Very informative video. Obviously a very low mileage bike, it was really clean when he started.

 

Watched that video yesterday and my kit is now on the way. I also ordered the cush dampener too. In the garage waiting is the missing link so I really hope to eliminate/prevent any wobble.

 

The stars lead the way

 

I just changed my rear tire today, my bushings are good and my cush drive is excellent. I have the Alloy Art cush drive in my 17 and 10. My 22 is doing just fine. 34k now, I’ll consider all of this on my next tire change in a few months.

 

What do you use to make sure the drive belt is set to the proper tension? I was thinking about doing the cush and the bushings as well but I've got a mental block about taking the back end apart. About the same level of fear when it comes to pulling the front forks off and redoing suspension.

 

There’s a tool to check your belt tension, it’s easy to use and not expensive. I actually keep mine in my saddlebag.

 

I didn't watch all of it, but it seems like another guy declaring every <x part on a Harley> is bad and dangerous, so you need to buy the thing I'm selling.

Kinda like that video where the guy said every single harley is out of alignment. Yeah right.

I personally have never experienced a death wobble on my 2020 (or my 2018, or my 2017, or my 2013, or my 12 road king, or....or....or...). I'm not a particularly aggressive rider but I have been on long sweepers upwards of 90 and no issue.

 

Well, he is not selling the parts or sponsored just looking for a fix that seems to be more prevalent than not. It's not even "death wobble" but the slight gyration feeling from long high speed turns that I want to try and eliminate and/or avoid from happening. I am not an engineer or mechanical in any shape at all, but the explanation for swing arm bolts causing some gyration/wobble is very convincing to me. It actually makes a ton of sense and I don't understand why Harley does not do this from the factory. It's just $65 for the bushings and like $30 for the cush dampener so I figured I learn how to take it all apart and put it back together.

 

If you want to enjoy your bike and save money, stay off the internet.

 

It's just like WebMd, you can start looking at it feeling healthy as a horse and end up in the hospital if you aren't careful. The internet will do one of two things, spending money you don't need to or selling your Harley because it's too dangerous.

 

As some of you know call it what ever you want at 55MPH a demon came to life in my 2017.
Witness to speed and what happen right behind me. Bike had been in for a look over not long before.
Only had 40K on it. Some dam good tech's went over every inch of what was left came up with nothing.

 

Some dam good tech's went over every inch of what was left came up with nothing.

And that is what's freakish and spooky.

 

I think the "upgrades" are real to an extent. BUT, it has to align to your priorities.

Harley, (and every other manufacturer) is balancing cost, EPA, mileage, comfort, usability, etc. So, they compromise a bit on just about everything.

In this case - polyurethane or more specifically "graphite impregnated polyurethane" bushings have been big thing in car suspensions. I've changed out bushings on 5 or 6 of my cars and replaced stock rubber bushings with these. Were they better? Not for comfort. That's for sure. Road vibration and "feel" was much higher....I was going for improved handling AT THE EXPENSE of comfort.

I know Harley uses rubber to help isolate vibration. Rubber is going to have more play (thus the isolation) than a polyurethane bushing. So, it depends on whether or not you value handling or comfort.

And, while the cost may seem insignificant on a single bike (or car) once you multiply it by all the bikes produced, it gets expensive. Ford sells ~700k F series trucks every year. If they have a part that costs only $1 dollar more, it's nearly 3/4 of a million dollar hit.

I recently bought a BMW with the B58 engine (3.0l turbo). From the factory, it has 375hp and 375ft/lbs. There are five or six chips you can buy that will add 50 to each of those figures in about 5 mins. And, if you tune AND replace the restrictive downpipe you can easily get 500hp at the wheel.

BMW knows this. They could easily do this. I don't think it even compromises longevity. But, they'd never get the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) they need and may not pass emissions in places like CA. Neither of those two things are important to me....but, they are critical to the company.

Harley is sort of the same. They compromise to meet objectives that differ from mine. I didn't realize that was going to be $10k + different....but, here we are. I've replaced a ton of stuff. Some was worth it, others not so much.

But, the "tinkering" is part of the hobby for me.

My approach from this point forward is: I will upgrade as I need to replace. So, when parts start to fail, I will look at the best option even it's more money. At that point, I need to spend some to get back on the road anyway, the decision is then only about the incremental. (which usually isn't terrible).

 

If anyone remembers the video of the Harley running from LE in AK. Awhile back. He was a several points about to go from the wobble. While at high speed he was not going that fast and the wobble was there at moderate speed. You can can it easy.
Mine was so violent in a split second it was going down and in a couple seconds on the ground.
Good friend of mine was right behind me. just getting ready to slow for a left turn. At 55 mph speed limit.
I tried to find a defect it was not there.