Front end wobble at high speeds.

Muggs

Member
Just had my front end torn apart and chromed. The other day when I opened her up the bike seemed to have a front end wobble I hadn't noticed b4 at high speeds, 80+. I also had a new chrome wheel installed on the front. Any ideas on what the wobble could be?
 

slowrower

2007 Mastiff
Check the wheel

Get the front wheel off the ground and see if its out of round - this happened to my on a brand new PM wheel a while back. Also had this on a softtail and it was the neck bearings (loose).
 

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
The guys have gave you some good ideas.

1. I would ensure the wheel WAS balanced.
2. Neck bearings. Is the triple trees loose. The manual has a tolerance on how fast the front end flops to the side.
3. You said you have a new wheel installed. Did they cut the new spacers properly and did they pull the legs in tight against the spacers.
4. Put it on the lift and see if you can move the legs; up and down, and the wheel; side to side without moving the legs.

You should be able to run up over a hundred easily without wobble so when they changed the wheel they didn't do something right.

Good luck,
Ray
 

Vegas

Well-Known Member
Blitz I am interested in the bushings. I would like to raise my bars a little. Post a picture if you get a chance.
 

slowrower

2007 Mastiff
I have the Same Bike, I'm Just curious, Did They replace the Handle Bar Bushings when they Did the Front end? I had almost 2 Inches of Flex with the Rubber Bushings, I went to the Urethane (red) took a lot of Vibration and Wobble out, Bars actually stand Higher off the Tank too.
Blitz -- did BDM supply the bushings? I want to get a set which may help the vibrations making the mirrors all but useless (can't spot the heat). :)
 

Nomad2day

Longhair Redneck Geek
I have a 07 Bulldog and gets a wobble at higher speeds and if I am turning somewhat it is amplified or hit a dip. BDM corporate did some work on the bike a couple of months ago and said then the front end felt sloppy after riding it so they rebuilt the front end and replaced the neck bearings. Still does it though.??
It is in the shop again in Nashville due to the Clutch basket retaining nut backing off and hitting the primary cover eating it up. I plan to put the Dana Beads in the tires whenever I get it back and remove the weights.
Neil
 

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
Neil... what if all those problems get solved with the dyna beeds? Would be pretty cool right!!
 

05chop

Well-Known Member
Just had my front end torn apart and chromed. The other day when I opened her up the bike seemed to have a front end wobble I hadn't noticed b4 at high speeds, 80+. I also had a new chrome wheel installed on the front. Any ideas on what the wobble could be?
Muggs maybe someone here can tell us why from the factory that the fork bushings are sloppy?To check for this sit on bike grab front brake only and hold.Then push forward on the bars and check to see if you have any upper fork tube movement between the tube and the bushing.I have set on a few and they all seem to have alot of movement in the tube to bushing area.Maybe this could be a problem at high speeds? 05chop :rolleyes:
 

Nomad2day

Longhair Redneck Geek
GasMan,
Neil... what if all those problems get solved with the dyna beeds? Would be pretty cool right!!
Yes it would.
I have gotten the bike out of the shop just before Thanksgiving and cannot believe the ride. Dude, the clutch basket came out and hit the primary cover due to the mounting bolt loosening up. I tightened it back up and took it to the shop to let them redo it, clean the plates and torque it to spec's. They did a 5k service while they had it. The bike runs smooth as glass compared to what it did before. I can actually use the mirrors going down the interstate at 80 or 90. Could not see out of them before due to all the shaking. Was a loose clutch basket transmitting vibration all over the bike??? I do not know the answer but it is a different animal now.
I am going to put the beads in as soon as I can get to a air compressor but had to tell you this....
I logged a lot of the issues on the other site but made a decision to leave the problems there and not whine about my bike over here but enjoy the site.
Damn thing is doing pretty good now after all the work that has gone into it. To bad it is starting to get cold now but I ride it to work everyday unless it is raining.
Neil
 

BBChopper

Supports 2 Disabled Vets
Troop Supporter
GasMan,

Yes it would.
I have gotten the bike out of the shop just before Thanksgiving and cannot believe the ride. Dude, the clutch basket came out and hit the primary cover due to the mounting bolt loosening up. I tightened it back up and took it to the shop to let them redo it, clean the plates and torque it to spec's. They did a 5k service while they had it. The bike runs smooth as glass compared to what it did before. I can actually use the mirrors going down the interstate at 80 or 90. Could not see out of them before due to all the shaking. Was a loose clutch basket transmitting vibration all over the bike??? I do not know the answer but it is a different animal now.
I am going to put the beads in as soon as I can get to a air compressor but had to tell you this....
I logged a lot of the issues on the other site but made a decision to leave the problems there and not whine about my bike over here but enjoy the site.
Damn thing is doing pretty good now after all the work that has gone into it. To bad it is starting to get cold now but I ride it to work everyday unless it is raining.
Neil
Dude thats great, you were having so much trouble before!!!!:up:
 

skully

Active Member
Calendar Participant
DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THAT THE TIRE IS SEATED CORRECTLY ON THE RIM. YOU CAN ALSO ROTATE THE TIRE ON THE RIM BY 180 DEGREES. TO HELP GET RIDE OF SOME VIBRATIONS. I LEARNED THIS DURING MY 8 YEARS WITH A MAJOR TIRE CORP.
 

ezrstl

Member
Low tire pressure will cause these bikes to have a high speed wobble. Running low tire pressurelong enough will "cup" the front tire, this will also cause a high speed wobble. Check tire pressure - 40 to 42 psi up front. If that's good, check the tire for proper wear.
 

Dogdaz

Member
Wobble

Tire wear is the most common, neck bearing wear is second(bearings get small flat spots undetectable in swing the wheel side to side). Play in front end is third and Swing arm play is also a common cause of front end problems. If you remounted your front tire on the wheel make sure you have it going in the right direction.
 
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