It's not a freak'n wobble!
#131
11-25-2008, 05:26 PM
For those of you that have made the “bagger wobble” a repetitive, common phrase on here, please consider the following...
On a regular basis, reluctant buyers come on here and ask about this wobble that they hear of on sites such as this and from bagger brace manufactuers. It seems our most common response is “sure they wobble but this brace will eliminate it”.
Now let’s define a wobble: defined it’s a pronounced quick oscillation that clearly implies instability. In the motorcycling context, particularly for those of us who have raced bikes, a wobble is often used to describe a tank slapper or a speed wobble or a death wobble. As someone who’s experienced the bars on my sportbike going stop to stop at over 100mph – I can tell you that a wobble is often uncontrollable, is downright dangerous and sometimes fatal.
In realty, without getting into the details, what some people are experiencing on Harley tourers - under the right load and circumstances and always outside of normal operating conditions - is some chassis flex or in the words of the recent Cycle World test; a “slight weave”. It IS completely controllable, and I don’t think a seasoned rider would panic if they were to encounter it. Of course, under the "duh!" category; “no weave” is better than “a slight weave” so a brace or any number of modifications that can improve handling is never a bad idea.
My RKC shares space in my garage with a Ohlins equiped Fireblade and a paralever/telelever equiped BMW. Despite its relatively humble technology, I find the Harley to be amazingly agile and fairly compentent for its size and origins. Sure it can be more stable at higher speeds, but possibly at the expense of its amazing low speed handling. Cycle World seems to agree with me, calling the ’08 RKC the best handling and most confidence inspiring bagger of the 8 that they tested in October.
So lets leave the sensationalizing to those trying to make a buck. We are not being truthfull or doing anybody a service implying that pre-09 baggers are downright unstable or even dangerous.
..there, I feel better.
On a regular basis, reluctant buyers come on here and ask about this wobble that they hear of on sites such as this and from bagger brace manufactuers. It seems our most common response is “sure they wobble but this brace will eliminate it”.
Now let’s define a wobble: defined it’s a pronounced quick oscillation that clearly implies instability. In the motorcycling context, particularly for those of us who have raced bikes, a wobble is often used to describe a tank slapper or a speed wobble or a death wobble. As someone who’s experienced the bars on my sportbike going stop to stop at over 100mph – I can tell you that a wobble is often uncontrollable, is downright dangerous and sometimes fatal.
In realty, without getting into the details, what some people are experiencing on Harley tourers - under the right load and circumstances and always outside of normal operating conditions - is some chassis flex or in the words of the recent Cycle World test; a “slight weave”. It IS completely controllable, and I don’t think a seasoned rider would panic if they were to encounter it. Of course, under the "duh!" category; “no weave” is better than “a slight weave” so a brace or any number of modifications that can improve handling is never a bad idea.
My RKC shares space in my garage with a Ohlins equiped Fireblade and a paralever/telelever equiped BMW. Despite its relatively humble technology, I find the Harley to be amazingly agile and fairly compentent for its size and origins. Sure it can be more stable at higher speeds, but possibly at the expense of its amazing low speed handling. Cycle World seems to agree with me, calling the ’08 RKC the best handling and most confidence inspiring bagger of the 8 that they tested in October.
So lets leave the sensationalizing to those trying to make a buck. We are not being truthfull or doing anybody a service implying that pre-09 baggers are downright unstable or even dangerous.
..there, I feel better.
#132
11-25-2008, 06:14 PM
Road Master
#133
11-25-2008, 06:30 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
#134
11-25-2008, 06:49 PM
Road Master
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It just cracks me up when I read people say that the wobble is just a made up thing to sell stabilizers...what a joke!
First off a wobble is defined by Merriam-Webster as; 1 a: to move or proceed with an irregular rocking or staggering motion or unsteadily and clumsily from side to side.
A weave is; to move in a devious, winding, or zigzag course especially to avoid obstacles
So we should call it what it is, a wobble. I have felt this happen several times and don't like it much, kinda gives you a out of control feeling for just a second. I have never felt like my life was in danger, nor would I expect any seasoned rider to feel that, however if you could bolt on an after market devise that would prevent it from happening altogether then why not?
Because I understand why it happens and I know I can control the bike when it does, I have not purchased a stabilizer yet, but it is on my list.
First off a wobble is defined by Merriam-Webster as; 1 a: to move or proceed with an irregular rocking or staggering motion or unsteadily and clumsily from side to side.
A weave is; to move in a devious, winding, or zigzag course especially to avoid obstacles
So we should call it what it is, a wobble. I have felt this happen several times and don't like it much, kinda gives you a out of control feeling for just a second. I have never felt like my life was in danger, nor would I expect any seasoned rider to feel that, however if you could bolt on an after market devise that would prevent it from happening altogether then why not?
Because I understand why it happens and I know I can control the bike when it does, I have not purchased a stabilizer yet, but it is on my list.
#135
11-25-2008, 07:28 PM
Thanks PITA. I am a first time owner or an 07 RKC. I have not experienced a discernable 'wobble' even when I take a hard turn. I am a new HD and probably don't know what it feels like. But your explanation does clarify the problem. Hopefully visitors to the site will understand the difference if they are contemplating buying one, and ask logical questions of a dealer and not make any real decisions soley based upon our discussions here.
#137
11-25-2008, 07:50 PM
If you are not a "spirited rider" you may not ever feel the "wobble" which I describe as "pogoing", kinda an up and down and side to side movement all at the same time. I did install a True Trac and feel it is money well spent, have not felt it since. For those that have limited time in the saddle, you may never get to know what is the wobble. Most likely 65 to 70 plus mile per hour in a long sweeper, with somethin like a dip or pavement transition to set it off. For those that have never experienced it - terrific. For those of us that know what it feels like, well most have installed a brace of some sort.
To just plain say it does not exist is only re-enforcing that you just dont know what it is. Is it life threatening, well speaking from experience, no, but experiencing it with a bike that maybe does have a lot of miles and some wear in the bushings could be a whole 'nother matter.
This debate will rage on from now until the last pre 09 finally is in the scrapyard.
To just plain say it does not exist is only re-enforcing that you just dont know what it is. Is it life threatening, well speaking from experience, no, but experiencing it with a bike that maybe does have a lot of miles and some wear in the bushings could be a whole 'nother matter.
This debate will rage on from now until the last pre 09 finally is in the scrapyard.
#140
11-26-2008, 09:18 AM
As someone who hasn't experienced this issue, I have a question for those that have.
When you get the 'wobble', do you get on your throttle or get off it?
I would think to get on it and ride 'out' of the wobble rather back off. On some go-fast, seriously fast boats, when the boat starts to chine walk, we crank hard on the speed so as to ride out of the 'walk'. If you decelerate sometimes the boat will dig in hard and over you go!. Obviously this depends on the type of water, wind, hull design and etc, etc,etc.... (similar to variable riding conditions)
Just curious!?!?!
When you get the 'wobble', do you get on your throttle or get off it?
I would think to get on it and ride 'out' of the wobble rather back off. On some go-fast, seriously fast boats, when the boat starts to chine walk, we crank hard on the speed so as to ride out of the 'walk'. If you decelerate sometimes the boat will dig in hard and over you go!. Obviously this depends on the type of water, wind, hull design and etc, etc,etc.... (similar to variable riding conditions)
Just curious!?!?!