Harley "Death Wobble"?

[Guy]

Is this something new? I've heard of the ST1300 weave, but never the Harley "Death Wobble"

The possible equipment malfunction Costa describes has become known as the Harley-Davidson Wobble, or "Death Wobble."

A camera mounted on a Georgia state trooper's police-issued Harley shows Officer Richard Barber traveling 90 mph along an interstate. His 2007 Harley Electra Glide begins to shimmy and wobble. Eventually, Barber is able to stop the bike safely.

But a Raleigh, N.C., police officer was not so lucky. In 2002, 30-year-old Charles Paul was thrown from his Harley Electra Glide after it began to wobble. He died, and his family later settled a wrongful death suit with Harley-Davidson in 2008.

http://www.kpho.com/news/27917754/detail.html

[Giaka]

It's a long-known thing. The pre-2009 touring frame had rubber-mounted engines. The rear mount was integral with the swing arm pivots.

Holy shit, what design engineer didn't see trouble when this was submitted to manufacturing.

[zer0netgain]

Yet another reason to go with BMW.  

[county]

Seldom a problem with bikes that are ridden under 50 mph...

[stromgal]

Yeah, most everyone I know who rode the FLH models installed a True-Track or the like, in fact a friend in Texas is a seller. All the motor-corps cops knew about 'the wobble'.

I have a hard time believing the guy in the vid who says he was going 25mph when he got the death wobble. I've never known that 'rear steer' issue to happen at a low rate of speed. More likely it was a front end issue like bad head bearings or under-inflated/cupped tires or....

The new chassis design seems to have eliminated the problem.

[atadaskew]

That is not the complete story.

The wobble was intentionally engineered into the bikes taking into account the majority of their clientelle.  Above 85mph the harmonics caused by the average owners' gut wobbling in the breeze would cancel that of the bike.   Thereby insuring a smooth and safe ride.

Harley should be commended for building what in essence is an organic counterbalancing system, working under the symbiosis of the rider and the bike.

The issue with the motor officer is either he didn't eat enough donuts, or his vest was cinched too tight.

Ergo, user error.

[Mookie]

Yeah, most everyone I know who rode the FLH models installed a True-Track or the like, in fact a friend in Texas is a seller. All the motor-corps cops knew about 'the wobble'.

I have a hard time believing the guy in the vid who says he was going 25mph when he got the death wobble. I've never known that 'rear steer' issue to happen at a low rate of speed. More likely it was a front end issue like bad head bearings or under-inflated/cupped tires or....

If your swing arm is directly connected to a worn rubber bushing that will allow for side to side movement ( ), it could happen at any speed.  It just isn't quite so death defying at low speeds but it'd still happen.

[Willie G]

That'd be Willie G.! LOL  

When I finally realized what was going on when I disassembled and fixed mine, I was like WTF, OVER!

It's just the touring frame bikes that have this issue. Sad, but then again, it's a HIGH SPEED issue that most rders will never experience. I did and once I got used to it, it was kind of fun to ride the bike right at that threshhold. It came on between 90 and 95 MPH and only in turns.

Kindly leave me out of this!

My former FLHTP never exhibited andy sort of wobble at triple-didgit speeds.

Now I'm told to worry about my ZX-14.....  

[stromgal]

The wobble was intentionally engineered into the bikes taking into account the majority of their clientelle.  Above 85mph the harmonics caused by the average owners' gut wobbling in the breeze would cancel that of the bike.  

Bagger belly!!

[bomber]

Yeah, most everyone I know who rode the FLH models installed a True-Track or the like, in fact a friend in Texas is a seller. All the motor-corps cops knew about 'the wobble'.

I have a hard time believing the guy in the vid who says he was going 25mph when he got the death wobble. I've never known that 'rear steer' issue to happen at a low rate of speed. More likely it was a front end issue like bad head bearings or under-inflated/cupped tires or....

The new chassis design seems to have eliminated the problem.

S'trooth-- the new chassis makes not only an entirely different motorcycle, but it approaches making an entirely different motorcycle company.

This frame could easily make HD riders of out many who would never have considered it, purely on performance grounds . . .

[packnru]

Yet another reason to go with BMW.  

Yeah, It seems I remember reading about the bearing in the rear wheel of a NEW BMW coming apart at speed.

Let's not forget the final drives breaking.

[nferr]

It was either redesign the rubber mounts/swingarm pivot point or design a cool new skull design chrome engine cover. We all know what won out......

[scarecrow]

I tried to mention this to some Harley riders at work. They did not take it well. They acted like it was a personal attack against them.

[Justin]

If Harley's were Italian, this "Death Wobble" would be referred to as "character".

[JSharp]

Holy shit, what design engineer didn't see trouble when this was submitted to manufacturing.

The same guys that put 50's technology springer front ends on modern bikes?

If Harley's were Italian, this "Death Wobble" would be referred to as "character".

I though that was 'soul' ?

[Blunder]

W00T!

[Justin]

W00T!

No wobble there

[HipGnosis]

what design engineer didn't see trouble when this was submitted to manufacturing.

But design engineers don't submit to manufacturing.  They submit to the bean counters.
I've no doubt that some bean counter wooted out how he saved the Co.(tm) $XXX by substituting a cheaper (but 'just as good') bushing...

[Geoff]

I pushed my '08 Ultra Classic hard through corners and never experienced any wobble. Ditto for an '05 Ultra Classic I used to ride.

[1KPerDay]

Yeah, It seems I remember reading about the bearing in the rear wheel of a NEW BMW coming apart at speed.

Let's not forget the final drives breaking.

That's only on BMWs that have been worked on by Harley techs, or have Harley final drive shims installed.