High Speed shake

[macs406]

This my first post so here is my question. At about 70mph the handle bars get a little shimmy. It feels like the tire is bouncing of the road. It mostly under hard acceleration. I checked the air pressure, I am just wondering if maybe you can revalve the forks of maybe some one else has had this problem? The bike has 600 miles on it so I wouldnt think it would be from wear. Thanks in advance.

 

[Black Dawg]

My first thoughts are an out of round tire or wheel imbalance.

But you say it gets worse under hard acceleration. This would mean it was happening when the front end is being unloaded.

I'd try carefully jacking the bike up under the frame and check for any free play with the frame neck bearings (too tired to remember what this is called).

 

[macs406]

I have checked for play and it wasnt that. I have never hit any pot holes so maybe its out of balance. Is their some other way of balancing bike tires than weights?

 

[surferdude]

Do a search on this site for Dyna-Beads. It's dynamic balancing of the tires by inserting tinie tiny ceramic beads into the tires. Cost about $16 for both tires .... check out this link to one of the threads http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/how/2898-how-install-your-dyna-beads.html they work great.... :up:

 

[RRRUFF]

Yes! Check the important things first. Neck bearings and axle bolt torque.

 

[Gas Man]

I agree... if not in the neck... get the dyna beads.. install them and report back. You'll love them regardless.

 

[stlmikie]

I too have a high speed shake or more of a wobble. When I get it up around one hundred i get this wobble\. The first time I must admit that is made me a bit nervous but it dosn't wobble so bad that it will through me off . Just enough that a less experienced rider may balil or lose it even. Anyone else have this?

 

[Dawgboy]

I've had my bike up over 110 and its smooth as silk. If its shakin something is wrong...

 

[beezer]

RIDE ON LIQUID BALANCER AND SEALER WORKS GREAT--LET THE AIR OUT,SQUEEZE PROPER AMOUNT IN THROUGH THE VALVE STEM AND REFILL WITH AIR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-BEEZER-

 

[BBChopper]

RIDE ON LIQUID BALANCER AND SEALER WORKS GREAT--LET THE AIR OUT,SQUEEZE PROPER AMOUNT IN THROUGH THE VALVE STEM AND REFILL WITH AIR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-BEEZER-

Damn,
I too ride on Liquid Balancer!!! Shit is Awesome!!!!:2thumbs:
Here’s my brand,

Sorry dude, It's not me...... It's the balancer

 

[Black Dawg]

Be sure and post up what the problem is once you find out. Too many threads go dead and no one knows how it was fixed once the problem is taken care of.

 

[BigDogBro1]

If it's a high speed bar wobble - where the bike feels like it's snaking down the road, then it could be the fork neck bearings are worn or need to be re-torqued tighter. There is a method and spec for this process.

And yes it's scary when it happens. BDM says HSW is not a characteristic of any BDM model if mechanically correct.

I had mine neck bearings re-torqued at the 500 mile because I was getting it PER BDM. It's not gone but less effect. I would get it around an expressway turn and hit an expansion joint - wobble - wobble - and I would gently throttle down. Going to have them tightened more again at the 2500 mile check.

 

[PurpleDog]

I too get this wobble at around 70ish on expressway curves. At first I thought maybe it was just me but after about 4k miles I am fairly sure this wobble is not caused by my riding (in)experience. I've checked air pressure and experimented with air-ride pressure/height to no avail.

 

[jimizee028]

i also have this issue but i think its a direct result from the vibration of the solid mounted motor and Ohmster says could need resetting of fork-neck adjustment,and is kind enough to take the time to give my bike a ride out in STURGIS and give me his 2 cents if its just me or do i have issues with the bike........my friend has an 05 chop and his is alot more solid than mine

 

[BigDognSoCal]

At that speed I get a shake also, my gas tank will wobble and shake since its rubber mounted, the bike is usally at about 2700 rpm or so. It will go away as I hit 3000-3200rpm...To me it just seems like the bike isnt in its sweet spot...once I get the rpms up a little higher it will go away...

Dyna beads seem to have helped some too...:zz2cents:

 

[PurpleDog]

My bike acts as though it wants to stand back up straight then back down into my lean, (well act is an understatement I guess as it actually does start standing back up and I've got to push it back over). Best as I can do to describe it I guess other than to say it is a wobble/shake up/dwn/up/dwn type thing.

It doesn't do this most of the time but at certain speed/curves I can't hold the curve. Its not that I am trying something outside of its operating ability I don't think (hell I'd be scraping exhaust if that were the case ya know). I am usually forced to back off the throttle when I get into this condition.

Bearings shouldn't be an issue at 4200 miles though right? Tire pressure/condition is fine.

 

[dogvet]

i get this "play" in the front end also at high speeds and certain curves. i think its the neck cups/races that the bearings fit into. when i swapped my front end the cups/races and bearings just fell out. not tight fit at all. i think this looseness is a possible cause.

anyone else pull their front end and see this?

Your whole neck cups fell out? That ain't supposed to happen, those should be a pressed fit!

 

[dogvet]

Worn fork bushings could also cause front end problems. Pull your fork dust caps and check for leaks or excessive scoring on the fork tube forward side. the fork bushings are teflon coated, once that wears off, you'll start having metal to metal contact and wear. If your fork oil comes out black and sparkley like dirty primary oil, that's aluminum wear from your lower leg.

 

[jimizee028]

this is gonna sound dumb but as time goes by i think of everything logically that could be wrong with mine and try to take care of it and today i noticed that the belt was just way too tight,been that way outta the factory,so i loosened it a bit,what a difference my bike will now coast like forever and some of the vibration lessened,i actually felt the vibration in the rear wheel from spinning it while on a jack polishin the rear rim so as not to be shown off by RAYWOOD in STURGIS.........I AM HOPIN I AM TOLD BY OHMSTER THAT I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A LITTLE PLAY IN THE NECK AND GIVES ME THE REMEDY ON HOW TO FIX IT and then that cuts down on some more of the vibration.......pretty soon matbe i can be riding smooth as silk at 110 !!!!!
yeah right