A couple of weeks ago I was riding my 07 blue and white Kingpin tour to work. On my way home I stopped at a Chevron and bought a pack of Cigarettes. When I left the gas station I started feeling a wobbling feeling and was afraid so I pulled over and checked my wheels, tires and any area that I could jiggle by hand and everything was tight. Jumped back on and went down the road again and it happened again, and I had to limp it home under 20 mph. It is passed warranty and I need some suggestions as to what it could be. There was also a whine as I let off the throttle during that time but I might have just been in second gear too long. Anything over 20 mph was increasingly scary, it felt like too many grooves in the road or something. Please has anyone ever had the same issue?:D

Are the wheels balanced?

Check your tyres for tread separation etc

Take it to a dealer if in any doubt

When either tire gets low, the bike will feel very squirly and "wobly"

I bought my second Harley used. It was an 06 fatboy. I got it and went out for a ride... ended up on the highway and thought I was gonna die. 15 pounds in the back tire.

I always keep my rear at 40 and the front around 38 on my 09 flht.

Check your head/steering bearings.

I had the same problem with my kingpin it was the tire design as the center wore more then the sides it caused a weird feeling while driving so I switched to Metzler problem gone

My money is on low air pressure in the tire. Bike tires are much more pourus, and need to be checked often

A couple of weeks ago I was riding my 07 blue and white Kingpin tour to work. On my way home I stopped at a Chevron and bought a pack of Cigarettes. When I left the gas station I started feeling a wobbling feeling and was afraid so I pulled over and checked my wheels, tires and any area that I could jiggle by hand and everything was tight. Jumped back on and went down the road again and it happened again, and I had to limp it home under 20 mph. It is passed warranty and I need some suggestions as to what it could be. There was also a whine as I let off the throttle during that time but I might have just been in second gear too long. Anything over 20 mph was increasingly scary, it felt like too many grooves in the road or something. Please has anyone ever had the same issue?:D

Please see my recently added post on page 2. I had bad steering head bearings. Felt like the bike was on rails. The factory grease was caked like mud. The wierd thing is if you sit on the bike at a standstill the bars will go lock to lock because of the weight of the bike on the steering head. The dealer said that when the bike was put on a lift and the weight taken off the fron tire that the steering"froze solid". Your problem sounds scary familiar.
New head bearings and the bike is fine. I will be seeking satisfaction from Victory. I have the bad bearings. Grease should not behave like that.
Good luck.

Please see my recently added post on page 2. I had bad steering head bearings. Felt like the bike was on rails. The factory grease was caked like mud. The wierd thing is if you sit on the bike at a standstill the bars will go lock to lock because of the weight of the bike on the steering head. The dealer said that when the bike was put on a lift and the weight taken off the fron tire that the steering"froze solid". Your problem sounds scary familiar.
New head bearings and the bike is fine. I will be seeking satisfaction from Victory. I have the bad bearings. Grease should not behave like that.
Good luck.

Before you go throwing stones at Polaris, Merkin, you better be sure you're not living in a glass house. Lots of things could account for that grease, man, not just a factory defect (see your other post).

Please see my recently added post on page 2. I had bad steering head bearings. Felt like the bike was on rails. The factory grease was caked like mud. The wierd thing is if you sit on the bike at a standstill the bars will go lock to lock because of the weight of the bike on the steering head. The dealer said that when the bike was put on a lift and the weight taken off the fron tire that the steering"froze solid". Your problem sounds scary familiar.
New head bearings and the bike is fine. I will be seeking satisfaction from Victory. I have the bad bearings. Grease should not behave like that.
Good luck.

My Victory was riding just fine. I had new tires put on by the dealer and when I began to ride around 65mph I got the wobble. Just got back from the dealer to have them check. They said it is the head bearings

What year is your KP? What kind of miles? Do you keep it indoors?Have they fixed it yet? Make sure you get the old parts back. I would like to compare findings when you do.
Fixed under warranty?

What year is your KP? What kind of miles? Do you keep it indoors?Have they fixed it yet? Make sure you get the old parts back. I would like to compare findings when you do.
Fixed under warranty?

It is a 2007 I bought new 0 miles in 2008 I have 13,000. It isn't fixed yet, they have to order the parts,

All too often I hear the "just got new tires then the wobble started" Are your tires the same make and brand front and back? For some odd reason mixing tires on the KP's causes a wobble. Are the tires balanced?

All too often I hear the "just got new tires then the wobble started" Are your tires the same make and brand front and back? For some odd reason mixing tires on the KP's causes a wobble. Are the tires balanced?

