Slight wobble at 80 to 90 mph

[dlewis1906]

I am having an issue with an intermittent wobble when riding at higher speeds. Kinda like when your behind a big truck. I have had the stirring head bearings replaced and the wheel bearings. I do not have a fork brace on the bike. I did not notice it until after I have the bearing replaced. It is really pronounced with I have the trailer hooked up to it. Any ideas?

[keithg64]

There are quite a few things it may be but with the trailer hooked up you have put added weight on the farthest part of the bike which changes the geometry of the trail on the front suspension which could have an effect of high speed riding.
Tire pressure and tire wear are a couple of other factors. Also, I had a problem with my bikes wobble at high speeds and I changed to a different windshield.

[dlewis1906]

Thanks for the response. The tires are new. I have the centramatic wheel balancers on them. I have the wobble with just the bike, but worse with the trailer. It is not a consistent thing, but intermittent. I do not feel it in the handle bars.

I just took the front fender off and side covers. No movement in the wheel at the 12,3, 6 and 9 o’clock position. Where the fork compress, no movement (When I push and pull). At the bottom of forks next to wheel axle, there is a slight flex. I have played with the tire pressure, but seems to have little affect. I have attached a picture showing the point where grabbed and got a little flex.

I am wondering if the wheel balancers are causing it.

[AZgl1800]

you said just the bike:

when the trailer is connected, the tongue weight should be 10% at a minimum.

I will take a guess that the steering head bearing is just a tab bit too tight.

1st though, I would loosen all of the bolts on the front axle, shift things around a bit, and make sure the forks are clamped in w/o a twist...

tight the axle nut in the correct order ( forget if left or right ) and the correct amount of torque.

helped mine, that was all I did.

[dlewis1906]

you said just the bike:

when the trailer is connected, the tongue weight should be 10% at a minimum.

I will take a guess that the steering head bearing is just a tab bit too tight.

1st though, I would loosen all of the bolts on the front axle, shift things around a bit, and make sure the forks are clamped in w/o a twist...

tight the axle nut in the correct order ( forget if left or right ) and the correct amount of torque.

helped mine, that was all I did.

I usually keep the tongue weight around the 10% of the trailer and its content weight (Total trailer weight).

I will try the loosening and re-tightening to spec (I think I have the correct tools)(I will need the get the special tool, I think).

I believe the correct tightening of the pinch bolts is (facing the front of bike) left first. Then adjust the right fork and tighten the pinch bolts. There is a line in the bolt that you adjust the fork to accordingly.

[dlewis1906]

PROBLEM Resolved. It turned out that the back tire was out of balance. The tire is balance and the "Tail wagging the dog" effect is gone. Thanks everyone for your input.

I have wheel balancers on the bike, but it is still suggested to have the wheel balanced due to the inconsistency of tire manufacturing.

[keithg64]

Good job, thanks for letting us know. I have used balancing beads for years and this year changed to centramatic beads.