How to improve the stability of Touring Harley-Davidson models, eliminating "bamboleo"

We are going to talk about the evolution in the chassis of Harley-Davidson Touring models (Road King, Electra Glide, Tour Glide ...). In the first models it was common to hear complaints from certain user sectors of these models related to high speed stability problems, especially in rapid curves.
As this "problem" at other occasions at the beginning is declared as a characteristic, aggravated by a ignorance in the vehicle alignment process in the maintenance workshops, later they begin to carry out "experiments" at the user level and in the Aftermarket industry , until HD takes the final step and corrects the problem with an impressive update of the chassis of these models in 2009.

A little history
The origin of this instability at high speeds (“wobbling” or lateral balancing of the motorcycle) is because a chassis design has been used that dates practically the '80s and that perfectly fulfilled its work with the latest shovel engines of 5 speeds and their successors Evolution engines.
When the Twin Cam engines arrived in 1999 with their greatest torque and power, the need to also update the chassis to the new times was also evidenced.
While in the Company engine they outlined this change, in the street and in the auxiliary industry, various solutions were already offered, which went to install tires with greater diameter and harden the rigidity of the rear motor-bass-bombard assembly with respect to the chassis-orquilla set Front wheel It is essential to understand that in these models these 2 sets are united in a semi-elastic way through tensioners and silentblocks.

New chassis
The main novelty in Touring 2009 models was its new chassis, designed and built with the latest technologies of the 21st century and that practically ended the previous stability problems.
This chassis has fewer welding points, which make it more accurate, therefore disregarding the motor-checked alignment that was usual to date and quite uncomfortable for many unwanted mechanics.

Motor anchors are improved and the tilting is changed to a multisection, providing a rigidity never seen to date in these models. Following the popular current, larger diameter wheels were installed that contributed to improve high speed stability.

Stabilization kits
For models prior to 2009 that need it (in reality also for models until today) exist in the market various kits that will help us minimize this problem by providing greater rigidity to the whole that greatly improves the road traced.
Very diverse accessories are manufactured for this task, but basically all are based on creating a more rigid connection between the transmission and the tilt axis.

It is vitally important to point out that all this is of no use without a correct alignment of the vehicle, so before its installation we recommend taking your workshop manual and checking step by step that everything is in order, or failing that, carrying the motorcycle to a trusted workshop where the alignment with Specific tool.

For this technical tutorial we have chosen a progressive suspension kit, specifically its Touring Link Stabilizer,
that we liked for its simplicity of installation, and also does not subtract free distance to the ground.

Hands to work
The components of this kit consist of a sidewalk that replaces the right -handed support, a reinforcement for the lower part of the gearbox and an adjustable strap.

The installation is truly simple, once with the process of alignment of the HD manual carried out correctly.
It begins by replacing the swinging support plate that comes in the kit.

If the model is after 2002, the precaution of inserting the proportioned tab must be taken.

Then the angle is mounted under the transmission box and everything is tightened to the tightening even specified in the workshop manual.

The strap is installed and its length is adjusted so that it is not forced, and the passenger's caster is re -assembled and the escape if we had disassembled (it is not always necessary) to have access to the support.

Road test
Now comes the funniest part, after checking the correct pressure of the tires (fundamental) and putting the helmet we can go out to take wide and fast curves to check the improvement in dynamic benefits of our machine, we will see how it is not always necessary to add more Chrome, there are things that are not seen but that make us enjoy the route more.

Frank Burguera

#mecanicaharley