Two new Metzler Tires. The only thing that was changed on the Bike after 13,000 miles (With exception of oil) is the tires. The shop I took it to had another KP with exactly the same scenario two weeks before. They changed the tires and the bike was brought back with wobbling. Before that no wobble up to 100 mph

to me , it sounds like the same old drill, as already mentioned , tires, air pressure, steering head bearings, grease, adjustment, wheel bearings, throw a wheel weight? did the service people perform the tasks correctly, ? the last remark about service people is probably the reason most of us buy manuals, and perform the tasks ourselves, that way you know for sure, saving money is second in benifits,

it should be a process of elimination, what happened , or what was done just prior to the problem, also remember problems can just happen as in miles, rain, dampness, often , no one persons fault,

shit does happen. do you check your tire pressure , basically every time you get on the bike? if not with a t.p. gage at least look at them for cuts, nails, or whatever in the tire and at least kick em , you can get a general feel as to low air.

apologise for rambling, some of us come frome a mechanic background, we all need to be more aware, crashing sucks, big time.

steve

Here is another thing I've heard. Metzlers don't like Kingpins.

diamond, not to be contentious.... but can anyone give us here on the forum specifics on what size, model of tires were talking about? i have a hard time believing metzler tires are the culprit, altho im open to facts ! i put metzler marathons on my harley fxrs which weighs around 650 lbs. and for me they are hard to beat, light years ahead of the dunlaps,

perhaps the proble comes from the mounting ? the psi, ? the balancing ? not matching the designed front with the rear ?, bias on one axle v/s radial on the other ?? questions questions and more questions.

thanks , steve

diamond, not to be contentious.... but can anyone give us here on the forum specifics on what size, model of tires were talking about? i have a hard time believing metzler tires are the culprit, altho im open to facts ! i put metzler marathons on my harley fxrs which weighs around 650 lbs. and for me they are hard to beat, light years ahead of the dunlaps,

perhaps the proble comes from the mounting ? the psi, ? the balancing ? not matching the designed front with the rear ?, bias on one axle v/s radial on the other ?? questions questions and more questions.

thanks , steve

While the tires you put on your FXR was a common sized ply tire that worked well with the suspension in stock form. The only Metzler available for Vic[[KP-V] is a radial. Radials unlike ply tires act as suspensions themselves. This is why you see NASCAR teams adjusting their cars with as little as 1psi. MANY people have run into wobbles after switching to Metzlers. I am not sure if is because Metzler uses a harder, or softer sidewall then Avon[I suspect softer], but the issue tends to be much more prevalent with the Metzler. Either way the tire, and suspension start working against each other, and the two items acting at different times can, and will make things REAL interesting. The VERY short sidewall on the 250 used for JP, and H bikes seem to offset the problem, but let the pressure drop below 30psi on those bikes, and you will be in for another fun ride
Now all of this said. Most if not all of the wobble can be reduced by increasing the tire pressure to 40 front, and 42 rear. This takes some of the suspension out of the tires, and puts it back in the shock, and forks where it belongs. If the wobble still persists then tightening up the preload on the rear spring will generally get rid of the rest

While the tires you put on your FXR was a common sized ply tire that worked well with the suspension in stock form. The only Metzler available for Vic[[KP-V] is a radial. Radials unlike ply tires act as suspensions themselves. This is why you see NASCAR teams adjusting their cars with as little as 1psi. MANY people have run into wobbles after switching to Metzlers. I am not sure if is because Metzler uses a harder, or softer sidewall then Avon[I suspect softer], but the issue tends to be much more prevalent with the Metzler. Either way the tire, and suspension start working against each other, and the two items acting at different times can, and will make things REAL interesting. The VERY short sidewall on the 250 used for JP, and H bikes seem to offset the problem, but let the pressure drop below 30psi on those bikes, and you will be in for another fun ride
Now all of this said. Most if not all of the wobble can be reduced by increasing the tire pressure to 40 front, and 42 rear. This takes some of the suspension out of the tires, and puts it back in the shock, and forks where it belongs. If the wobble still persists then tightening up the preload on the rear spring will generally get rid of the rest

Ok,

Here is the whole of it.

I have only ridden my 2007 KP in the rain a couple of times.
I keep it in the garage when not riding.
I perform all of the service I can myself, I bought the service manual when I bought the bike.

The tires are
Front: 130/70 B M/C 63H
Rear: 180/55 ZR18 M/C (74W)

The first time I noticed wobble is when I reached 65 MPH for the first time. The ride became more interesting the faster I went. The tire pressure was 40 psi in both tires. This is what Metzler recommends. I then began to experiment with tire pressure. Since the old tires run at lower tire pressure I began to decrease in increments of 2psi on both tires until I reached the tire pressure Victory recommends for the Dunlop tires. The wobble went from 65mph to 75mph. Then I took it back to the dealer that changed the tires to find out what happened. The dealer mechanic rode the bike himself and then inspected the bike and came up with the head bearings as the culprit. I am not convinced that the problem was not created by the dealer when changing the tires in the first place because I did not have a wobble before I had the tires changed.

The only reason I took it to the dealer to do the tire change is because I don't have the tools to change a tire on the wheel myself.

