Desert Spyder
New member
Apparently, we're not alone with steering issues:
http://www.bikerspost.com/forum/topics/some-harley-motorcycles
http://www.bikerspost.com/forum/topics/some-harley-motorcycles
-
There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.
HD Death Wobble
- Thread starter Desert Spyder
- Start date
SpyderWolf
New member
We will never be alone, all machines have problems at one time or another. Unfortunately they already have confirmed deaths from whatever is causing this issue. I hope they are able to figure it out and fix it soon, as there are a whole lot more of those on the road than Spyders.
kman
New member
wobble
When I was 12 years old I had a 26" Schwinn bicycle and put a 20" tire on the front.On the way to the community pool going down a steep hill about 30 mph the front started to wooble and I lost control and was thrown off the front of the bike and suffered a "mild concussion.4 years later when I had my car learners permit my parents let me drive the family to the beach.At one point on a road that probably had a speed limit of 30 or 35 mph a motorcycle was in front of us.As he went thru a little "s" turn his front end started to wobble and he lost control went off the right side of the road and barley missed hitting some trees.As far as I can remember he wasn't hurt too bad.
This was 40 years ago,and the main reason I never wanted a motorcycle.
I do not know what kind of motorcycle the gentleman was riding but I knew I didn't want one.I am soooo glad Can Am came out with the :spyder2:I didn't know what I was missing all these years.These past 2 and a half years I feel like a kid again.This midlife crisis thing ain't so bad!
Ride safe.
When I was 12 years old I had a 26" Schwinn bicycle and put a 20" tire on the front.On the way to the community pool going down a steep hill about 30 mph the front started to wooble and I lost control and was thrown off the front of the bike and suffered a "mild concussion.4 years later when I had my car learners permit my parents let me drive the family to the beach.At one point on a road that probably had a speed limit of 30 or 35 mph a motorcycle was in front of us.As he went thru a little "s" turn his front end started to wobble and he lost control went off the right side of the road and barley missed hitting some trees.As far as I can remember he wasn't hurt too bad.
This was 40 years ago,and the main reason I never wanted a motorcycle.
I do not know what kind of motorcycle the gentleman was riding but I knew I didn't want one.I am soooo glad Can Am came out with the :spyder2:I didn't know what I was missing all these years.These past 2 and a half years I feel like a kid again.This midlife crisis thing ain't so bad!
Ride safe.
JJW SpyderRider
New member
WOW what an eye opener :yikes:. I never whated a two wheeler although I do like the looks and engineering in them. I too am glad that we have the Spyder option :bowdown:. I never had any issues with the DPS but seeing what can happen on two wheels will give me great concern.
Bob Denman
New member
"Death wobble"... sounds kind of ominous... :yikes:
Anybody who's ever ridden a big touring bike that's had lots of farkles and luggage added to it has probably felt a head-shake or two. Harley isn't any more guilty than any of the other manufacturers in this regard.
My 'Wing used to blur the bars every once in a while just to make sure that I was awake... :shocked:
Adding some mass to the bars (Try hanging on!) and reducing your speed will cure about 99.9% of them.
HDX is right; a redesign has helped... Although I'd be reluctant to say that it cured it...only time will tell!
Anybody who's ever ridden a big touring bike that's had lots of farkles and luggage added to it has probably felt a head-shake or two. Harley isn't any more guilty than any of the other manufacturers in this regard.
My 'Wing used to blur the bars every once in a while just to make sure that I was awake... :shocked:
Adding some mass to the bars (Try hanging on!) and reducing your speed will cure about 99.9% of them.
HDX is right; a redesign has helped... Although I'd be reluctant to say that it cured it...only time will tell!
Firefly
Active member
Most spyders never had any dps problems and I'm sure most HD's didn't have steering problems either - but BRP sure handled their problems way better- replacing them ALL even though most would probably run for years without any trouble.
The HD 'American- built (our stuff is the best of the best) exceptionalism' will be their ultimate downfall.
The HD 'American- built (our stuff is the best of the best) exceptionalism' will be their ultimate downfall.
Firefly
Active member
HD never made more than a few hundred thousand bikes in a year-----'millions' --- :roflblack: not.
-------------------
A few hundred(?) people with actual DPS problems on the Spyder doesn't constitute a 'widespread' problem....BRP listens to customer input and makes changes like no other company in this industry. It's amazing some of the things they have changed due to customer input. The software updates most likely would have kept the NHTSA happy -- but they went the extra mile and beefed up the DPS and replaced them all -- costing millions of dollars.
HD people often seem to think their product is 'the best' because it's (somewhat) made in US (American-made exceptionalism) --- even though just many(most?) foreign bike makers produce a superior product.
They're not an inferior product specifically because they are 'American made' --- but they sure as heck aren't a superior product just BECAUSE they're American made...same with cars or anything. yet that is a main draw people have towards HD.
