Death wobble thought

[Golden Highway]

I was riding and thinking about the wobble that occurs on the 1200. Since it only happens when you take one or both hands off the handlebars. Wouldn't handlebar weights cure the problem. I have seen old ones that went inside the ends of the bars and new ones that go on the end of the grips. Anyone try this?

[1060dsl]

mine don't wobble..! I know the 1500 Suzuki Boulevard has a little wobble at 35 kph but not the Goldwing (that I know of) maybe you have something wrong up front?

[Hillbilly Rider]

Mine wobbled and got dangerously worse. I rebuilt the front calipers, re-sealed the forks and tightened the steering bearings and no more wobble.

[wingandaprayer]

Our Wing will wiggle the bars if I don't set the rear suspension sag back up to a more normal steering head angle when "loaded" with a passenger / junk in the panniers and trunk... the higher I set the back the quicker it steers.

34 psi front, 44 psi rear cold tyre pressure is what the Michelin Commander 2's like.

[1060dsl]

Any bike will wobble if something is not on right, or if something is loose, certainly not characteristic to the Gold Wing. As i mentioned I have no wobble (except late last night and that had more to do with the Leafs winning)

[mtnsurgtech]

if your wing doesn't wobble you have a lucky gold wing. The 1200 is historic for this problem and there are litteraly tons of threads on causes and fixes for this. It has been written up in bike magazines. Mine is usally tire related. I have rebuilt calipers, new forks seals and springs and new steering bearings. Didnt help a bit till i got a new tire. It is an inherent design issue with the 1200 series wings. Well documented, my mech laughed and said well of course it wobbles just dont take your hands off the bars on deceleration lol.

[Lehandre]

I had a similar experience with my Wing - twice. Very similar to a tankslap! Gave me the fright of my life! The first time was when I took my hands off the bars, quickly got that sorted out. The second time I was doing about 90km/h and decreased speed slightly to take an off-ramp - with both hands on the bars. I managed to get the bike out of this by accelerating.

After a full inspection I found a missing bolt on the engine mounting on the bottom of the bike. After tightening this I haven't experienced this wobble again! I had previously serviced the calipers and fork seals.

Didn't know this was a problem specific to a GQ

[rustymich]

Ive had three 1200s they all did this including the one I have now 43k,Ill tighten the head bearing and see..My Harleys nice but is lighter in the front...

[bagelboy]

I also was having a wobbling problem, but I was having a problem with my front caliper, which kept sticking and making the pads rub. Tried taking off and cleaning, but would still happen. I bought a used caliper on eBay and the wobbling stopped, so for me, it seemed related to the front caliper.

[bagelboy]

I had to go down to Virginia and back recently, about 800 miles. I started to notice the wobble is now back, and seems more present then ever. I doubt it is tires, but inflation, perhaps? I, of course checked the air, and set the air pressure on the shocks prior to leaving. I have my E3's set at 36 front, and 40 rear. I have my air pressure set at 1 in the front, and 6 in the back ( this is according to my Honda Owners Manual). If it's not this, I am open to ideas!

[Senkoguy]

Goldwings, as we know, are heavy motorcycles. That being said, there seems to be a lot of pressure on the steering stem bearings, which allow them to eventually develop a "set" which is an indent in the bearings when the front wheel is straight. Put your bike on the center stand with the front wheel free to swivel. Slowly move the bars left and right. If you feel the bars want to stop or resist moving when straight forward, you have worn bearings that is a major cause of wheel wobble.

[triwing]

Senkoguy is right on the mark,you can hardily see it in the race, you can feel it with your thumb nail easier than you can see it in the with my eyes any way.You need to sort the whole front end out,tires & all wear parts,when you do it will be smooth as silk & tight as a drum.You can steer with no hands & slow with no hands on bars with no movement up front.Upgrade both front & rear suspension at the same time,for a better than new ride.

[rustymich]

I have changed my steering bearings lubed and torqued and problem is gone...
This was my forth 1200 they all had the issue but this is the first I changed the bearings.
It is very nice now...These are what I bought and installed races to not just the bearing...
Replace them be safe...Don't waste your life on 24dollars it scares the hell out of
me when it wobbled...


ebay item#310878565110
All Balls Bearings

[wildhorse]

Freedom had a bad death wobble, found that the front wheel bearings had to be replaced, problem solved

[bs175dths]

Freedom had a bad death wobble, found that the front wheel bearings had to be replaced, problem solved

I find this amazing:
Freedom can sometimes develop a bad death wobble (is there such a thing as a 'good' death wobble?) and simply getting check of our bearings, will allow our FREEDOM to return to a steady and smooth path.

Too deep??

-ride On