Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds (1 viewing) (1) Guest
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TOPIC: Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds
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Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds 2 Years, 7 Months ago
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nightrider wrote:
CSnakes....are you wearing a jacket when you get this wobble? This may sound like a dumb question but I experienced a wobble that was caused by a loose leather jacket I was wearing. I think the wind was going up my sleeves or it was catching the wind and acting like a kite or wing which caused this unsettleing wobble. Without the jacket everything is smooth. This is just my experience.
carheart jacket and the windscreen both contribute to that wind wobble.
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Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds 2 Years, 7 Months ago
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I had a similar feeling to my '08 when real new. Buck's lowers helped and getting some miles on the tires helped too. The stock tires are a little weird feeling but a few thousand miles on them helped. I looking forward to switching to Metzlers in the near future. 
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Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds 2 Years, 7 Months ago
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Do yourself a favor and "jack" the air pressure up a bit front and rear. I run 40 to 42 psi front and 45 psi rear. And yes, I run the windshield on my Roadie and I have noticed a bit of a wobble from time to time, but otherwise, she's rock steady.
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Mike
`06 Roadstar Silverado
Lenoir City, Tn
Patriot Guard
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CSnakes (User)
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Posts: 107
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Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds 2 Years, 7 Months ago
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Wow! Thanks for all the insight!
I will try raising the tire pressure and pulling the windshield.
Yes, I have been riding with a jacket while on the highway. I can see how that could add some resistance to either hand or arm and wobble the bars a little bit.
I was wondering if the new tires could have a flat spot in them from sitting in the dealership for over 2 years... or just need to be broken in.
I have been riding a few bikes here and there the last 3 years, but not very often, so it could just be me getting used to it again, but I seriously feel like all is fine at 55 mph, and just a little faster and the bike seems to lose stability.
I really appreciate the help and look forward to a few days with no rain to try out some of these tips!
Thank You All!
CSnakes
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Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds 2 Years, 7 Months ago
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I had the same experience, if not a little more frightening, on my o6 with the "BIG ASS" windscreen. 1st time I took it out.. I took my hands off the handlebars for a second (something I've done on my Suzuki Intruder numerous times with no disasterous results...very stable)to scratch my ...er nevermind...and the front end really started to "wobble"  . I cut the windshield down to 20" from the original 24"...tried it again...and the wobble was gone. Now...would I try this again?..Don't think I will. It's always a good idear to keep both hands on the bars....never know when that stray groundhog will pick "that particular time" to cross the road.
I also experienced a similar wobble on my old shovelhead...and it was front tire related...I been running Kenda tires my last couple of sets and really like em...plus they gave me another 3,000 miles over the Dunlops I had on previously...and they are inexpensive...a real bargain for the money. 
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takehikes (User)
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Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds 2 Years, 7 Months ago
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Only time I had a truly frightening tank slapper was the day I put on a new windshield/bikini fairing. Had a Yamaha 750 triple and put on a Shoei bikini fairing. After installing it I took it out for a test ride, all was well until about 90. Front end went wild, I was just holding on for dear life.  Luckily I had ridden enough to know not to grab a handful of brake. I just rolled out of the throttle as the bike was shaking me to death and it finally smoothed back out. I kept the faring on but was ever vigilant about my speed.
Simply put any time a windshield is fork mounted instead of frame mounted you can get some real issues. 
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Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds 2 Years, 7 Months ago
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I found that my scoot started getting kind of twitchy when I put a new Avon tire on the front. It seemed to track road surface irregularities much more than the stock Bridgestone did. Wind also makes the sensation much more pronounced which leads me to believe the windshield is the culprit. It still responds to road irregularities, but got much less suseptible with near 40 psi and about a 1,000 miles on the tread. I have about 10K on the front tire now and it is much more stable now. Probably what you have is some of all of what has been mentioned, new tire, new bike, inflation pressure needs to go up, and a few miles on the scoot will help. She may move around a bit, but the Roadie is one of the most stable road bikes I have ever ridden.
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2ndstar (User)
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Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds 2 Years, 7 Months ago
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My '07 does this also,however I even notice some "twitching/moving" even at slow speeds.I thought that it was maybe from the ruts in the asphalt roads caused by heavy truck traffic.But then I would notice it doing it just before I make a turn onto a side road.It feels like the rear suspension or something shifts or moves or I don't know but it gets my attention when it happens. Anybody had anything like that happen?
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Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds 2 Years, 7 Months ago
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2ndstar wrote:
My '07 does this also,however I even notice some "twitching/moving" even at slow speeds.I thought that it was maybe from the ruts in the asphalt roads caused by heavy truck traffic.But then I would notice it doing it just before I make a turn onto a side road.It feels like the rear suspension or something shifts or moves or I don't know but it gets my attention when it happens. Anybody had anything like that happen? Check your shock mounts under the bike, somewhere on this board there is mention of these mounts possibly breaking... 
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Southwest (User)
Who left the gate open
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Re:instability/twitchy feeling at highway speeds 2 Years, 7 Months ago
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Csnakes
I believe it is the nature of the roadie with a windscreen.
I went from a vstar 1100 to my roadie last August and my first few times on the interstate I thought that I was being blown all over my lane. Plus the buffeting from under the windshield seemed like an big airhose pointed at the underside of my chin.
I researched the problem on this site and was told to try Harley Davidson chrome lowers. I installed a set and man what a difference! The lowers rattle like a bitch no matter what I do but worth the trade off. Going on 8000 miles I don't notice any weaving....80mph is a comfortable interstate speed.
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