OK, I see Slim went with bronze bushings, Buddy is running the spherical bearing kit, Graham has mentioned the Sta-Bo once or twice and a good many like the tru-track or similar.

I replaced the swingarm back in 92 and it came with new clevblocs installed and I replaced the isolators and I'm sure they were the newer style. It's getting a little squirrely even on a straight road lately and I'm not looking to add any hardware to bolt the trans to the frame, but I am leaning toward simply using the nylon or urethane bushings similar to StaBo and I don't remember any posts from guys who have actually used them.

What y'all think?

 

Rufus,
You have mail!

 

Rufus We're not talking squirrely like in 714's ! I hope not I never new HD changed the orig clevblocks? But at this point I'd go for the new set up like Delrin bushings or Rivera Primo's so called " the stiffey " sounds like Viagara for the rubber mounted motors! Will you do a True- Track or the less expensive Progressive Suspension ?

 

I did the swingarm bushings about 80,000 miles ago and still not sure they're bad... I think I was having a bad day in a cross breeze and yea, it was about like 20 minutes into 714 land. Somehow my tire has 10,000 on it since Christmas 'fore last. I don't know how that's happened cause I've not been more than 50 miles out of the county all last year. But it was good today in the mountains and the roads were rough from a cold winter - no problems. I won't do anything till tire time, but about decided the spherical bearings are what I'd go with. Talked to a guy who assembles at the dealer here and he said it was a world of difference riding the bearing vs the rubber types and he's ridden both when they were fresh out of the box...

Maybe I'll find some biker chick, give her a 714, take a viagra for myself, and just ride bitch a while

 

With a little advance notice, We'll meet and go together!!

 

I'm not touching this one but I hope the girls are included !!! There should be a big grin here but I'm computer un -savvy

 

I fitted a sperical bearing kit to my old 88 FXRS early last year for the same reasons you mention didnt actually fix my problem , i later found out it was the spoked wheels that were the problem , check the spoke tighteness .i also run Metzler 880 tires front and rear
the sperical bearings did help though , now the bike goes around corners like it's on rails
Bernie

 

I'd be interested in hearing about any changes anyone has made to the FXR swingarm since I know at some point I'll have to finally get a new belt and will do something with the swingarm at that point. I've read where some claim the urethane bushings increase vibration. The bearings sound good to me, but why wouldn't they increase vibration also?

 

mp,

The CCE kit might transmit some vibration just a bit, but not that noticable on mine. I'll take the better tracking and no sway to a little more vibration any day. I'm also running Kuryakin ISO footpegs and grips that may be helping a bit. Can't comment on the Sta-Bo or knock off nylon kits being sold. My Bro who has wrenched on HD's for over 30 years has the CCE kit is his 1982 FLT with over 200K. No problems after 100K when he installed his CCE kit. It's still as tight as the day it was installed and he rebuilds his engine before the swingarm. He told me that we needed it for mine while doing the rebuild I had the cash, so we did it.

Been to 120mph for a stretch running an Avon Venom 140 on the rear and a Venom 90/100 on the front. The bike is as solid as a rock and runs like it's on rails. BTW, that was before upshifting the Baker 6 speed out of 4th.

 

I've recently removed the spherical bearings from a 2007 swingarm, to adapt it to fit my 1990 bike. The sphericals should certainly be superior to the old cleve blocks, but will not cure the lack of a rear stabilizer link on the bike.

All rubber mount Harleys have two stabilizers (except Dynas), one between the heads (latest models in front) and one at the front of the motor. Recent Sportsters and all Buells have a third at the gearbox. It ain't cheap, but it is certainly simple to fit any one of the stabilizer kits to put that right. That way a dresser can have the same set-up as a Buell! Now ain't that just good sense?!

IMHO only after that is put right can we set about making a dresser really handle well.