99 FLHR Handling

[Limey_Dave]

I've got used to having to push it over on bends where earlier,lighter,bikes seemed to lean when you thought about it.
On what we call the Indy bend on the M40 a long banked curve it goes round left or right at 70 without probs.On the straight you can take one hand off at 85,steady as a rock.
The problem is turning slow from a junction as when turning across traffic.
The bars seemed to wag,at first I thought maybe it's normal but not seen by other people.
On Saturday I went to an industrial estate where there's no distractions and found it's me,so to speak.
When you start to turn from a standstill it feels like it's going to drop so you straighten the bars then turn them and so on till you're round but it's very untidy.

I decided it could be head bearings but looking at the manual I don't get it.

Raise bike and check it's level,
Remove clutch cable,
Turn bars to left and count number of swings right/left.

Maybe it will be obvious when I get it in the air but what makes the bars move?

For my sins I've still got the 9 year old Dunlops on but don't think that's the problem.

[Phil]

Check the front motor mount.
There is a metal angled plate that bolts the front of the engine to the frame via the metal & rubber motor mount.
There should be at least an eighth inch gap between the plate & top of the mount. If it is really bad you can look under the frame crossmember & see the torn rubber.
As the power train is rubber mounted, one mount going out can make a big difference to handling.

[Ukkid76]

9 year old tyres!!!!!!!! And you’re doing 85mph with only one hand on the handlebars!!!!!!!!

I would not put a “new” tyre on my bike if the tyre were more than one year old, and my tyres are change at least once a year.

Change them for your own safety whatever the mileage, yes I know they passed the MOT, that doesn’t make them safe it only means the tread is above 1.6mm,

Sorry I don't mean to be an old fart but rubber biodegrades over time therefore your only contact with the tarmac in a decaying piece of rubber

Actually you would be surprised how much better your bike would handle with a new set of tyres on it!!

[lawnmower]

Especially if you get rid of the Dun flops and put some Metzlers on

[BaZa ®]

Or Avons, just think what your inner tubes could be like and you can't see them!

[Ukkid76]

Thanks for the support, between us we should be able to prevent Limy_Dave from having a potentially nasty and totally preventable accident!!

[Limey_Dave]

I accept what has been said and thanks for your concern,new Avons are in hand.
In mitigation let me say
It has under 4000 miles,has spent it's life covered up at the back of a dark garage.
I think the first owner"bought the dream" then didn't like it.
Maybe this low speed quirk scared him and he thought they all did it.
I'll check out the mounts and get to the bottom of this head bearing voodoo.

The bike was sold new by Wheels International who from memory were not the best of places.
This problem could well have been there from new.

[BaZa ®]

Limey Dave we will have you doing THIS soon mate...


Re cutting out and stalling on another thread..... that IS clutch control at standstill and tight manoeuvring.

[Limey_Dave]

Nah,tried that,didn't like the uniform.

Plus I get confused in a contraflow.

[michael_dinwiddy]

change your tyres, what the fleck have you been doing for 9 years? dunlops are too hard anyhow