Who knows-- Detroit is making a decent comeback -- maybe HD can too....won't happen from my $$$ though-they just never made anything I cared for.
A good HD pal of mine was going to add an HD touring bike to his collection-- until he went and rode a Goldwing....superior quality and ride was the impression made. He also told me today that he experienced the 'HD wobble' a few times and wasn't sure what the heck was going on.
Hopefully HD will get this sorted out before more people get injured or die.
It will be most interesting once they start making them in India later this year---- and in the years to follow when they start importing them back to the US.... although HD makes more profit just from t-shirt sales ALONE than all bike sales combined.
------------------
The original poster made a good point in that no company is too big or too good to avoid such problems - it's how they deal with them that matters. Seems HD is doing the typical (and perhaps BRP did at first too?) 'deny there is a problem' thing.
--------------------
Q: Why are Harley's some of the safest bikes on the road?
A: You can't go fast enough to hurt yourself.... :roflblack:
-------------------
A few hundred(?) people with actual DPS problems on the Spyder doesn't constitute a 'widespread' problem....BRP listens to customer input and makes changes like no other company in this industry. It's amazing some of the things they have changed due to customer input. The software updates most likely would have kept the NHTSA happy -- but they went the extra mile and beefed up the DPS and replaced them all -- costing millions of dollars.
HD people often seem to think their product is 'the best' because it's (somewhat) made in US (American-made exceptionalism) --- even though just many(most?) foreign bike makers produce a superior product.
They're not an inferior product specifically because they are 'American made' --- but they sure as heck aren't a superior product just BECAUSE they're American made...same with cars or anything. yet that is a main draw people have towards HD.
Who knows-- Detroit is making a decent comeback -- maybe HD can too....won't happen from my $$$ though-they just never made anything I cared for.
A good HD pal of mine was going to add an HD touring bike to his collection-- until he went and rode a Goldwing....superior quality and ride was the impression made. He also told me today that he experienced the 'HD wobble' a few times and wasn't sure what the heck was going on.
Hopefully HD will get this sorted out before more people get injured or die.
It will be most interesting once they start making them in India later this year---- and in the years to follow when they start importing them back to the US.... although HD makes more profit just from t-shirt sales ALONE than all bike sales combined.
------------------
The original poster made a good point in that no company is too big or too good to avoid such problems - it's how they deal with them that matters. Seems HD is doing the typical (and perhaps BRP did at first too?) 'deny there is a problem' thing.
--------------------
Q: Why are Harley's some of the safest bikes on the road?
A: You can't go fast enough to hurt yourself.... :roflblack:
:agree:
I have to agree with Firefly. HD needs a radical transformation if its going to be around 20yrs from now. I lived in Europe for a while and hung out with some serious riders. They consider HD's big, heavy, slow, expensive, poor-handling, and unreliable. They snicker when they see a HD and think of the rider as a poser, not a serious rider.
HD may be doing OK now, but the younger generation has a similar opinion (in general). Older folks assocaite the HD with some sort of James Dean/Rebel image, but the kids today associate HD with a dentist having a mid-life crisis.
I'm a patriot, and will buy American if the product is in the ballpark, but not if it's an clearly inferior product taking advantage of our loyalties and surviving based solely on a combination of nostaglia and marketing.
Plus, I will always resent HD for shutting down Buell instead of selling it to BRP. BRP wanted to buy Buell and move production of the Spyder to the same Wisconsin plant, but HD refused and just shut it down instead. They gave some lame-ass explanation that it would be too hard to separate it, but the real reason was that HD was afraid that BRP might actually turn it around and make HD's management team look incompetent.
I have to agree with Firefly. HD needs a radical transformation if its going to be around 20yrs from now. I lived in Europe for a while and hung out with some serious riders. They consider HD's big, heavy, slow, expensive, poor-handling, and unreliable. They snicker when they see a HD and think of the rider as a poser, not a serious rider.
HD may be doing OK now, but the younger generation has a similar opinion (in general). Older folks assocaite the HD with some sort of James Dean/Rebel image, but the kids today associate HD with a dentist having a mid-life crisis.
I'm a patriot, and will buy American if the product is in the ballpark, but not if it's an clearly inferior product taking advantage of our loyalties and surviving based solely on a combination of nostaglia and marketing.
Plus, I will always resent HD for shutting down Buell instead of selling it to BRP. BRP wanted to buy Buell and move production of the Spyder to the same Wisconsin plant, but HD refused and just shut it down instead. They gave some lame-ass explanation that it would be too hard to separate it, but the real reason was that HD was afraid that BRP might actually turn it around and make HD's management team look incompetent.
Huh? Buell was using a Rotax engine, which BRP owns, and is also in the Spyder. Which is part of the reason why BRP wanted to buy it.
