Went on a short ride today to gas up the bike. On the way back I relaxed my grip on the hand grips and bike started to go into a scary, very scary wobble.
When I got home I looked the front end over and noticed some paint missing on my fender and a bolt rubbing against it. Didn’t do that before and I have no idea what is going on. Will be going out later to begin further troubleshooting and not sure the two are related? Springer front end is not happy at the moment.
Steering neck bearings were adjusted in the fall,via fall away.
ive got three days to sort this out before leaving for Maine.
Thoughts??
Went on a short ride today to gas up the bike. On the way back I relaxed my grip on the hand grips and bike started to go into a scary, very scary wobble.
When I got home I looked the front end over and noticed some paint missing on my fender and a bolt rubbing against it. Didn’t do that before and I have no idea what is going on. Will be going out later to begin further troubleshooting and not sure the two are related? Springer front end is not happy at the moment.Steering neck bearings were adjusted in the fall,via fall away.
ive got three days to sort this out before leaving for Maine.
Thoughts??
Dave, I can confirm from satellite images that this bolt rubbing against the front fender....is directly related to the front end wobble you experienced.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Can you do me a favor and zoom in of that satellite image to see what is actually causing the problem?
Can you do me a favor and zoom in of that satellite image to see what is actually causing the problem?
Give me a minute....I have to get to a secure location that will allow me to boot up my login.
Been through 10 states in the past 4 days, so I am a bit road weary.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Hi Dave,
I've noticed front tire pressure can make a big difference in front end wobble at lower speeds on my rig. I've had "wobble" happen at as high as 30 mph due to low tire pressure. On my specific rig 32 psi on the front seems to work best. I've read that setup / sidecar alignment, and flex between the bike and sidecar frame can cause it at higher speeds. Toe-in adjustment seems to be pretty common in threads on wobble.
Another common thread is the use of steering dampers. I have no personal experience here, but my gut feeling would be to focus on the best alignment, and limiting flex in the frames & mounting struts, then use a damper to help limit any further wobble.
Please take my input with a grain of salt, as I've not personally dealt with this phenomena yet, that wasn't my own causing (i.e. front tire pressure). Hope this is helpful.
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Scott makes a good point about tire pressure. Too low is likely worse than too high. Dampers should be saved for as needed, not first response. Keep tweaking setup and alignment and keep records of what you have set to each time changing one thing at a time until you get a good feeling set up.
Once you have a good setup, keep a close eye on tire wear to look for subtle issues. My previous rig went through sidecar tires very quickly, even though overall handling was excellent. That may have also been tied to tire pressure since I changed that and didn’t have the rig long enough afterwards to evaluate the change.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Thank you for all very much for your replies and great advice. I’ll try tire pressure tomorrow.
The champion set up utilizes one piece bosses that limit the adjustability of the tub. Their tech called me and he said to use an inch and a quarter for the tow in and the instructions in the manual say to expect about 9 inches of lead for the side car wheel when the bosses are in a position that puts the sidecar level, both of which are contrary to what I’ve read everywhere else. The tech couldn’t give me an actual degree of lean, he said to try it until you find a happy angle (straight down the road, which worked out to about 2’.
Worked on it all day but heavy rain prevented a final test ride. Hoping air pressure and the other tweaking is the answer. One of the tweaks included removing the front wheel and fender in order to grind the head of a bolt that contacting the fender when compressed, a springer thing.
One huge frustration was my garage floor, I only checked it for level at the overhead door and forgot it pitched to the center of the building where there’s a floor drain…..
Hoping to get a few test miles in before heading out Thursday afternoon. I’m trailering this time and hope to ride locally at the rally. See you all Thursday evening.
Couldn’t wait till morning looked up the specifications for my bike’s front tire and it calls for 36 psi. I went out and checked, it was 36 psi. I will remember this for future use.
Couldn’t wait till morning looked up the specifications for my bike’s front tire and it calls for 36 psi. I went out and checked, it was 36 psi. I will remember this for future use.
Um, yeah. Skip the manufacturer’s recommended pressures. Miles was tasked by mother Honda, Bridgestone and Dunlop to determine the ideal tire pressures for Goldwings. He did so. They publish their own recommendations anyway. The simple answer is do what works best.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Couldn’t wait till morning looked up the specifications for my bike’s front tire and it calls for 36 psi. I went out and checked, it was 36 psi. I will remember this for future use.
Dave, just an FYI....not all specs by the motorcycle manufacturer, or the tire manufacturer are always correct. There are many factors to be considered to determine correct psi for any given tire, size, load, application, etc.
36 psi seems right to me, too.
But a perfect example of an error is, Mother Honda continues to print the wrong front tire pressure in the Honda Goldwing 1800 owners manuals.
Honda says 36, which is terribly wrong. I say 40 psi in the front tire, and thankfully a lot of people follow my advice.
EDIT: Thane. Stop posting at the same time I am posting....ya....ya....Shrek looking man.
Correction to Thane's post above. Dunlop....then Bridgestone....had me test tires to determine the correct tire pressures for the Goldwing 1800.
Old Lady Mother Honda couldn't care less about my observations and opinions.
On this trip out to the Sidecar Rally, I met a guy staying at the same Best Western hotel in Laramie, Wyoming. I knew his bike was a 2012 Goldwing 1800, and we talked for quite a bit. I noticed he had fairly recently installed new Bridgestone tires on the bike. He was from Richland, Washington, not that far from me, but had these new Bridgestone tires installed in Utah, only 400 miles ago.
Then....I showed him the adverse wear on the front tire....in 400 miles.
Yes, he agreed.
So, I asked the all important question: what pressures are you running in these new tires ?
He tells me that the shop set them at....36 in the front, and 41 in the rear. Just what Honda recommends.
I strongly suggested he raise the front tire pressure to 40 psi, and....possibly double the mileage he would get out of it.
Next morning, as I was getting ready to leave, he is riding back into the hotel parking lot, big grin on his face.
He says he set the front tire to 40 psi, then took it out for a 10 mile ride.
World of difference, he says. Feels better in corners and sweepers.
Another Goldwing owner learning that Mother Honda is not always right.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
The great thing is you'll be able to go to the rally and take your rig. That is pretty awesome! Hope you have an epic time, and get a lot of insightful information. 😎
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SORTED! I’m not sure what one thing made the difference but today with a passenger in the side car the rig was smooth and no wobble per se. the bike is loaded on a trailer and after fulfilling my duties as a pallbearer, we will be on our way to Maine for the rally.
I have seen sidecars in my Hancock and Williamstown Ma this morning heading north towards Maine.
very excited to be going and I want thank everyone on the forums who helped and gave me the needed push.
I’m bringing my good friend and fiberglass teacher and my brother who helped with the assembly as a thank you.
Right On! 🤩
Hope you all have an epic time.
Please take pics, and share, if you have the chance. 😎
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
On that note, I am going to create a Rally pictures thread.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
