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Author Topic: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?  (Read 2111 times)

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Offline ChopSticks

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What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« on: January 20, 2018, 08:20:19 PM »
My daily (Nightster) has been wobbling at high speeds on the highway lately and just wanted to know what I can troubleshoot. It's not little wobbles either, like some serious butt puckering welp this is it wobbling.
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Offline Steve_K

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Re: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2018, 07:14:00 PM »
Start by checking tire pressure and wheel bearings.  Be sure tires are in good condition.   Check head stock and swing arm bearings and bushings. Check that engine mounting bolts are tight.  Then get back to us. Steve
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2018, 07:40:03 PM »
USD fork conversion not living up to expectations?
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Offline MikeSimon

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Re: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2018, 05:10:10 AM »
USD conversion? How is the trail?
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Offline ChopSticks

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Re: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2018, 09:52:38 AM »
Quote from: Steve_K on January 21, 2018, 07:14:00 PM
Start by checking tire pressure and wheel bearings.  Be sure tires are in good condition.   Check head stock and swing arm bearings and bushings. Check that engine mounting bolts are tight.  Then get back to us. Steve

Thanks saw this reply a little late and it was really nice outside, so I troubled shooted a bit since the bike is almost completely stock and no new mods have been added BUT a new windshield, so I figured to take it off also checked the tire pressure, which was low 30-35 out of recommended 42. Which I had only done one of them instead of both to try to eliminate/pinpoint the issue. But definitely don't want to bring it back to the previous condition/setup because the wobbling was a pretty scary time.

Road yesterday, and will continue to monitor it at high speeds. In case I wanted to do a whole run through can you clarify "Check head stock and swing arm bearings and bushings." anyway to check these without pull the whole thing apart?


Quote from: seanbarney41 on January 21, 2018, 07:40:03 PM
USD fork conversion not living up to expectations?

Quote from: MikeSimon on January 22, 2018, 05:10:10 AM
USD conversion? How is the trail?

Not sure what this means, can you expand? The bike has the stock USD fork set up with stock trail to my knowledge.
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Re: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2018, 02:28:37 PM »
Tire pressure and balance could cause it.  The more usual culprits are wheel bearings, headstock bearings or swingarm bushings. I've also had tire pattern cause a wobble on grooved highway surfaces.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2018, 03:50:39 PM »
Quote from: ChopSticks on January 22, 2018, 09:52:38 AM
Quote from: Steve_K on January 21, 2018, 07:14:00 PM
Start by checking tire pressure and wheel bearings.  Be sure tires are in good condition.   Check head stock and swing arm bearings and bushings. Check that engine mounting bolts are tight.  Then get back to us. Steve

 BUT a new windshield...


My brother installed a small fairing on his Yamaha 1100 and it caused high speed wobbles in the turns [and I would pass him!]

Told him to take off that POS...
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Offline AndyH

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Re: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2018, 01:54:42 AM »
Front wheel/tyre (sorry...tire  :P ) balance?

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Offline strynboen

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Re: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2018, 02:38:24 AM »
my cbx had some small problems ,,use a vindshield..
.not direkt wobbel..more a Loose of  feel of the stering..but only over 160 kmt-100 mph..vitaut the vind shield it vas stabile all the vay op..
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Offline Don R

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Re: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2018, 09:41:50 AM »
 I'm thinking I read some of the V twin wobblies were caused by the soft motor mount system letting the engine weight flop around in the frame. I think a bunch of Police bikes had this trouble too. There was a recall or at least a revised motor mount fix. I'm thinking youtube had a video of that issue. Not sure if it's the same thing as yours.

 Edit, videos show spoke problems, bent rims, and dry/failing rear wheel bearings as possibilities.
« Last Edit: January 23, 2018, 12:10:33 PM by Don R »
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Offline tbpmusic

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Re: What are some causes of high speed wobbling?
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2018, 02:29:57 PM »
Put your bike on center stand.
Grab the rear wheel and pull/push side to side - hard!!
If it moves sideways at all, the swingarm bushings are bad.
If it moves a lot, you're going to die soon...........
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