2003 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

[T-man]

Sounds like you need to have your steering bearing adjusted up a bit...maybe. I have 23K on my Classic and have a 21 Memphis Fats windshield and lowers. This adds weight and makes for some minor shimmy in turns only at times IF I don't unweight the suspension (by accel). However, on the straights, I can take my hands off both grips and the bike will steer straight without ANY head shake at all.
While there is a procedure in the service manual for preloading the steering bearing, you may want to have your local Kaw shop do it for you since I suspect this is a foreign task for you.
On another note, I have to wonder about the runout in your wheels or, possibly, this is being caused by the tires themselves. The bike should not shimmy running straight up. One other note may be wheel alignment, possibly caused by a bent frame. Have all this checked by a competent motorcycle mechanic. This flat should not occur with your Kaw.

[Depmodeche]

Okay, thanks.

Andrew

[Mr78rm]

Hey Andrew, you wouldnt happen to be a Depeche Mode fan would you????

[Depmodeche]

You could say that!