Weeble Wobble Front end?? Any ideas???

[blackie1491]

Well that sort of say's it is the Bike, but can be made better thru tire choice.
Life is full of choices, wrong tires, wrong women OPPS!
That slipped out.

[stp1971]

So Mike,, what can be expected of the bike if I do change tires to the Metzlers. Will it seriously diminish the wobble or does it just ride better. I am now wondering if the fact that I didn't notice the wobble was because I might not have let the handlebars loose or rode with one hand on deceleration since I was still learning the bike and getting used to riding a heavy bike like mine.

Although it does seem worse now. But if the tires really do contribute that much to it then maybe with the rear tire wearing down and me putting a newer tire on the front it might have changed the handling of the bike making it more noticeable.

By the way,, what happened to your bike after 23,000 miles???? Did you get rid of it? Or was there a major malfunction or something????

I'd like to meet up with you one day and let you ride mine and let me know if that truly is normal for mine. If I get that feeling that it is normal and I need to just make sure I am holding the grips at that speed then I will learn to do so.

Thanks Mike!!!!! Sean

[IntruderCruiser]

I don't have a wobble problem on my LC -- I think there is something wrong with yours --either tires (my first choice) or something else

[stp1971]

Originally Posted by IntruderCruiser

I don't have a wobble problem on my LC -- I think there is something wrong with yours --either tires (my first choice) or something else

Accelerate up to about fifty miles an hour, then let off the throttle and as it starts decelerating hold it lightly with one hand or hover both hands barely above the grips. I can induce the wobble about 80% of the time by hovering the hands thing. Mine comes on about 43 mph and it really gets to doing it about 35 mph then by 28 to 30 mph it goes away.

[moccasin]

Originally Posted by stp1971

So Mike,, what can be expected of the bike if I do change tires to the Metzlers. Will it seriously diminish the wobble or does it just ride better.

I did not try the wobble test on my friend's bike, but the handling was like night and day. There was absolutely no girating in the corners and the bike felt rock solid. Many owners do say that their wobbling has decreased in effect, or disappeared with different tires.

You have to assume that a lot of people who own these bikes NEVER KNOW they have a wobble problem, because of their own natural riding habits, or terrain in which they ride. If you live and ride in the city, there are no such things as long downhill stretches where you can, or even would take your hands off the bars. And if you normal riding habits don't include such inherently dangerous feats as both hands free, then you'd never know the bike wobbles, because there is no "meat" to the wobble. It doesn't fight you when you have a hand on the bars, so you won't know its there.

By the way,, what happened to your bike after 23,000 miles???? Did you get rid of it? Or was there a major malfunction or something????

Grew the need for a longer range, higher luggage capacity tourer, so I sold my gorgeous LC to a guy in Arkansas and bought a Road King.

I'd like to meet up with you one day and let you ride mine and let me know if that truly is normal for mine. If I get that feeling that it is normal and I need to just make sure I am holding the grips at that speed then I will learn to do so.

I'd love to, but that means you'll have to endure the Road King while I'm on your bike!

[IntruderCruiser]

I will try duplicating it today -- sometimes its hard to find an open stretch to do that on.

[stp1971]

Well I appreciate it Mike. If you are game for Labor Day and want to make a long road trip you are invited to ride down to Florida about seventy miles south of the state line off of I-75. Ginnie Springs is where the destination is. Check out the Rides/Events section in the general discussion section.

I do notice a slight shimmy effect with one hand off the bars and even with both hands on the bars,, but as you said if I let go then it really gets to doing it's thing. Try letting go at any speed above let's say 55 mph and it tracks straight and no wobble.

I will run the rear tire out and when it is ready for replacement then I am going front and rear with those Metzlers you are talking about. I do not like that oscillating feel in the twisties and if it helps that wobble then I am game.

I like my bike and I fully intend on riding it. Might change the fork oil at the recommended service to a heavier weight,, maybe that will help fight off the load shift that people says is causing this.

IC,, if you do try this just be careful when doing it. I don't take my hands no more than one inch or so off of the grips. I am not advocating this but this is how I am able to induce the condition almost the majority of the time.

THANKS AGAIN for all the responses on this. Next bike will probably be a wing when the LC gives out or a light weight urban fighter to commute. But then again the Wing does have heat and A/C!!!!! LOL!!!

[moccasin]

Originally Posted by stp1971

Well I appreciate it Mike. If you are game for Labor Day and want to make a long road trip you are invited to ride down to Florida about seventy miles south of the state line off of I-75. Ginnie Springs is where the destination is. Check out the Rides/Events section in the general discussion section.

Unfortunately, I work MOST weekends. Always missing out on great rides and good friends, but hey, that's my life.

If you aren't busy the first weekend of October, that's a possibility.

[stp1971]

I will keep that in mind. The weekend of the 15th I will be in Jax Florida. Then the next Weekend is Biketoberfest. First weekend of October might be a plan. Let me know,, maybe ride up to North Georgia Mtns or the north Alabama mtns. Thanks Mikle!!!

[IntruderCruiser]

Sean --

I was able to accelerate to 50 and let it coast down through the speed range several times on the way to work -- the bike was rock solid and no hint of a wobble -- I have racking my brain with ideas -- tires still come up number 1 -- either balance or a bad spot -- thats if you are sure the front end is tight

IC

[stp1971]

Thanks IC,, I am going to have to think tires also. I will run my rear tire out and when it is time to change it I DEFINATELY will be changing brands. Will see in about five thousand miles I guess. I am just now cresting 6000 miles. Probably something with the rear tire,, we will see. Thanks IC and everyone else.

[Pinhy]

this thread is turning into the "woman" thread! its 5 pages by my settings...that one is on 16 or so i think

[blackie1491]

Pinhy
The road less traveled= a different page count?

[stp1971]

I think it is just because my life is a highway,, I want to ride it all night long,,, ok bad song,, but it does seem saga-ish doesn't it.

[BIKER44]

Hey, I had an 01 Intruder 1500 and now I own a 04 intruder 1500, both bikes had/have the wobbleing problem. If anyone finds the fix to this PLEASE email me at tjr4420@aol.com I think it is a flaw in design. I will not buy another 1500, I think I will try to sell this one or trade it in, any takers?