[DarkTari]

A couple weeks ago we had some 65deg temps (today it's 8 deg...brrrr) and I was out running with a few CVO Road & Street Glides. It was windy but not too bad. At 125mph I got that "wobble". I crotched down behind the fairing but nothing changed so I backed 'er down around 100 and it stopped. I have SE Chromes so Disc wheels was not the issue. Don't think adding fork stabilizers will make a difference cause the wobble wasn't in the steering but with the whole bike.......

 

[FULLDRAWMIKE]

Here in Upstate SC it gets pretty windy in spring as I am sure it does in lots of locations. My 08 DX with the slightly slotted black wheels was affected more than any bike I have owned and at 55 I have had many. Could I still handle the crosswind effect it had, sure! Did I have to? Surely not. I bought Muscle wheels from Zanotti HD back in 09 and its a world of difference. Makes it more fun and that's what riding supposed to be. Those that say somebody can't handle or know how to ride, is lame. I probably ride 20k a year either on my Buell TT, Ultra or this DX. I feel my observation of these solid wheels is from a boat load of on the road experience.

Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

 

[DarkTari]

Agreed the disks are the tru reason for instability in crosswinds. I had that issue before swapping out to the SE wheels. I've been out on very windy days and the Rod had been rock solid even on the highways (65-80). My issue is above 110mph with the "wobble baby, wobble baby, wobble baby wobble".....
Anyone knows what causes this ???

 

[luxlamf]

Agreed the disks are the tru reason for instability in crosswinds. I had that issue before swapping out to the SE wheels. I've been out on very windy days and the Rod had been rock solid even on the highways (65-80). My issue is above 110mph with the "wobble baby, wobble baby, wobble baby wobble".....
Anyone knows what causes this ???

I had a slight problem with high sped until I put a SuperBrace on teh front fork and now I have no troubles.

 

[FULLDRAWMIKE]

Dark, have you checked or had your steering head bearing checked. I have heard that can do something like your saying. I know mine had a loud clunk over bad road conditions and under warranty they snugged them down. That was back in mid 08 and its been fine since. Knock Wood!

Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

 

[Cowpieapex]

Agreed the disks are the tru reason for instability in crosswinds. I had that issue before swapping out to the SE wheels. I've been out on very windy days and the Rod had been rock solid even on the highways (65-80). My issue is above 110mph with the "wobble baby, wobble baby, wobble baby wobble".....
Anyone knows what causes this ???

Not to open a can of worms but, what tires are you running?

My old S3T Buell had a speed weave at 110-120 mph which I was able to reduce by crouching behind the fairing and holding the left fork. When I switched from Dunlops to Pirellis I forgot the problem had ever happened. When Dunlop developed a special tire fore the Ulysses I had to try them for my crappy jeep trail driveway. On my first ride out on the Dunlops my long lost speed wobble was back.

After all that though I think FULLDRAWMIKE has the most important suggestion, check that head bearing!

 

[DarkTari]

FULLDRAWMIKE: Thanx ! That's not an issue as I just rebuilt this entirely back in June. She's rock solid.....(except @ 110->) LoL

Cowpieapex: I'm running Metzler 880's

Thanx Guys for your responses....

 

[DarkTari]

FULLDRAWMIKE: Thanx ! That's not an issue as I just rebuilt this entirely back in June. She's rock solid.....

Cowpieapex: I'm running Metzler 880's

Thanx Guys for your responses....

 

[Cowpieapex]

Yeah, I expect the Metzlers are no problem but V Rods frequently need a Head Bearing adjustment within the first 2 to 5 thousand miles from new. It may be that you're due for adjustment.

 

[luxlamf]

here's the Real solution to this argument...

http://rideapart.com/2014/01/introductory-strength-training-motorcyclists/

 

[harleynurse]

The last high velocity wind I rode through was 60 mph from San Francisco to San Jose, California. It's a wonder I didn't scrape the pegs as I leaned Right doing straight Bee line down the road. That was heavy solid 03A alum wheels.

