Road King wobble...the fix (I hope)

[Mr B]

My Road King has always handled badly since I've had it. The previous owner only covered 240 miles in 2 years because he didn't like it. I got used to going places where I only needed to go round left hand bends if possible. I virtually had to stop to take any right hand bend...it felt like riding round the edge of a 50p coin. Sometimes if I overdid a right hander, I'd have to brake midway round the bend or I wouldn't have made it...not good for me or anyone else following.

So far to try to cure this, I've experimented with suspension pressures, tyre pressures...even swopped to Avons to try to fix it, changed a knackered front mounting, checked headstock bearings and re-routed my clutch cable which was snagging as I turned the bars.
Each time I did something, I convinced myself I'd fixed the problem. It was a little better each time, but not as it should be. I was going to have to live with it and learn to ride it like this.

Then a post was put up here about rear stabilizer links, and I started to read up and learn about the geometry of my bike because of this post.
I headed for the US forums to do most of my reading, and I discovered that quite a few had troubles with their RK's...a lot were 03 models. It appears that there was some problem with alignment around that era for some reason. So I decided to start at the beginning and check mine out, and do it properly....it took me a couple evenings and a few hours on Saturday to do all this.

I set the bike up on wooden blocks on my bench and after several attempts to level it up using an inclinometer on the front disc, (this is a digital angle finder for those that don't know), and strapping it down, then packing it a bit more, and checked it for 90 degrees on the disc. Checked the back disc and it was a mile out of virtical compared to the front. I'd found something at last.

I went through the usual stuff carefully, like rim runout and the wheel being centred in the swinging arm..these were ok. then checked the tracking using fishing line around both wheels. The back wheel was out of line by a long way even though it was in the swinging arm centrally. Just to be sure, I did the whole procedure again, and again to satisfy myself that I wasn't missing something out.

Off came the seat, tank and bags. I adjusted the top stabilizer link to get the rear disc virtical, then adjusted the tracking by adjusting the the front link, then checked and adjusted eack link in turn until I had the wheel both virtical, and following the front wheel in a straight line.

I now have some clearance between the footboard mounting and the front exhaust pipe, which I didn't have before. I can even push it easier down my drive...or maybe I'm imagining that bit. A test ride was done, and it does feel better, I took a right hander a bit harder than I usually do and thought that if I come off and hit the ground...well so be it. It went round ok, so I started to go round and round traffic islands...it seems to be fixed. I'll know for sure when I go out and ride it and forget about it.

If you have time, it's worth checking the geometry on your bike every now and again, I never thought that HD would let mine leave the factory unaligned...but they did.

Foby..now when we go for a rideout, I won't hold you all up on those twisty country roads you like so much and I always dreaded

Brian.

[Ukkid76]

Very interesting!!

Where about in sunny England are you? I wouldn't mind meeting up and take a look at what you have done and just how you did it,

For me pictures and pointing speak louder than words!!!

[kiwidave]

that's a very interesting post. cheers. Should go in Tech Tips.

[Maggar]

I just assumed it was the old biffas who rode them that wobbled! I'll print this off and pass it to Chromer - thanks

[Tony Cross]

Originally Posted by kiwidave

that's a very interesting post. cheers. Should go in Tech Tips.

Should IMHO be put in the Quin where all members can benefit.

[michael_dinwiddy]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm that rings a big bell, I havnt done mine yet at it handles adequately but not as well as I would like.

I know a mate of mine took his sporty in for a proper wheel alingment and claimed it was the best thing he ever did.

[boogiefool]

Originally Posted by Maggar

I just assumed it was the old biffas who rode them that wobbled! I'll print this off and pass it to Chromer - thanks

None taken!............b'stard

[grbrown]

Well done! Now you have sorted that out, go back to that 'Stabilizers' topic and fit a 'missing link' - you will be even more amazed at what your bike can be like!

[Mr B]

That is my next plan of action.

Brian.

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by Brian

That is my next plan of action.

Brian.

Brian,

Great! I am feeling rather lonely out here promoting them, so hope you have the same success as me.