Mine was tire pressure in the front tire. Try a few different pressures around 32 psi.

very interesting, thanks kevin , have you seen the metzlers work on the vegas , where the front is 21 " ? ? i believe the rear size is the same as the kingpin , like i posted earlier i rode with metzlers, for probably 16 yrs [ no not the same tires] and simply loved them light yrs. ahead of the dunlops imo if they won't work do you know if the avons will , ? thanks


steve

I listened to Kevin and other knowledgable Vic Mechs. Of course that was after the fact.. lol When I changed my rear tire the first time I had the lovely wobble. Noticed it started at one speed on concrete and a different speed on asphalt. Anyway it would start later at a higher speed as my mileage went up and I increased the flat spot in the center. Around 1K miles on the new tire I had no more wobble. It was around this that I found a couple of different Vic forums that very experienced Vic Mechs monitor and comment on. After finding some threads about the same wobble with non-OEM brands of tires on Kingpins the common attribute seemed to be the tire pressure. I have followed the 40-42 psi rear and 38-40 psi front and have not had any problems. Just had a new set on Bridgestone Excedras put on a couple of weeks ago. Put the pressure in those ranges and not a wobble, peep, shuffle, or anything. Crosswinds, headwinds, following winds, 90-95 mph sustained for at least 20 minutes average between sitings of LEO's. Life is good.

abom2 thanks for the reply, like they say proof is in the pudding,

confirms what kevin and diamond have been saying,


steve cheers

Remember the investment commercial from years back? Well when these guys speak, "I listen."

when I began to ride around 65mph I got the wobble.

Can you describe the wobble? I just bought an '06 Kingpin....and rode it up to Canada from Portland Oregon last Sunday. Intermittently....as I was riding....anywhere from 60 mph to 75 mph.....the bike suddenly started wobbling from side to side....sort of like veering from 5-10 degrees off vertical from one side to the other. It wasn't (or didn't seem like) the front wheel per se....but the entire bike leaned first one way...then the other way. Very disconcerting.

Now...when I got it home....I noticed that it has a Metzeler radial on the rear....and a Dunlop bias on the front. I know with cars....you're not supposed to mix radials with bias tires....isn't it the same with bikes?

Any ideas as to what caused this....it's not something I'm prepared to live with. Other than that.....I LOVE my bike....brought it across the border today.....few more administrative hoops to jump through and I can register and insure it....and then RIDE!

By the way....I got 60 mpg (Imperial) (48 mpg to the US gallon) on the one tank I emptied....got 178 miles on the tank....at 65-75 mph.

Is this typical?

Thanks for any input
Walt:)

Just to throw this out. I changed to a Dunlop D407 for the rear of my KP just over 1000 miles ago. I have to say this tire flat blows away anything else that has been back there. Straight line stability, excellent transition, and roll into a corner is at least as good as the Avon. Plus it stciks very well on the wet roads around here. The only draw back is that it says HD on the side wall. This is the tire speced for the SE Road Glide. Can't really speak to the 408 they spec for the front though because my front is a 120/70-21"

Can you describe the wobble? I just bought an '06 Kingpin....and rode it up to Canada from Portland Oregon last Sunday. Intermittently....as I was riding....anywhere from 60 mph to 75 mph.....the bike suddenly started wobbling from side to side....sort of like veering from 5-10 degrees off vertical from one side to the other. It wasn't (or didn't seem like) the front wheel per se....but the entire bike leaned first one way...then the other way. Very disconcerting.

Now...when I got it home....I noticed that it has a Metzeler radial on the rear....and a Dunlop bias on the front. I know with cars....you're not supposed to mix radials with bias tires....isn't it the same with bikes?

Any ideas as to what caused this....it's not something I'm prepared to live with. Other than that.....I LOVE my bike....brought it across the border today.....few more administrative hoops to jump through and I can register and insure it....and then RIDE!

By the way....I got 60 mpg (Imperial) (48 mpg to the US gallon) on the one tank I emptied....got 178 miles on the tank....at 65-75 mph.

Is this typical?

Thanks for any input
Walt:)


Did you go through the steps of checking the tires for wear and pressure? If so, then you need to have the wheel and steering bearings checked.

Did you go through the steps of checking the tires for wear and pressure? If so, then you need to have the wheel and steering bearings checked.

Lots of 'meat' on both tires....rear has perhaps 80% tread left, front at least 50%.

The dealer I bought it from put air in the tires before I left Portland, but I just checked them.....and they seem low....rear is at 36 and front is a little less. I think the book says for loads over 220 lbs, they should be around 38/40 or so.

Can you address the issue of having a bias-ply tire on the front and a radial on the rear. Seems to me that....once upon a time, I put bias winter tires on a car I had.....while it had radials on the front....and the handling was somewhat squirrely.

On another note....how does one put the bike up on a lift? My Suzuki frame rails hung below the engine....so it was no problem to position the lift under the rails...and lift. The Victory seems as if the engine case hangs well below the frame rails....so how in the world does one put the bike up on the lift?

Thanks in advance.

Walt:)

Radial on rear/ply on front is OK
Ply on rear/radial on front is VERY scary

Many bikes today come from the factory with a mixed set up. Most fat rear tires are radial and any 21" narrower then 120 is ply. So bikes like the JP, Rocker C, and I believe the Raider also have that set up

Radial on rear/ply on front is OK
Ply on rear/radial on front is VERY scary.

Thanks....I was just extrapolating from my knowledge of car tires.

I think I'll start by putting a lot more air in the tires....38-40 in the front, and 40-42 in the rear....and see if that fixes the problem.

Can you shed any light on how to put the bike on a lift?
:)