High Speed Wobble - 2008 Touring

[johnreeder]

I've read several commits on steering shake or what some call wobble and I have experienced it on different bikes over the years. But what I'm experiencing is different. My wobble doesn't start until I reach approximately 110 MPH. It starts as a wobble then the bike seems to want to weave from side to side. I usually back off right away and it goes away. The other day I decided to try and ride through it and I thought I was going down in a big way. I don't scare easy but, this is something I don't ever want to experience again. I had no control as hard as I tried. Fortunately it went away after slowing enough and I didn't go down. I'm planning to check the steering head for exessive play but, I thought I'd check to see if anyone else has experienced this. Another thing that might be related is that the bike pulls left when I take my hands off the bars. I've owned another Rocket (an 05 standard) and it was as solid as a rock to whatever speed you wanted to go. Many times I ran it to 130-140 and never the least bit of a shake or wobble.

JR

 

[Macrider]

wobble

Mine did that too, then when I changed to a new front tire the wobble disappeared.
So in my case it was the tire.

 

[DRMD421]

Mine did that with a car tire. My Valk ran straight and true with the same tire. I reckon that front tire just might be a place to start.

 

[Tripps]

I think it's endemic to the bike, and I'm pretty sure it's the tall windshield. I have a 2010 R3T, I experienced the weird low frequency weave at 130 mph, super scary. Nothing like headshake at all, more like the bike is rotating slowly along it's longitudinal axis. Ditto on the pull, mines done it since new, through 3 or 4 different front tires, so I don't know what to say, except my headstock bearings seem fine,

 

[tdragger]

Some others have reported that after they fitted the engine dresser (crash?) bars that they experienced a "pull" to one side or the other, typically left.

Most likely the front tire.
Next would be loose steering head bearing.
Next, crash bars if fitted.

or, SLOW THE HELL DOWN!!!

 

[STRIPES]

Curiously, I had a slight pull to the left on my Standard until I replaced the OE crash bars with some that actually provided some protection. Leads me to think it has something to do with alignment that changes when the motor is loosened and retightened.

 

[vanguard138]

OK, that is way over the spped limit

I think Triumph builds that into the bike as a "governor"..........

Mine does it too.

 

[TheMadScientist]

Like tripps I have an oscillation at high speed. It is weird, not really a wobble. My is at a high frequency, probably because I a short windshield so it's resonant frequency would be different. Interesting, it happens close to the same speed that it happened to Tripp around 132 mph.
I have experienced the death wobble before, not a good feeling. I am glad you were able to ride it out. When it happened to me you could have made a diamond by sticking a chunk of coal up my ass. That didn't sound right.
My first guess would be the tire.

 

[muleskinner]

My 011 touring does not do it. I've been to 125MPH on it.

 

[Tripps]

I have been to 120+, too, and not experienced it. (the wobble), til 130. I wonder if Triumph is aware of this and that is why it comes speed limited and without V rated tires, On the slight pull (right), mine is not at high speeds, I don't let go of the handlebars at high speeds, LOL, and it is slight, only noticeable, like the slight headshake, at low speed deceleration, I did think it went away once, with a new tire, but returned withing 500-1000 miles, so maybe it does have something to do with tire wear patterns.