Nomad Front-end wobble???

[Depmodeche]

Hello y'all,

I got my Nomad new in '03, and I LOVE IT!!! Awesome bike, 21 thousand miles with no problems, and I have only one question: anyone else have a front-end wobble when you take your hands off the bars? This is a major shimmy that starts immediately upon removing my hands from the bars and becomes violent very quickly. I must put a hand back on the bars very quickly to stabilize it. This happens at all speeds, and even when my throttle lock is engaged keeping the bike under power (as opposed to only happening when I was coasting).

I did install a small plastic box on the left side of the windshield with some switches for headlight, foglights, etc, but that whole thing can't weigh more than 1/3 of a pound and I doubt that that's what causing the wobble, but I suppose it could be. I put that box on very soon after I bought the bike, so I can't recall if the wobble was happening prior to that or not.

I also have a leather pouch installed in the center of the windshield, but that's evenly balanced and I doubt that is causing it either.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, especially since I'll be riding from Philly to Alaska and back again in May & June, and I'm sure I'll want to take my hands off the bars once in a while.

Thanks.

2003 Nomad 1500 FI
Vance & Hines Baggers
Power Commander III
Phat-Risers pullback risers
Scooterworks driver's backrest.
Radiant Led tailight insert and LED turn signals
Four-way flashers
Electronic deer whistle
National Cycle handgrip deflectors
brake light flasher and rear turn signal running lite combo
quick release saddlebag bolts (bolts can be removed by hand)
Vista throttle lock

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[centerpunch]

I don't know but I have some questions. Did it begin when you put on the box. I have heard about some problems with keeping the correct torque on the front forks. maybe that could be the problem. The third thing I can think of is your tire. Perhaps you threw a balancing weight or maybe one of the plys in the tire has come apart. I had a set of front tires on a van once that did the same thing. The only cure was to change the tires. Also, having too much rear weight on your bike can cause that to happen.

DJ

[jimkalfakis]

WOW man, sound like you have your hands full even when you don`t
Have you tried to jack the bike up so as to have all the weight off the front tire? Then you could check for play. Becareful on that bike, let us know how you make out. Andrew, you have a P.M.

[Depmodeche]

Good ideas, but we can rule them all out. I recently got a new front tire and the wobble is still there. It happens loaded and unloaded (the bike, that is, not me). Might be the torque.

Thanks.

[Spok]

when i lifted the front end of my bike to install the lightbar the center nut on the tripple tree was very very very loose. give that a check to make sure your front end is on tight. just a thought.

[woodchucks800]

Originally Posted by spok

when i lifted the front end of my bike to install the lightbar the center nut on the tripple tree was very very very loose. give that a check to make sure your front end is on tight. just a thought.

That would be my suggestion , check it. An if this nut is loose ,how long has it been that way? You might want to check the triple tree bearings as well.

[Classickawboy]

My freind installed a fairing on his Classic, he ****ear killed himself. Same thing, the bars wanted to come out of his hands at crusing speeds. Found it was the angle of the fairing. Once he tilted it back a little, it worked great.

[tileandslate]

Like classikawboy said, the angle of the fairing or windscreen could be the cause. If it is straight up then it will buffet instead of slipstream.
Can you feel it in your hands at higher speeds?
As you increase speed you should be able to feel it if the windscreen is buffeting.
Be careful and keep checking back.

[Depmodeche]

Thanks to all. I can feel no buffetting or wobbling at any speed as long as my hands are on the bars--and I don't have to keep them TIGHTLY on the bars, just hold them loosely and all will be well.

I will check the triple tree nut next, and possibly adjust the angle of the windshield, although I didn't change the angle of the windshield from when I got the bike new.

Thanks to all for their suggestions. I noticed a small oil leak near the front of the motor so I think I'll take it to local dealer and have him check the wobble as well. I will keep y'all posted.

Thanks.

[Knightrider]

Check that center nut on the tripple tree. They have been known to loosen up on KAWASAKIS. It may seem tight with the bike on the ground but when you jack it up, it will be loose. Make it one of your periodic tightening up checks. They come loose from vibration and road conditions.