I used to get these on my old honda. They are scary! I just acted instinctively and let off the throttle and let the bike sort itself out. All that can be done really.
Ive been riding on and off for over 30 years never had this problem,of course if you dont maintain your bike stuff happens.Imo your run over a ruff strectch of road you freak and change your grip, decelerate keep cool dont fool with the brakes!Whens the last time you checked your tire i dont mien kick um and fly otta the garage.Maintain the beast and she will be good for ya on the road.Want wobble go across a steel grate bridge.Be safe out there as they say pilot error is preventable.
have u done any mx or tt riding?? If not u need to get on a dirt bike and experience that before all u yuppes get on the street or bolt on training wheels first!!!!
Happened to me yesterday. HD shovel Paughco springer with 16" front wheel. Wavering started at 70 mph. At 75 got violent, Scary like the devil trying to shake you off! Front brake aggravated it. Rear brake hard, regained control. Whole process took about 2 to 3 seconds. Two more shakes, I would have lost it. Never heard of it in motorcycle safety training course. HD service man said bring in for spin balance, and check the neck bearings. Pass it on to all riders!
Steering dampers are great for helping prevent that wobble. It's instability occurs mostly at high speed and is a rapid (4–10 Hz) oscillation of primarily just the front end (front wheel, fork, and handlebars).While wobble or shimmy can be easily remedied by adjusting speed, position, or grip on the handlebar, it can be fatal if left uncontrolled.
@TheTacticalBarrage The oscillation frequency can be changed by changing the forward speed, making the bike stiffer or lighter, or increasing the stiffness of the steering, of which the rider is a main component.Bicycling Science (Second ed.). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. pp. 198–233. ISBN 0-262-23111-5.
PSS...check front fork oil..[even oil air ect]..you know what i mean and also if your swingarm bearings OR bushes are getting old and loose this well do it to ya and EVEN handel bar bushs that are worn...there are many things that may start to wobble but its just a case....been there done that mainly when coming out of a high speed corner...again just relax arms and shift weight use back brake and when ya got it controled ring mum and tell her shes got some dirty underwear to wash
Ok bro..i ran a 81 sportster with front end exstended 6in [forks] and death wobbles happens at high and low speeds so i put a fork brace at the bottom of the inserts and yeah it fixed it...yeah i know thats with exstended forks but what i found if your to far back and arms ridegt then it will happen also so shift your weight and relax with arms...best way to try it....ride a pushbike with straight arms...other wise...steering damper...cheers..PS...STAY UPRIGHT GUYS AND GALS
The bike i rode that was even legendary for this was a 70's 750 two stroke triple kawasaki. It gave one hell of a tank slapper between 110-120 mph.They also wheelied very easily.As a lot of people died on them some insurance companies in the UK wouldn't even insure Kawasakis from the late 70s till early 80s. Quite rare to see one now so worth a lot of money
All the "glides" do this in corners. I know 2 people that have gone down because of this. First gen Softtails did this BAD. The ONLY thing I know of that fix this is the True Track Stabilizer. It happens to me in corners at high speed. Only way to stop it is to nail it and ride the fuck out of it. This is with the rear end. as far as front end tank slappers, steering dampner. Also used and even brand new bikes to "The Frameman" in Sac, CA even new frames are not straight. Or get a FXR!
All of the comments are good solutions for high speed wobble. However, it can occur on "ANY" motorcycle. There are several factors that may contribute to wobble; tire wear; road conditions, engine alignment; driver skills level. But the most logical one I can think of is high speed; a cruiser is not designed to blast through corers, or curves like a speed bike, or handle high speed accelleration. It's not a Harley thing like it the article claims.
This is called a tankslapper and usually happens when accelerating hard over bumpy pavement, or sometimes after doing a wheelie. The front tire becomes airborne, then regains traction with the pavement outside the rear tire's alignment. The resulting deflection bounces the tire off to one side, followed by another bounce in the opposite direction as it contacts the pavement again. Keep a loose grip on the bars. Shift your weight forward putting more weight on the front tire, and ride it out.
@p0kerp1aya This is easier said than done. The important thing is to relax, dont panic, slow down, shift your weight forward, and stay loosy goosy on the bars. If you try to fight the movment of the bars by becoming a human steering damper, your only going to make things worse.
I suppose that the force of the pistons could cause a bad vibration given the right conditions, but there are other factors that can cause a wobble to. So its not out of the question.
I used to get these on my old honda. They are scary! I just acted instinctively and let off the throttle and let the bike sort itself out. All that can be done really.
