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I wouldn't call it wobble, but.... Would like some inputs

4K views 29 replies 18 participants last post by  Harley Shadow 
#1 ·
Hey guys,

SO, I traded my FatboyLo for a RG last week.

Twice now on the freeway, and only at higher speeds the bike seems to "shimmy". I have felt/seen what I would call "death wobble" and this isn't it... It feels more like the bike is wiggling through turbulence.

Is this the normal feel for a RG at speed? (75-90 with headwind) Or should I be adjusting/checking something?

Thanks in Advance!

M
 
#2 ·
I only notice it when coming up on large vehicles at freeway speed. Doesn't bother me any more. I came from a Heritage....and never really noticed this on that bike. Of course with a different bike you notice every little thing.
 
#3 ·
Jim,

Yeah, same here... I would get a little turbulence if I was right behind a semi on the Fatboy, but this was a bit more pronounced I am assuming due to the fairing being frame-mounted.

I am curious as I don't want to ignore a real issue, and have it turn into a tank-slapper type event. :eek:

Again, I was doing 75-90 and there was about a 30MPH wind in my face... coming home was butter. :cool:
 
#6 ·
Same thing here. Mine started at about 60 - 65 mph. Had the steering head bearings check, (fall away test) the dealer adjusted but I don't know to what. Thing are better but not great. Still have the feeling of riding on metal bridge decking or riding on grooved pavement at 70+ mph. Planning on taking it back in to the dealer shortly and have them take a second look.
 
#7 ·
I got the same thing on my RG ultra. When I first got it I thought the thing was going to kill me. I came off of a softail standard with a 200 rear tire. that thing was solid in any weather or conditions. Here is what I have learned in the last 6 months... 1 -It is part of the bike. 2 - when I have a passenger it doesnt happen much. 3 - if I add weight to the back without a passenger it does happen. My conclusion is this - It is a combo of the fairing catching air, wiggling the front which will give a feeling in the rear. along with the passenger back rest catch a ton of air in the half round parachute back there wiggling the rear end. How do I fix it you ask???? Hit the throttle baby!!!!
 
#8 ·
I posted in the above linked thread. I found mine to be more of a road surface/ condition problem than anything else. The only time I have ever felt the above described issue was on a specific stretch of interstate here locally. I haven't felt it on any other road doing the same speed.
 
#9 ·
well, I am far from a conclusion, but I appreciate the fact that I am not alone.

I will check the swingarm bolts this afternoon (start simple).

This was my first time to feel it, and the highway was very crowded. I was 2-up (taking my daughter to volleyball practice). I didn't feel it was life-threatening, but I also wasn't sure which way to go throttle-wise (gun it or back off, or hold steady) and I bluntly wasn't going to find out with my baby-girl on board. I will go beat it up this week solo and see what else I can figure out.

I am fairly sure it wasn't surface-related, as it seemed to be directly linked to semis and cars in front/around me. I struggle with believing this is a standard feeling, as everyone here swears "nothing rides like a glide" etc... and this is why I bought the darn thing! :D
 
#10 · (Edited)
IT AIN'T the BIKE it's the tires. (at least on the 09 CVO)

I know we have all beat this subject to death but............ I never had the "wobble" on my bike on the first set of tires, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT for reasons I will not waste your time on here that in early 2009 (I took delivery in Sept 08) Dunlop at the motor company's insistance reversed the tread pattern on the front tire, I believe as the front tire wears it cups and as a result comes the "wobble", I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES ON THE FIRST SET OF TIRES. I have looked and no one that I can find makes a tire to fit the 09 CVO, if there was I would DUMP the Dunlops in a heart beat. If you don't believe me, if you go to Sturgis just visit Dunlop booth and bring up this subject, trust me, you will be able to hear a pin drop,
 
#12 ·
I had the same problem at 65-80 mph, so I looked in the shop manual for a solution. It says that the appropriate swing of the handle-bars on the road glide is left-right-left when the bike is on the lift. But when I put mine on the lift and pulled the bars all the way to the stop, it would swing left-right-left-right-left. So I took it to the dealer and told them to tighten the steering bolt until the handle bar swing complied with the shop manual. Now I have no more wobble problems at all.
 
