Harley Davidson "Death Wobble"

[Blue-Sun]

There was a story on my local news about Harley Davidson motorcycles and something called the "Death Wobble".

Apparently its a vibration that magnifies and is difficult to stop or get back under control causing an accident.

The news story mentioned the "Road King", "Ultra Classic", "Electra Glide", and "FLH Series". I had never heard of this "death wobble" before hearing the news story.

I've never ridden a Harley and never experienced a vibration or wobble on any of my past bikes or present ride.

Is this just related to Harleys?? Has anyone ever heard of this "death wobble"??

Just curious...

 

[jammer]

Had the death wobble in my Jeep once but never heard of it on a bike.

 

[klawson]

I had an '05 Road King. I experienced the "wobble" while going down
a hill about 80 mph and touched the brakes to slow down. It gave me
quite a scare. It went away when I got off the brakes and never came
back at a slower speed.

 

[RoadTrip]

Yeah, I read about it awhile back, apparently to blame for some crashes, but for the most part it is rare, probably because you have to ride above the speed limit for it to happen

 

[FastFreddy]

I've had the bars wobble on the FZ6R when I was going downhill without the hands on the bars sitting upright doing about 35-40km/h then hit a small stone, it stopped as soon as I put the hands back on the bars.

I'm presuming the wobble can be tuned (the speed it happens at and intensity) based on local frame stiffness, shocks, tyres, cog, rider position. Apparently side loads on the tyres start it.

There's a video of Murray Walker on youtube talking about it in the 70s. He basically says to scoot your head down and it stops. I can't remember if it affects heavier or lighter riders more.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvsDIq3WwVA"]Murray Walker talks about Wobble and Weave on Motorbikes - YouTube[/ame]

I tend to keep the hands on the bars at all times now, unless I get the urge to express myself with both arms

Did Jeep address their wobble problems ? or was that for older models ?