Some call it the Harley Wobble, others call it the Death Wobble. However, most never experience it but we all have heard of the Harley Wobble.
Before getting into it, here are just a couple of the many questions we have received on the Harley Wobble since Fix My Hog started back in 2004.
1. Do you know anything about correcting the Harley wobble in my 2012 Road King? Between 90-100 and in a curve, I get a wild wobble. Do you have any tips on this? – Ken
2. I have a 1999 Road King and my bike wobbles. I installed an engine stabilizer on it, motor mounts did not get replaced as they look good. After set and done it still wobbles, the handlebars do when I go over 75. – Via Email
If you or a friend has had a similar experience, please take a moment to watch this Chat with Bob video. After, you can review our 6-step Harley Wobble guide, as well as read through the hundreds of comments in the discussion board to gain more insight.
Harley Wobble Chat with Bob
6 Steps to Fix Your Harley Wobble
Check out these six basic and advanced maintenance procedures you can perform to keep or improve the rideablity of your motorcycle.
1. Tires and Tire Pressure
Tire pressures and tire conditions are probably the most overlooked area of a motorcycle. Running bald or damaged tires on a motorcycle is extremely dangerous. Check your tire pressure at least once a month better yet before every ride. When buying new tires look for the date they were made. Put a hand on them and feel for any cupping.
Videos for your Tires and Wheels:
- Motorcycle Tire Maintenance Tips
- Checking Harley Tire Pressure and Inspecting Tread
- Check Front M8 Softail Tire Pressure and Tread
- Harley Rear Tire Pressure, Inspect Tread
2. Wheel Bearings
Bad wheel bearings can cause a wobble. Sometimes you will be able to hear a failing bearing when coasting with no throttle and the clutch lever pulled in. Other times, you will have to remove a wheel and physically feel the bearing to determine weather or not it is bad. If your motorcycle has high miles and bearings have not been replaced, plan to change bearings at your next tire change.
Videos for Wheel Bearings:
- How to Pack Wheel Bearings on a Motorcycle
- Harley-Davidson Wheel Bearings Replacement
- Sealed Harley Wheel Bearings Replacement
3. Belt Deflection
Incorrect belt deflection can adversely affect handling on your Harley Davidson. Refer to the factory service manual for the correct spec for your year and model. Check your belt deflection when you check your lights and tire pressures during your pre ride inspection. Also check for correct shock air pressure for your load.
Videos for Belt Deflection:
- Twin Cam 103 HD Drive Belt Deflection
- Harley Rear Shocks Adjustment & Drive Belt Service
- Inspect and Adjust Harley Drive Belt and Sprockets
- Inspect & Adjust Drive Belt, Sprockets & Rear Axle Nut Torque
4. Spoke Adjustment
If your motorcycle has spoke wheels, spoke inspection and maintenance is very important. Loose spokes will not only adversely affect handling but will also damage your wheel hub. If not maintained, lateral and radial rim run out will change and a wobble will occur.
Videos for Spoke Adjustment:
- Checking Harley Spoke Wheels for Tightness
- Lacing a Wheel
- Harley Wheel Truing
- Check Front Spoke Wheel Tightness
5. Front Motor Mount
A worn or torn front motor mount can be the source of a wobble on a Harley Davidson®. The design had been very much the same until 2009. Three rubber mounts support the entire weight of the motor, transmission, and drive. Inspect your front motor mount whenever performing regular maintenance.
Videos for Motor Mounts:
- Harley-Davidson Motor Mount Inspection
- Harley Motor Mount Removal and Replacement Video
- In The Shop: Front Motor Mount Replacement
6. Steering Head Bearings
Incorrect neck adjustment will cause wobble, on deceleration or at high speeds. A loose neck is the most common culprit of wobble after tires and wheels. Neck inspection and adjustment is an important service point on a major service that should never be overlooked.
Videos for Steering Head Bearings:
- Harley Steering Head Bearing Adjustment Touring Twin Cam
- Harley Fall Away Adjustment & Steering Head Bearings Lube Sporster
- Steering Head Bearings Adjustment(Dyna)
- Inspect and Adjust M8 Harley Steering Head Bearings
- M8 Harley Touring Steering Head Bearing Adjustment
Fix Your Harley® Wobble Class
We felt this topic deserved it’s own Class. You can purchase it and keep it as part of your reference materials for service and maintenance. Purchase Fix Your Harley® Wobble Class today.
If you have had some experience with this problem, please feel free to share it with others in the comment section below.
I have replaced all bearings on my 1971 FLH electra glyde. Neck bearings, swing arm bearings, front and rear wheel bearings. I have made sure wheels are aligned and spokes are tight and wheels turn true. Front tire has been replaced and rear wheel has no flats spots. Air pressures are 45 pounds on both wheels. Both wheels have been balanced already. Motorcycle still wobbles from 10-40ish in lower gears. Top of first wobbles but then shift, it stops. Same for the rest. I don’t know what to do.