I don't question your figures, but revenues are 100% irrelevant, my friend. GM had 'revenues' of about $150billion in 2008, but almost went bankrupt because they lost money on every car sold. Talk profits - ROA, ROI, ROE - market share and revenue mean nothing!
SethO
New member
it is a motorcycle problem, racers put steering dampeners on their bikes like I had to in my 02 R1, I still have a broken left collar bone when I was test driving it and picked the tire up in second on 35e in the twin cities I put it back down at a slight angle and it started tank slap, well there are 2 ways to un F this, power thru it to get pressure off the tire or push hard on the handlebars to stop the skip. I did the second and probably slightly re broke my collarbone. I put a GPR steering stabilizer on it and no more problems, I have had one on every bike I bough since.
Most of the issue is tire skip when it comes to this issue on rockets with a longer rake it would be worse and with the softer HD suspension it would compound the issue.
After reading the CHP burned the HD contract then it makes me believe that is more of issue than just rider error but to not acknowledge the issue and them burning Buell they way they did ( 1125 motor would have been awesome in the RS) it VERY lucky that they got the India factory rocking to stay in business. They were adamant that no India part would be on american bikes but they did not say for how long.
Most of the issue is tire skip when it comes to this issue on rockets with a longer rake it would be worse and with the softer HD suspension it would compound the issue.
After reading the CHP burned the HD contract then it makes me believe that is more of issue than just rider error but to not acknowledge the issue and them burning Buell they way they did ( 1125 motor would have been awesome in the RS) it VERY lucky that they got the India factory rocking to stay in business. They were adamant that no India part would be on american bikes but they did not say for how long.
Firefly
Active member
1. I'm still not your friend-- sorry but my dance ticket is full -- you'll have to go to www.ineedafriend.com.
B. Revenue is not indicative of PROFIT.
3. Funny how HD now can only lay claim to being the 'heavyweight' bike sales king----:roflblack: Being so dang heavy is a lot of the problem.
T. My friend didn't BUY the Honda yet-- he has only owned HD's -- but after riding a new Goldwing said that will be his next touring bike -- while keeping an HD for cruising. Not sure which particular HD model(s) he had the wobble with--- oh wait-- now I remember-- it was the HD POS.....:roflblack:
42. This is a Spyder forum--- who really gives a rip about HD's? :roflblack: Sure some of us raz them out here---- nothing like the razzing the Spyder gets on HD forums I'm sure. Guess if you don't want to read any occasional HD razzing--- you should spend more time on the HD forums. :thumbup:
Most out here are here because the Spyder is the #1 bike in their stable.:thumbup:
B. Revenue is not indicative of PROFIT.
3. Funny how HD now can only lay claim to being the 'heavyweight' bike sales king----:roflblack: Being so dang heavy is a lot of the problem.
T. My friend didn't BUY the Honda yet-- he has only owned HD's -- but after riding a new Goldwing said that will be his next touring bike -- while keeping an HD for cruising. Not sure which particular HD model(s) he had the wobble with--- oh wait-- now I remember-- it was the HD POS.....:roflblack:
42. This is a Spyder forum--- who really gives a rip about HD's? :roflblack: Sure some of us raz them out here---- nothing like the razzing the Spyder gets on HD forums I'm sure. Guess if you don't want to read any occasional HD razzing--- you should spend more time on the HD forums. :thumbup:
Most out here are here because the Spyder is the #1 bike in their stable.:thumbup:
SethO
New member
OF COURSE they are going to say that, especially on their website, IF harvey said they are going to take american jobs and give them to even ONE person in INDIA they would lose the last section of business that is so defensive of them. But the ceo that go a HUGE bonus for getting Harvey "back on track"
were do you think that money came from? Investor's that saw a issue the could capitalize on. Its a global economy and in less than 2 years you will see parts or full bikes being sold from that factory. HD's new CEO does not care about the name or what it stands for, it's just money and that is what they are going to make if they play it the public right.
IF you don't believe this then you are just blinded by your own loyalty to a company that stopped caring after the AMF take over. The old school riders that cared more about riding and less about what the other Harvey guy has are the people that kept the real icon alive. Victory is grabbing more of the "american" buying market by the day.
HD does make a damn good ultra classic which if you want a couch for 2 to ride around the country in a straight line at a slow comfortable pace for 23,500 then they have that niche market for now...
Firefly
Active member
:agree:
They've also been threatening to close the WI plant if the union doesn't agree to serious cuts - and considering all the horrible political things going on in WI - it's sure to be a reality.
But heck-- all the HD trinkets are already made in China anyway--- and they buy them up like no tomorrow --- so maybe the HD crowd won't care when they do move production over there. They've been getting the electronics and various other parts from China anyway....
Couch---- LOL
Hey bro---- when you get your package tomorrow make sure and read the reference line on the UPS label......
bjt
Very Helpful Member
Me too. I've been occasionally looking around for a great deal on a Ulysses. I'd like to have one of those.
Similar threads
