I just got done checking my rear swingarm to make sure it is solid for the upcoming riding season. It seems absolutely solid after 73K miles so I think I'm fine. But it made me start to wonder why baggers are notorious for wobble and other Harley models are not. Inquiring minds want to know!

 

Different frame. FYI, my 14 bager has yet to wobble. Big difference from my last bager, a 07. Again, completely different frame from 07 to 14.

 

All you need to know in Post #1...

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...e-exposed.html


FYI, I have a '12 Limited with the True-Track brace...

 

Fork angle has a lot to do with wobble, think of a shopping cart. A chopper would be prone to almost no wobble while many sportbikes need a steering damper.

 

Aren't there a lot of dynas with the same fork angle as a bagger? They are supposed to be a great handling bike. I have read the thread on bagger wobble exposed which was enlightening. I have not had any problems yet but would probably go with the new bushings if the swingarm loosened up. Do the different Harley models have different swingarm setups?

 

2013 and earlier baggers suffered from the dreaded bagger wobble. 2007 and earlier was worse due to only 3 links locating the drivetrain (which includes the swingarm) in the frame. The drivetrain on the baggers is rubber mounted and when it's side loaded as it would be during cornering, theres some deflection. The more severe the side loading, the more severe the deflection. When you introduce a bump or jounce into the equation (such as a bump or heavy undulation in the road) the side load changes, the deflection changes and an oscillation can occur which is experienced as a wobble. Aftermarket braces that are available reduce the amount of deflection but don't entirely eliminate it. Any other flex in the platform contributes to the deflection such as the weak connection in the upper bolt through triple tree and flexy forks on 2013 and earlier baggers. Tires that have low tire pressure or if they've been ridden low causes additional flex in the tire carcass which will also cause instability. The 2014's have a clamp style triple tree and larger diameter stiffer fork tubes which help to minimize the deflection. Now, to get to the answer of your question about "why not softtails?" Their drivetrain including the swingarm pivot is mounted solidly to the frame. Engine vibration is controlled with chain driven balance weights instead of rubber mounts. It's not to say they don't have their own handling issues, they just don't have the drivetrain deflection problems of their heavier bigger brother.

 

That explains the softails and makes a lot of sense. What about the Dynas? Are they using a balanced engine?

 

AFIK the Dyna does not have the balanced engine; at least the one I traded didn`t (`09 Dyna SG).

 

Great post; thank you. I guess I don't know why but my 14 sure feels more stable and handles better than my 07. One thing the article did not address was the 14 front end changes. I think the new neck and forks are the reason 14's feel so stable. I have never experienced any wobble.

 

my 06 fxst with a venom tire and 18 apes wobbled like a **** at 70+