#13 ·
No wobble is normal! Don't except less. Yes the bike will move a little from large truck wash, but don't think any type of wobble is normal. Little wobble will lead to a larger one over time. Ask me how? I totaled my RK a few years back thinking it would not get worse. The cause of mine was a bad rear tire. Be happy to tell you what brand if interested.
 
#15 ·
Check the torque on you swing arm nuts. I went 3/4 round on one side and 1/2 round on the other to get mine torqued to specs.

But like you said it feels loose under you.
 
#19 ·
how much crap do I have to pull off to get to my swing arm bolts?
They are under the plastic caps by the passenger pegs. The caps are about the size of a 50 cent coin. I believe torque spec is 70-80 ft/lbs, but verify before hand as I'm going off memory.
 
#18 ·
Here is my two cents, which might really only be worth one cent. Seems like guys that came off of bikes without fairings are noticing a wobble / shimmy on a bike with a fairing. Having owned a Sportster, Fatboy and pro street chopper the rider takes the brunt of the wind when riding at highway speeds, which makes it somewhat difficult if not impossible to "tour" on these bikes. Having owned an Electra Glide and now a RGU, which in my opinion is the best touring / highway bike so far, one aspect that makes the glides better touring bikes is that they "take" the brunt of the wind as opposed to the rider. And on a side note the RGU is a lot more stable bike than the hanldebar mounted fairing of an Electra Glide. With the bike taking the brunt of the wind, couldn't that be what you are feeling? Try this when you feel the shimmy / wobble, turn around and ride in the opposite direction and see if you feel the same thing. Sure it could be something mechanical, but every time I have felt the wobble / shimmy on my RGU it has been because of wind turbulence or road condition.
 
#24 ·
I think you could be right, and that is why I am not ringing an alarm bell over the "shimmy" that I felt. I am very open to the idea that it is simply a characteristic of the bike.

Shoot, I have only been riding for 2 years... I remember my first time to ride in high sidewinds (40-50mph gusts), I thought I was going to be blown off the road. Now I just surf the wind :)

Thanks for your thoughts.. here is your .02 :)
 
#21 ·
I can recall riding home from the dealer and feeling this issue. A bit of research reveals that the tires on the sw RGU utilizes different construction for the tires (different density/durometer in the center). But...at the end of the day I think the RGU is a reactive bike and as your familiarity grow so to shall your control of the bike on various surface/conditions. Now, after about 3k on my new RGU I the "wiggle" isn't even noticeable and dam, this bike handles sweet!


Sent from my iPhone using MO Free
 
#22 ·
I had the same feeling at highway speeds above 70mph on my 2011 RGC. Read all the threads and discovered that my rear shocks had zero air. The rear shocks now have about 16psi, and I haven't had an issue. Getting ready to do the mono-tubes, and possibly 940's in the rear, hoping it eliminates any future handling issues.
 
#29 ·
Google the words (Harley Death Wobble). For those of you who have not been following this issue closely, you will be amazed at what you will learn. This issue really does exist in older bikes as well as newer ones. People have died and also been injured. The MOCO has been sued repeatedly, but nothing has changed in the last 3 years. The last major design change in the frame occurred in the 2009 model year. One can only hope. In the meantimem be aware of the problem and try not to put yourself at risk.
 
#30 ·
Made another appointment around the end of the month at the dealer to have them check out the high speed wiggle. Got the service shop boss to commit to taking it out for a test ride. Going to try and get out this weekend and try to identify the various types of driving conditions & situations when it happens. Had an '07 ultra classic prior and got buffering but this is different. Only have about 5K on the tires. Just have to wait and see what the dealer says.
 
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