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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Anybody hear of this? BTW, it only happens when HD riders get behind the "wheel" of their bikes. Don't do it.
http://www.kpho.com/story/14896060/some-harley-motorcycles-plagued-... |
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | Sensationalist crap. Yes the FLs would wag their tails at high speed, but not below about 75, and the issue was addressed with the updated touring frames in the mid 2000's. there are several companies making eliminating kits |
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Cruiser
Posts: 66
Delray Beach, FL United States | Just another good reason to own a Victory ! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 106
Clinton, CT | I agree that the story was a bit sensationalized but I can say from personal experience that if the head bearings aren't torqued per spec they will wobble...
On decel and about 40-50 MPH, my Fatboy would shake like a Chihuahua shitting a peach pit; tighten the bearings and all fixed. My Electraglide would do the same but at highway speeds. Never a full-blown tank slapper but more than enough to scare the daylights outta me.
/r
Allen |
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Tourer
Posts: 324
New Orleans, La, | ssI know of a couple HD owner/riders that mentioned the Death Wooble and one that was in a serious accident as the result of same. Kawasaki 1969-77 triples suffered from a death wooble attributed to the steering head geometry. I agree that unmaintained steering head bearings can cause it ,ut also swingarm bushings along with misaligned frames. HD siad it was because the mounted the engine solidly and that maybe partially true. Most companies, especially if the engine is a stressed member of the chassis, are solid mounted without the accompanying death wooble associated with their products. But it's HD, go figure. |
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Tourer
Posts: 599
New Mexico | Yes, I've heard of it. My brother was about to buy a Harley 'Switchback', and found this issue well 'documented' on HD forums. He ended up with a 1300 V-Star and is very happy with it.
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | I've heard of it, but not at low speeds with the Harleys. I've witnessed high speed wobbles several times, but they are caused by aerodynamics and fork mounted fairings or windshields.
I had a Yamaha that would wobble over about 95-100 MPH. I eventually figured out that the windshield was causing it (took it off and no more wobble).
The older Goldwings were famous for low speed wobbles if you let go of the handlebars at about 40 MPH. They would also wallow in turns like a pig in mud (the GL1800's eliminated that).
It ain't just Harleys.
Ronnie |
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Visionary
Posts: 1340
Gainesville Fl Home of the Gators | Issue would not happen to the switch back, and stems from solid mounting a swing arm mount to a rubber mounter driveline. That system was abandoned at least 5 years ago. That is why they show an 03 badge in the picture. Head bearings are a different thing all together, and a mannor of owner maintenance |
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | It may be "owner maintenance" but I bought a low mileage 2011 FLTRU and experienced the beginnings of a death wobble at 35 to 40 MPH. The bike was still under warranty and the dealer got rid of the issue by tightening the steering head. A new bike with less than 4000 miles on it and less than 6 months old should not be the subject of any "owner maintenance" issue. A new bike should work as set up. It had not even reached its first service interval, those routine services always got done by the dealer when I arrived at the prescribed intervals. I am no wrench but a death wobble is something even I can recognize. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 106
Clinton, CT | kevinx - 2013-09-01 2:56 PM
Issue would not happen to the switch back, and stems from solid mounting a swing arm mount to a rubber mounter driveline. That system was abandoned at least 5 years ago. That is why they show an 03 badge in the picture. Head bearings are a different thing all together, and a mannor of owner maintenance
I agree with you that many of the issues are "owner maintenance". The problem is too few owners know what that means.
In their ignorance and neglect, some wind up losing control and eating an asphalt sammich...
With that said, I still think that the older HD touring frames were trouble at speed and I rode one for quite a while- I just knew what to expect. Don't know enough about the newer frames to have an opinion but they have to be an improvement. This is just one of many reasons I bought a Vision instead of a Road Glide or EGlide Ultra...
/r
Allen |
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HD Death Wobble