The “Death Wobble” is a phenomenon where a bike's rear kicks back and forth and is brought about by something mechanical or by the rider where it affects the front tire or steering components of the motorcycle.
The “Death Wobble” can occur for two reasons: rider error or motorcycle error. Both of these reasons are completely controllable. Riders can always improve or adjust their riding techniques and you can always keep your motorcycle properly maintained with the right attention.
A speed wobble typically starts when the front wheel elevates from the ground when you accelerate, do a wheelie, or run into a pothole. If the front wheels of your bike settle back on the road at an angle, the wheel is supposed to get back into a straight line.
To maximize stability and eliminate speed wobble completely in your setup you will need to ride a lower board or lower degree trucks/more restrictive bushings. One of the most common mistakes that beginners encounter when learning how to ride is putting all the weight on the back truck of the board.
Some say it only happens on Harleys (mostly on the Road King, Ultra Classic, the Electra Glide and FLH series), but actually the wobble can happen on any bike and can happen with either the front or the rear of the bike.
Unfortunately, there is also a growing number of experienced riders who have either suffered traumatic injury or death due to a serious and dangerous problem known as the "Harley Wobble" or "Death Wobble."
A car death wobble is a major issue that a few vehicle owners go through. Since death wobbles are fixable, it is important to detect them at the right time before they turn out bad. Seek help from a professional to avoid any future inconvenience.
A death wobble can damage your vehicle's suspension or steering components. Depending on the severity of the death wobble, it can also damage track bars, wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rods, and the alignment of your vehicle.
Some of the most common causes of the death wobble include poorly installed suspension parts or loose or damaged steering components. If you have modified your Jeep's suspension or other components, you may be more likely to experience the death wobble.
If you experience death wobble, let off the accelerator and allow the truck to slow down until the vibration stops, then immediately proceed to a safe place where the vehicle can be inspected before continuing on. Even just one death wobble incident can cause permanent—and dangerous—suspension or steering damage.
Jeeps that have been modified and the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator are the most likely Jeeps to experience death wobble. With that said, there have been reports of death wobble in virtually every model and year of Jeep, so it appears that all Jeeps are susceptible to the death wobble.
Worn wheel bearings may contribute to death wobble as well and are very easy to test. Jack up one of your Jeep's front wheels and grasp the tire at the 12- and 6-o'clock position, then wiggle the tire. If you feel movement, then you most likely have a worn wheel bearing. Check the other side as well.
Harleys have a 45 degree Vee design that by nature will vibrate more than most any other motorcycle engine design plus they are larger than most other bike engines.
Harley Davidson mileage describes the number of miles your bike has ridden. The average Harley Davidson made after 1998 can usually go for 150,000 miles or more. The lifespan is expected to be around 20 years or longer for the majority of models.
With the spark plugs positioned 180 degrees from each other, each of the two pistons fire on every-other revolution to produce an exhaust noise that is even, smooth and balanced. Harley-Davidson engines are unusual in that they have a V-shape and only a single pin to which both pistons connect.
The difference in the Harley engine is that the crankshaft has only one pin, and both pistons connect to it. This design, combined with the V arrangement of the cylinders, means that the pistons cannot fire at even intervals.
Most speed wobbles start at around 75 mph or higher, though if your bike has a mechanical problem like worn bearings, it can start at speeds as low as 45 mph.
Speed wobble is caused when something, either an inherent misalignment of the frame or components, or an outside force, that causes the wheels to track divergent paths. The frame flexes to allow this to occur until the action is overpowered by the self-correcting forces created by the bike's steering geometry.
The inappropriately named death wobble -- as far as we know, no one's ever died from it -- is basically a violent and rapid oscillation in a truck's steering components that ultimately makes your steering wheel whip from side to side.
We've heard from complete beginners, that our beginner kits take anywhere between 3-8 hours.
The larger and more aggressive your tires are, the more difficult they are to balance. Oscillations from unbalanced tires can initiate death wobble at freeway speeds.