Mine had a wobble at 80 mph in the process of working on everything checking and adjusting everything I tightened my front forks down because they were loose now somewhere between 110 and 120 I got a little wobble so I think that is your major problem with the wobble in a bike
You reported it terrifically.
Ensure that the wheel is properly seated in the dropouts of the frame. Instead, it can lead to wobbling. Loosen the axle or quick release, align the wheel, and tighten it properly.
I purchased a 2007 screamin eagle V-Rod about four or five months ago(it has about 12,000 mi on it now) a beautiful bike in excellent condition and I've probably put at least 2,000 mi on it since I bought it. Three days ago I was on the interstate doing about 65 mph, I accelerated to I don't know 70-80 mph, I moved over into the left lane next to me, nothing aggressive whatsoever, there was a slight bump in the road again nothing out of the ordinary, and my handlebars began to shake violently left to right, like Evel Knievel when he came down onto the ramp back in the day, Thank God I had both hands on the bar. After about 2 seconds I just knew I was going down... I thought about jumping off to clear myself from the bike because I did not want to be in front of if I went down (so far in my life, I've not gone down anywhere, let alone on the highway, I forgot to put a kickstand down once but that's about it) only by the grace of God it straightened up, The episode probably lasted six or seven seconds at 80 down to 60 mph, and it was VERY violent. I have been riding bikes since the mid-70s, and I've never experienced anything even close to this. This was not a "wobble" in any sense of the word, the bike was not just a little wiggly, this was VERY violent, The bike was trying to rip the handlebars out from my hands, and I understand why people call it a death wobble, again I do not know how I did not go down. The local Harley dealer was only a few exits down, I stopped in there, bought new front wheel bearings, because immediately after the incident I had to pump the front brakes back up. (Wheel bearings right? The disc had to have pushed the caliper pistons back, right?... Wrong, the bearings were good) I installed the wheel bearings anyways at a friend's shop directly across the street from the Harley dealer, and very carefully rode the bike home 25 mi and parked it. While I had it up on the motorcycle jack, I grabbed the front axle and tried to move it forward and aft (BTW, I'm an ASE certified master technician since 1987, I think I know how to check a bearing or two) and I don't feel any play in the head bearings. So what's next? I may not be so lucky next time, God forbid there is a next time, do I just sell the damn thing? And feel guilty when I find out the guy I sold it to was killed on the interstate? I've always been of the mindset that everything can be fixed, but after I've looked into this I think this is an inherent design flaw and I don't know that it can be fixed. One other thing, never in my life have I ever heard of this before, all of the bikers I know have never mentioned it before, nobody I know has had this happen to them, it is quite alarming. Again, this is not the bike being wiggly, or twitchy, this was very violent... It tried to rip the bars out from my hands as the bars moved left to right a good 4 to 6 in rapidly and violently. Let me know your thoughts, Tom
Experienced this on a 2005 Harley Road King Custom. I was doing about 65 or 70 on route 10 riding through a right hand descending sweeper. I let on the gas and it stopped, but it did scare the crap out of me!
Ticket 43767I own a 06 softail duece and have a slight wobble i don't think that it's my motor mounts or my steering head bearings could the tube be part of the problem the bike has 5400 actual miles on it. I added a fork stabilizer clamp but all that does is kill off road: vibration to your handle bars any suggestions. Hello Richard, Here is the response from our Experts: Most common reasons for a wobble condition are: Loose neck adjustment Poor tire condition (front &/or rear) Bad neck bearings Bad wheel bearings (front &/or rear) Loose spokes or laced wheel that is out if true. Bent rim https://www.fixmyhog.com/post/harley-wobble/ https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/tire-maintenance-002168/ https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/harley-wheel-truing-011312/ https://www.fixmyhog.com/video/lacing-a-wheel-010889/ Thank you. Sarah Fix My Hog
I am seeing all these posts about high speed wobbles i just replaced my front tire on my ‘06 ultra and i can’t even get my bike up to 60 it it feels like it’s going to throw me. I have not checked the motor Mount yet but it didn’t do it before the tire change. Have rechecked torque on the tire shaft, pinch Bolts on the tree the swing test comes out like it’s true so don’t believe it’s the neck bearings. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Iee see all these posts about high shoes wobbles i just replaced my front tire and i can’t even get my bike up to 60 it it feels like it’s going to throw me. I have not checked the motor Mount yet but it didn’t do it before the tire change. Have rechecked torque in the tire shaft pinch Boyles on the tree the swing test comes out like it’s true so don’t believe it’s the neck bearings. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Your death wobble cause is the rubber mounted bikes is in the swingarm design,sucks, get the stiffy does away with rubber clevite bushing with syphirical bearings