ok before i get flamed this is not full on, tank slapping speed wobbles. i bought the bike from a dealer who knew nothing about the bikes history(mistake #1) the tires looked alright but a little worn. i test rode it and it felt great. after riding it a while i started to notice a slight shimmy above 80 mph. meh no biggie, was intermittent and somewhat manageable. however over time it started to get worse and certain surfaces did it worse than others. like concrete is worse than asphalt. so the first people i talked to said oh your tires either bad or imbalanced. so i took a closer look at the tires and my front felt deformed a little. was told it probably had been run at low psi. however the whole time the bike has been in my possession neither tire was ever below 36 lbs. ok so i figured new tires start fresh and then ill go from there. so i buy a set of pilot road 2's and go to have them installed. come to find out my right rear bearing was hollowing out the rim. so as a temporary fix they JB welded it back into place. so after that great piece of news i set off to break in the tires. still wobbling. noticed a weird noise up front. jacked the bike up and realized it was lose head bearings. tightened up the trees and no more play in the steering. still wobbles. pulled up the factory suspension chart and set up the front a rear to match my weight.(150 w/ gear on) still wobbles. not as bad this last time but it still does wobble above 90 or so.
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my battle with the wobbles
- Thread starter brian1570
- Start date
Help Support Buellxb Forum:
My '03 Lightning gets a little wobbly above 90 as well. I've always attributed it to the wind pulling me back and unloading the front tire.
If I lean way forward and down over the tank it settles it down, but I'd just as soon not go that fast around here anyways. Too many deer.
If I lean way forward and down over the tank it settles it down, but I'd just as soon not go that fast around here anyways. Too many deer.
How many miles are on the bike? You shouldn't have to tighten the head stem bearings past factory torque so if you do have it past factory spec. I would suggest replacing them. Also I would venture to say that you should replace that rear rim, until you have your rear tire tracking perfectly straight you won't be able to get your bike to handle as it should.
Blaylock1988
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 27, 2011
- Messages
- 314
I have ridden my bike over 100 and never had any wobbles at all, no steering dampener.
DON'T GET A DAMPNER... yet. First fix your wobble, these bikes should be rock solid even above 100. I could take my hands off the bars at 100 if i wanted to, and there would be no ill effects. Seriously, people describe these bikes as twitchy, etc, but they aren't that twitchy. They are only "twitchy" compared to japanese bikes with longer wheelbases that are built to do 160+.
So.. in conclusion, replace ALL your bearings (front and back wheel bearings, your head steam bearings, etc) THEN get a dampner for "extra". I honestly don't need one on my bike, and probably wont buy one. I've yet to have a bad wobble, albeit i only do wheelies in first gear (little power wheelies), but I DO haul ass on my bike and I've topped it out (130-140mph) many times with no wobbles.
So.. in conclusion, replace ALL your bearings (front and back wheel bearings, your head steam bearings, etc) THEN get a dampner for "extra". I honestly don't need one on my bike, and probably wont buy one. I've yet to have a bad wobble, albeit i only do wheelies in first gear (little power wheelies), but I DO haul ass on my bike and I've topped it out (130-140mph) many times with no wobbles.
I had some strange wobble problems as well. they cleared up with suspension tweaks and proper air pressure on the tires. btw pump your michelins up to 42psi (thats what it says on the side wall of mine)
I bet your problem will go away with the new wheel.
The front might feel squirrely due to the ill effect caused by the rear wheel being (most likely) off center.
I bet your problem will go away with the new wheel.
The front might feel squirrely due to the ill effect caused by the rear wheel being (most likely) off center.
Do NOT fix this problem with a steering damper. No. I'm not saying don't get one. I'm saying it's putting a bandaid on something that needs stitches.
OK just a though but it could be that the previous owner liked wheelies and loosened the front forks by dropping the front end too hard. It's happened to me. After a few hard landings(accidentally) the front loosens up and needs to have the triple tree loosened adjusted and re tightened. Follow owners manual. My bike would get goofy at around 80-90 and especially in corners when It loosened and I knew it was time to tighten it back up.
Like I said may not be but is a possibility and an easy fix/check.
Don't give up on her just yet.
OK just a though but it could be that the previous owner liked wheelies and loosened the front forks by dropping the front end too hard. It's happened to me. After a few hard landings(accidentally) the front loosens up and needs to have the triple tree loosened adjusted and re tightened. Follow owners manual. My bike would get goofy at around 80-90 and especially in corners when It loosened and I knew it was time to tighten it back up.
Like I said may not be but is a possibility and an easy fix/check.
Don't give up on her just yet.
What they are saying above is dead on, don't get a dampener to fix this problem. Fix it first then if you want a dampener get one.
Wheel bearings and steering head bearings. I have stock wheel bearings and just replaced the steering head bearings with tapered rollers and I took my bike up to almost top speed once after(130mph ish....don't know, was watching the road lol) and no wobble what so ever.
Wheel bearings and steering head bearings. I have stock wheel bearings and just replaced the steering head bearings with tapered rollers and I took my bike up to almost top speed once after(130mph ish....don't know, was watching the road lol) and no wobble what so ever.
Theycallmecrash
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2012
- Messages
- 2,408
I agree with the above stated about your bearings thats first and most likely your issue.
Heres something you should NOT over look, the rear suspension is only connected to the frame by one bolt, the swing arm is mainly mounted to the engine assembly, if any of your sub frame or engine mount bolts are loose/broken the engine will twist also causing the rear to move and wobble.
Heres something you should NOT over look, the rear suspension is only connected to the frame by one bolt, the swing arm is mainly mounted to the engine assembly, if any of your sub frame or engine mount bolts are loose/broken the engine will twist also causing the rear to move and wobble.
ok i never said i was going to get a steering damper. you guys can stop saying that now. 
i'll check all my motor mounts and sub frames. as far as my bearings go, the fronts look brand new and so do my rears. only problem is the rim. which should be taken care of soon.
i'll check all my motor mounts and sub frames. as far as my bearings go, the fronts look brand new and so do my rears. only problem is the rim. which should be taken care of soon.
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