Front Wheel Wobble

hey boys did you guys notice its a rubber mount motor . what happens when you un spring the swing arm and then re install the new tire and ya got bad rear mounts on a rubber mounted motor! and the bike has a short wheel base . that bike is now out off alighnment ! that is if he has a bad mount you can shift the motor around on a rubber mounted bike and watch the rear tire swing from left to right it can cause all kinds of vibes and hops on the bike.

started out interesting
should would like to find out the cause of it

Hey fellas, have not had the chance to have it looked at again. I appreciate all the info, I did put more air in the front tire and rode home pretty hard after work yesterday and only noticed a slight wobble. It was windy out and was paranoid about it but I don't believe it was as bad. I put 40 psi in the front and left the rear at 40, will add 2 or 3 more psi to the back and ride this weekend.

H


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Put air in your tires only when cold. I don't think air pressure is the problem.

Hello all, finally had some extra cash to have my bike looked at and try to figure out this wobble. The two fellas who run the shop both took it out for a ride to feel out the wobble for themselves. It wobbled more for the lighter of the two guys and both felt the front end itself was fine. They both felt that with my springer seat, sitting higher and farther back on the bike I might be creating the wobble thru drag. Also with my weight being farther back at higher speeds I might being helping the lighter FXD front end to become lighter with the drag I am creating. We decided to put a different seat on and lower us on the bike, we all rode it and not much change. Next we put on some 10.5 inch shocks to lower it and see what that does. I liked the lowered look and we all rode it and the wobble went away. So we we put on some 11" shocks he had on another bike and rode it again and there was no wobble. So we put my springer seat back on and I rode it again and the bike was fine. We ended up trading shocks straight up and I just paid for labor. The bike rides great with the shocks we put on and I have to get use to the new height as I scrapped the muffler bracket several times on the ride I took after I left the shop. Thanks for all your input with helping to figure this out.

H


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Pay close attention to this wobble. It might not be gone.

Check the cinch bolts and ck the front wheel bearings.

Got a buddy that has his bike lowered and he went into a high speed wobble .
And like baggerPaul said check the motor mounts if its rubber mounted.

Will do, going for a ride in the morning and will stop by the shop and let him do it.

H


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I had them check the front tire yesterday, it was all good. Bike rode well yesterday so I will keep an eye on it and stay away from the big Berthas.

H


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I have always thought that bagger (or any other bike) high speed front end wobble is sometimes caused by too much weight over or behind the rear axle, as with riding with a passenger & loaded down bags & trunks, and the things that HRK brought up, thus causing the front end to run "lighter" at higher speeds.

Ordinarily you would be correct Josh, but in the case of H-D touring bikes, it's just the opposite.

The frames and components were designed to carry heavy loads as well as a passenger. Also, the front-end rake and trail geometry is different then all the other H-D models. Because of these design features, they are actually better balanced with this load, even at higher speeds.

H-D did extensive testing for over 5 years before they changed the FL frame in '09, with '08 FL's being a transitional year where the steel tubing material and wall thickness was beefed-up in getting ready for '09. I know, boring, but important little facts.

Most people never see (or know about) any of the subtle changes that take place EVERY year. People think H-D's never change because H-D goes to extraordinary lengths to make improvements look "invisible". Other mfr's do just the opposite, purposely making changes "obvious" to make the bike look new each year.

You are never boring, Alex. That's good to know about HD.

Thanks Josh. I know you love bobbers and maybe don't care to travel long distances on a bike, but some little things really enhance the experience of 2 wheels going down the highway.

Motorcycles have practically been my vocation for 45 years, and I haven't forgotten the feeling of riding "naked" with the wind in my face. Sorry if I irritate folks with my long-winded opinions.

45 years of experience to me is not long winded opinions! It certainly is the little things that make for a good running bike, as I've learned here on Bike Talk.

i hear tell of a vendor there that is pushing 100 oz. sodas...maybe you have to eat your veggies first.

Nothing human could possibly drink that much pop.

Sadly true. But it's not just us that's getting heavier. Stats show that the whole (industrialized) world is getting heavier. Don't know if it's our Western influence on them (hamburgers, etc.) or just the fact they are getting richer and can afford to buy food now.

Not so ironically, all of H-D's models are 50+ lbs. heavier than 1980's. Presumably, heavier components to carry heavier loads. Just look at the clientele you see at bike rallies. Not bragging, but I still weigh the same as I did in 1980.