Jswiss35 1 week ago
Ive been riding on and off for over 30 years never had this problem,of course if you dont maintain your bike stuff happens.Imo your run over a ruff strectch of road you freak and change your grip, decelerate keep cool dont fool with the brakes!Whens the last time you checked your tire i dont mien kick um and fly otta the garage.Maintain the beast and she will be good for ya on the road.Want wobble go across a steel grate bridge.Be safe out there as they say pilot error is preventable.
harley50glide 1 week ago
have u done any mx or tt riding?? If not u need to get on a dirt bike and experience that before all u yuppes get on the street or bolt on training wheels first!!!!
rrc1085 2 months ago
Happened to me yesterday. HD shovel Paughco springer with 16" front wheel. Wavering started at 70 mph. At 75 got violent, Scary like the devil trying to shake you off! Front brake aggravated it. Rear brake hard, regained control. Whole process took about 2 to 3 seconds. Two more shakes, I would have lost it. Never heard of it in motorcycle safety training course. HD service man said bring in for spin balance, and check the neck bearings. Pass it on to all riders!
baddog2855 2 months ago
Steering dampers are great for helping prevent that wobble. It's instability occurs mostly at high speed and is a rapid (4–10 Hz) oscillation of primarily just the front end (front wheel, fork, and handlebars).While wobble or shimmy can be easily remedied by adjusting speed, position, or grip on the handlebar, it can be fatal if left uncontrolled.
TheTacticalBarrage 2 months ago
@TheTacticalBarrage The oscillation frequency can be changed by changing the forward speed, making the bike stiffer or lighter, or increasing the stiffness of the steering, of which the rider is a main component.Bicycling Science (Second ed.). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. pp. 198–233. ISBN 0-262-23111-5.
TheTacticalBarrage 2 months ago
PSS...check front fork oil..[even oil air ect]..you know what i mean and also if your swingarm bearings OR bushes are getting old and loose this well do it to ya and EVEN handel bar bushs that are worn...there are many things that may start to wobble but its just a case....been there done that mainly when coming out of a high speed corner...again just relax arms and shift weight use back brake and when ya got it controled ring mum and tell her shes got some dirty underwear to wash
Hamma1340 3 months ago
Ok bro..i ran a 81 sportster with front end exstended 6in [forks] and death wobbles happens at high and low speeds so i put a fork brace at the bottom of the inserts and yeah it fixed it...yeah i know thats with exstended forks but what i found if your to far back and arms ridegt then it will happen also so shift your weight and relax with arms...best way to try it....ride a pushbike with straight arms...other wise...steering damper...cheers..PS...STAY UPRIGHT GUYS AND GALS
Hamma1340 3 months ago
i had it happen to me years ago on a yamaha 550 at about 95 mph,dont know why it happen and has never happen since,just held on and slowed down
jwajrss 4 months ago
Never heard of the death wobble. I have two HD's.
TruckingBiker1967 4 months ago
The bike i rode that was even legendary for this was a 70's 750 two stroke triple kawasaki. It gave one hell of a tank slapper between 110-120 mph.They also wheelied very easily.As a lot of people died on them some insurance companies in the UK wouldn't even insure Kawasakis from the late 70s till early 80s. Quite rare to see one now so worth a lot of money
TheBusterRides 6 months ago
All the "glides" do this in corners. I know 2 people that have gone down because of this. First gen Softtails did this BAD. The ONLY thing I know of that fix this is the True Track Stabilizer. It happens to me in corners at high speed. Only way to stop it is to nail it and ride the fuck out of it. This is with the rear end. as far as front end tank slappers, steering dampner. Also used and even brand new bikes to "The Frameman" in Sac, CA even new frames are not straight. Or get a FXR!
ooUlatecoo 7 months ago
I have 2 hd's a v rod and a 90 glide and never had a problem like that!!!!
711krazy85143 7 months ago
Contact me and I'll explain this to you.
jimmcmahon351 8 months ago
All of the comments are good solutions for high speed wobble. However, it can occur on "ANY" motorcycle. There are several factors that may contribute to wobble; tire wear; road conditions, engine alignment; driver skills level. But the most logical one I can think of is high speed; a cruiser is not designed to blast through corers, or curves like a speed bike, or handle high speed accelleration. It's not a Harley thing like it the article claims.
rdyfwd 8 months ago
@rdyfwd it's somewhat common on harleys. two of my buddies had loose steering nuts from the factory.
mad8vskillz 8 months ago
This is called a tankslapper and usually happens when accelerating hard over bumpy pavement, or sometimes after doing a wheelie. The front tire becomes airborne, then regains traction with the pavement outside the rear tire's alignment. The resulting deflection bounces the tire off to one side, followed by another bounce in the opposite direction as it contacts the pavement again. Keep a loose grip on the bars. Shift your weight forward putting more weight on the front tire, and ride it out.
p0kerp1aya 9 months ago 4
@p0kerp1aya This is easier said than done. The important thing is to relax, dont panic, slow down, shift your weight forward, and stay loosy goosy on the bars. If you try to fight the movment of the bars by becoming a human steering damper, your only going to make things worse.
p0kerp1aya 9 months ago
@p0kerp1aya LOOSY GOOSY...i like that...and id just applie back brake and sit and shit till the bitch sees it your way
Hamma1340 3 months ago
@p0kerp1aya
Thanks for the input, very informative! :)
bykerwolf 9 months ago
I suppose that the force of the pistons could cause a bad vibration given the right conditions, but there are other factors that can cause a wobble to. So its not out of the question.
Shizukadude 9 months ago