 

[luxlamf]

The last high velocity wind I rode through was 60 mph from San Francisco to San Jose, California. It's a wonder I didn't scrape the pegs as I leaned Right doing straight Bee line down the road. That was heavy solid 03A alum wheels.

This is different than what people call Wind Wobble, I have experienced what you describe here on both my bikes, 1 has spoked wheels front and back. This wind wobble nonsense always starts off as someone stating "Their front end shook and almost killed them and HD should be sued for releasing such an item" blah Blah Blah, it's crap, they are 2 wheels vehicles, they will be more unstable in everyday situations than other vehicles. .

 

[matt2007]

I will never forget the day my girlfriend was whisked into oncoming traffic by the wind while riding her CBR right in front of me.The problem was that the bike was new to her and she had not ridden in a couple years.
What it comes down to is every bike handles differently and you have to get used to your bike.This is also a problem for riders who don't ride much.
I had a an OPP instructor tell me at the police course that anyone who rides less than 5000km a year can expect to have control issues any time evasive action is required or riding conditions are altered for the fair weather rider simply because anything under 5000 a year makes you a newbi every time you get on the bike.Year after year after year.It's the distance ridden and saddle time that make you experienced not the number of years you have ridden.Like i said you just have to get used to it.I have no issues with my bike now do remember that there was a slight learning curve which quickly passed when i first got it.

 

[DarkTari]

here's the Real solution to this argument...

http://rideapart.com/2014/01/introductory-strength-training-motorcyclists/

Not for me! Been working out 30+ yrs. Have done Competitive Body Building, Personl Training, Fitness Advice News Letters, etc.
"High Speed Wind Stability" is my issue. I'm gonna try the steering stabilizer you suggested which is the only solution I can figure unless I hear of something more legit....
Thought my fairing would give me "more" stability, but I could be wrong. Will test that theory when the riding season comes back around..

 

[luxlamf]

I will never forget the day my girlfriend was whisked into oncoming traffic by the wind while riding her CBR right in front of me.The problem was that the bike was new to her and she had not ridden in a couple years.
What it comes down to is every bike handles differently and you have to get used to your bike.This is also a problem for riders who don't ride much.
I had a an OPP instructor tell me at the police course that anyone who rides less than 5000km a year can expect to have control issues any time evasive action is required or riding conditions are altered for the fair weather rider simply because anything under 5000 a year makes you a newbi every time you get on the bike.Year after year after year.It's the distance ridden and saddle time that make you experienced not the number of years you have ridden.Like i said you just have to get used to it.I have no issues with my bike now do remember that there was a slight learning curve which quickly passed when i first got it.

This makes perfect sense, a few years ago I was visiting family in Upstate NY and it happen to be that time of year in Late APR where it gets warm but the roads are still dirty and weather changes daily etc.. and everyday some guy (usually on a bagger because thats all they ride back there) would die on the road from either running off the road or getting in an accident and this is because they don't ride for months on end than put themselves in some of the worst riding conditions 1st thing every year (and most people I know back there have bikes from the late 90's with 11k on them so they don't ride them even when its nice out) I ride everyday, usually 75-110 miles every time, in traffic, splitting lanes etc...and have no problems with my bike and I am not going to listen to someone who-gets dressed up on a weekend day to ride a flat road somewhere while inter-coming his friends etc.. and goes "Fast" between stop signs on a country road etc... MC Cops, CHP people who use their bikes as transportation and not just an excuse to ride to a parking lot etc... are people I tend to listen to.

