Death wobble and the dark side?

[REDWIND]

deacon... I have got the GYTT.
Before adding air I was around 34.
Currently around 38.

[ringadingh]

I tried a lot of things to get rid of the wobble, new tires seemed to work short term, tightening the bearings did nothing for my bike.

[ponch]

A wobble is an oscillation, no? May be an engineering propeller head could explain why it happens. It's a question I'd love to ask Kevin Cameron...That said, read this.

[ringadingh]

Ive always said that the Nomad frames, especially the 1500's seem to have a lot of flex to them.

[usranger74]

"An academic paper that investigated wobble through physical experimentation and computer modeling concludes: "the influence on wobble mode of front tyre characteristics, front frame inertia and chassis stiffness were shown. In particular, it shows that [by] increasing front tire inflation, stiffness chassis, and front frame inertia about steering axis and decreasing sideslip stiffness of front tire, wobble mode damping is improved, promoting vehicle stability"


In reading the above, if I have a wobble should I increase tire pressure and and use a radial??

[ringadingh]

You should at least try it, but i think there is more to it on the Nomads.

[blackdogbrian]

HI Folks,

Thanks for all the comments so far.
I've got alot of things to try to fix my wobble....

but I guess I am trying to get at a more philisophical question..... I realize that the CT isn't likly to cause the wobble -(that's from the other stuff).
but
I'm left wondering.....
If I had still be riding with the Motorcycle tire when it happened, would the wobble have been less?
Did the CT ehance the pre-existing problem?

IF so, then maybe that extra 'fudge factor' allowed with the MT is worth the new tire every year or two......
(I think I am really just trying to decide if I am going to try it again with the darkside or go back to the light?)

[Bdog]

Tire width to rim size also plays a big factor. If you have an oversized tire on a rim that is too narrow for it, then the charactoristics of the profile change. I did this to another bike with a ct..not a good thing..looked cool. Went back to a mt. tire, one size larger that recommended by the manufacturer and the deadly wobble disapeared. Needless to say, (for my self)..I would never put a square ct. on a motorcycle again.

[skeeter]

had a definite rear wobble with an elite 3 with odd wear at about 3k. changed tire.

am darkside now with one near tank slapper at 90+. rough road, curve, passing semi. changed nothing. have been up to speed since several time with no problems. am not interested in duplicating exact conditions. bike thoroughly checked over. tire pressure still the same at 32psi.

PS, have near 7500 miles on the CT and do NOT attribute the wobble to the CT. Not likely to go back to convention.

[pablo]

Hey Skeeter, I had the same thing "near tank slapper" passing a semi on a rough road with my first CT. My speedo indicated 105 (about 90 actual). I've had it up to about the same speed a couple of times since with no problems, but it's a different CT. Good to see you're still kickin'!!
Pablo

[markclark57]

Originally Posted by ponch

A wobble is an oscillation, no? May be an engineering propeller head could explain why it happens. It's a question I'd love to ask Kevin Cameron...That said, read this.

That article seems to lend more credibility to the "quick counter steer out of it" than "the tighten the steering head". I'm still going to tighten the head though.

[skeeter]

Originally Posted by pablo

Hey Skeeter, I had the same thing "near tank slapper" passing a semi on a rough road with my first CT. My speedo indicated 105 (about 90 actual). I've had it up to about the same speed a couple of times since with no problems, but it's a different CT. Good to see you're still kickin'!!
Pablo

so you finally had to get a new tire. how many miles on the first one (some chinese tire?)

[ponch]

Originally Posted by markclark57

That article seems to lend more credibility to the "quick counter steer out of it" than "the tighten the steering head". I'm still going to tighten the head though.

DK about that. A steering damper would help and in a sense tight bearings sort of damp...very poorly. The best thing to do is make sure the tires are in good shape, properly inflated just to start off. One thing too is that it doesn't seem to happen with new/low mileage bikes. I wonder if wear and tear play into it. A question might be, what would make the frame less stable (considering that the tires check out)? I've never experienced a wobble and I hope I never do, but then I do not deviate from Hoyle.

[leadbelly]

I think Blackdogbrian mentioned his "wobble" happened while also passing a semi
Maybe you that have experianced the "wobble" could elaborate on the conditions at the time. (a flat deck semi, or enclosed trailer, approx speed of semi, wind conditions. Do you have a fairing, factory lowers or aftermarket. Engine guard covers?)

Just wondering if the "osolation" or "wobble" could be set in motion by a combination of turbulace, speed and rough road.

[markclark57]

Every aspect of handling since Dark side has improved. My Nomad has only had a couple of wobbles, the one before the GYTT was way worse than the ones since.
I've never had any bike wobble at less than 75 (actual) mph. I dropped one when I was 19 at 95 mph from a wobble after striking a small stone on a fresh oil "black top".
Since then I learned to quickly counter steer out of the wobble. (Pick a direction & don't go off the road.) It works for me , but I've only heard of that move from the guy that taught it to me.
I've mentioned this before, but somebody missed it.