This is worst than anything that I can explain. Call it a wild bull, bucking horse or anything like that. It took what ever I had to stay on the bike. The only thing that kept me on the bike was strength and a whole lot of luck. 36 years of riding experience I never felt nothing like that.

[davidw221]

The Harley wobble is an old problem, that's the reason, Harley changed their frames back in 09.
They were sued by many, including one high profile case in North Carolina, where a Police officer was killed on the Interstate trying to stop a speeding car. Instead of having a trial Harley paid the family off.
There have been several Class action law suits with this issue, Harley will not have a recall, they have hundreds of lawyers protecting them.
If you all want more information on this subject just Google, Harley wobble lawsuit, or Harley Death wobble lawsuit, you will get plenty of documented information on this issue, including court records.
I had an 02 bagger, spent money on the Bagger Brace, it  really helped.
I have a friend who is now 50 at a nursing home, has been there for 10 years now from a single vehicle motorcycle crash do to the Harley Wobble.
Please don't play around with this subject, Modify your bikes today with a motor brace, any brand, just do it.

[Rooster]

Sorry the new frame didn't make the wobble dissapear as I have read several cases on previous threads here. Seems most of time it is the neck needing grease or adjustment. It just seems that some have it and some don't no matter what year the bike is. I have been lucky so far none of my bikes have had it. Although I once had a front tire blow on me going downhill so that wobble and tank slapper was enough for me.

[Doubletap]

Though I've never experienced the wobble on my SEEG I have experienced something very similar on a Norton 750 many years ago. Scared the hell out of me but I managed to hold on. Being a bit of a dumba** every now and then, I've had this bike up to 120 a few times and over 100 several times with no problems. Scares me to think what might happen at that speed with a full on wobble. 

[05Train]

Sorry the new frame didn't make the wobble dissapear as I have read several cases on previous threads here. Seems most of time it is the neck needing grease or adjustment. It just seems that some have it and some don't no matter what year the bike is. I have been lucky so far none of my bikes have had it. Although I once had a front tire blow on me going downhill so that wobble and tank slapper was enough for me.

The new frame is better, but the underlying problem is still there.  The swing arm mounts to the transmission, which mounts to the engine, that's located by rubber engine mounts, and not enough of them.  Sportsters have the extra mount as Eric Buell intended, and they don't have the problem.  Tire pressure, tire wear, load, alignment, and steering head adjustment can all wreak havoc with handling as well, but the primary cause of the wobble is a lack of proper engine mounting.

[andpopse]

You should be gripping tank with knees and locking feet against pegs, and you should have a relaxed grip on the bars, period !.   This is the technique taught at california superbike school.   You should also countersteer positively into every corner and gradually apply throttle from apex.   This is how to ride a motor properly.    And yes it applies to all motorcycles.
However when riding cruisers etc. and not 'pressing on' then you can get away with 'lazy riding'.   I have spoken to lots of riders who have not even heard of countersteering which i find unbelieveable.

With a wobble from the front, rolling off the throttle will transfer weight to the very end of the bike with the problem.

I would reccommend that every motorcycle (not just sportbikes) rider reads 'twist of the wrist 2' by keith code.   This book will save your life.

I am not intending to start a debate, if you disagree then, just read the book and then disagree.  It's been proven over many years and Thousands of miles by Thousands of riders.

Andy P

[FLTRI]

You should be gripping tank with knees and locking feet against pegs, and you should have a relaxed grip on the bars, period !.   This is the technique taught at california superbike school.   You should also countersteer positively into every corner and gradually apply throttle from apex.   This is how to ride a motor properly.    And yes it applies to all motorcycles.
However when riding cruisers etc. and not 'pressing on' then you can get away with 'lazy riding'.   I have spoken to lots of riders who have not even heard of countersteering which i find unbelieveable.

With a wobble from the front, rolling off the throttle will transfer weight to the very end of the bike with the problem.

I would reccommend that every motorcycle (not just sportbikes) rider reads 'twist of the wrist 2' by keith code.   This book will save your life.

I am not intending to start a debate, if you disagree then, just read the book and then disagree.  It's been proven over many years and Thousands of miles by Thousands of riders.

Andy P

Andy,
Keith Code is a great guy and really knows how to teach riders how to do it right.
Street bikers usually find out they are clueless as to what to do about the time they really need the knowledge...too late.
I worked with Cal Superbike when we had an all Harley school @ Sonoma Raceway (Sears Point to the hard core).
There were 100+ riders and most all of them were clueless..with very little experience in emergency maneuvers.
Best money spent is in a high performance riding school...it WILL save your life!
Bob