 

[matt2007]

Since i live 1/4 mile south of Detroit we get frozen out of riding a minimum of 3 months a year sometimes 4 so even when you attend an advanced course in the early season(April) the instructors all make sure they go over the fact that we have lost 25% of our skills and will experience survival reactions that can quickly put us off road or worse when riding hard.
I admit i experience them to some degree every year when i start to push the bike to my limits both at the track or on the road.A survival reactions occurs in early season on a the corners,a hard straightaways where the bike isn't doing what i expect or some idiot cuts me off.Your hair stands on end,you tense up and think about how to correct the problem only you don't have time to think it though,it needs to be second nature.If you don't ride all the time you lose it and have work at getting it back.
Where you would normally steer the bike away from or through trouble you hammer the brakes and lose control.When a wicked cross wind kicks up you lean in to heavy and veer off toward the roadside instead of balancing into it so you can easily straighten up once the wind gust disappears.I find the it's the over correcting(survival reaction) that screws you more than the wind slamming into the bike sideways.The wind doesn't push you off the road as much as you ride off the road when it dissipates .
I guess I'm also a newbie to some degree every year after as little as 3 months away from the bike and it takes a good month of riding every day in every situation to get back to where i was the year before.Statistics prove around here anyway that more riders crash in early season and the general consensus is it's because they have lost some of their skills over the winter.I would say it takes a 1000 miles before I get back into my normal riding style and lose the hesitation.

 

[jpz]

:them:

This has been a topic of extensive discussion on this forum. There are those that think the disc wheels are the problem. I am one of those. Once I got the discs off my VRSCA I had no problems in wind.

When I ran with the discs it was a scary with side winds on an Interstate Highway.

I have a VRSCSE now that does not have discs. No problems in very strong side winds.

:them:

 

[Cabeca de Ferro]

There is a wind effect in the VRSCA models.You can feel that with more or less intensity depending of your sensibility and/or a lot of external factors.The disc wheel is not the main culprit as many people says,but has a big influence on it.The VRSCA geometry makes that sensation more pronunciated.Let's start with the rake neck angle:34 degree of rake it is not so much (bike would runs great with that) but to keep the bike's profile long.H-D has used the chopper solution to give them their agressive look.Raked triple trees more 4 degrees,totaling 38 degrees.We use that 'trick' to correct the trail in choppers to give them handling.Raked triple trees are really used when the bike has a raked neck of 40 degree or more.Short trail creates a instability as the speed increases and long trail makes the bike runs sluggish at high speeds and you will have throuble balancing your bike at low speeds.So, when you riding your bike in a windy day the front
wheel is pushed by the wind creating a broom effect because the short trail.If you use another wheel,you will reduce the sensation a lot,but it still remains there.Take a look at the numbers of other VRSC models:
VRSCA--------------34 rake--- 4 triple tree--- 3,9" trail--- 67,5" wheel base
VRSCR--------------30 rake--- 2 triple tree--- 4,3" trail--- 66,8" wheel base
VRSCAW/NRS 07/11--34 rake---2 triple tree--- 4,5" trail--- 67,2" wheel base
NRS 12-UP/Muscle---34 rake---0 trple tree--- 5,6" trail--- 67,0" wheel base

 

[Cabeca de Ferro]

I mean,if you like the disc wheels but feels insecure,change your triple tree.It is cheaper than change the wheels.

 

[V-Rod Mussle]

My 2cents on this subject,, have been riding off and on since 1985, first bike was a 82 HD Sturgis, all belt drive, top speed 90 mph, got blown across the road (lane) riding in the Mojave desert of Cali. never felt what is known as front end wobble, then to an 84 Electra glide, still no wobble, just dumped it on my left knee and spent the next 7 months in rehab. then to an 06 vrsc R bike set too high for me and the wind almost blew me over at a stop light , traded it off after 2 years for my current Vrsc F and have both the R and the F up over 125 and have had no wobble. Have had the wind cause unwanted lane changes at times, I also like to relax when riding. Fingers hooked over the grips, and elbows slightly bent, kinda like sitting in easy chair on 2 wheels, I also noticed that when tensed up ruts trucks vans and wind ten to cause bike to shift, change position in lane, more that when relaxed, my opinion is that when tense tend to think rather than just let instinct direct action, so stiffness causes over reaction and over compensation, instead of the light movement required . just my 2c.