R18 wheel wobble.

[Doyle]

My 2021 R18 FE has a watsonian Side car. I noticed yesterday that if I let go of the handlebars at very low speed it goes into a very hard wobble that gets really bad, really fast. Haven't tried it above about 5-10 mph. any ideas? Thanks One more thing, it does not have cruise control so there is no damper,

 

[Deleted member 939]

Normal.

 

[Gr8adv]

Yup normal. Many use a steering dampener to reduce it.

 

[Doyle]

Normal.

Thanks for the reply, I don't like the wobble, at all! will a damper stop it? thanks

Yup normal. Many use a steering dampener to reduce it.

ok, well shoot, thanks, they want $570.00 for a damper.

 

[Gr8adv]

I use this strut shock. I know of a similar one on an r18 sidecar. These are excellent German quality. Not cheesy hatch shocks. I use mine rig on an off-road rig. I have a source here in seattle if you want me to reach out and ask. Let me know.

 

[Doyle]

I use this strut shock. I know of a similar one on an r18 sidecar. These are excellent German quality. Not cheesy hatch shocks. I use mine rig on an off-road rig. I have a source here in seattle if you want me to reach out and ask. Let me know.

Thanks, can you let me know that source? We are leaving Wed. for a fishing trip to Utah so it will be after that before I can do anything about it. Might just get one from the BMW dealer here in Oklahoma City.

 

[Doyle]

I use this strut shock. I know of a similar one on an r18 sidecar. These are excellent German quality. Not cheesy hatch shocks. I use mine rig on an off-road rig. I have a source here in seattle if you want me to reach out and ask. Let me know.

After looking at your photo, I believe that will work. Thanks for the help and info. I will contact the folks in Seattle. There might be a source here.

 

[Gr8adv]

After looking at your photo, I believe that will work. Thanks for the help and info. I will contact the folks in Seattle. There might be a source here.

Doubtful to get this quality. He orders from specifically for sidecars from Europe. His name is Mike and he owns LBS sidecars USA. I told him you may call. My name is Ken. GL.

https://www.lbs-usa.com/

 

[Doyle]

Doubtful to get this quality. He orders from specifically for sidecars from Europe. His name is Mike and he owns LBS sidecars USA. I told him you may call. My name is Ken. GL.

https://www.lbs-usa.com/

Ok, I'll give him a call, Thanks for the help! Doyle

 

[Gr8adv]

Ok, I'll give him a call, Thanks for the help! Doyle

Just realized that you must have a leading link to attached the shock. Due to the linear nature of the strut one can not mount it to the lower forks which move up and down.

 

[Doyle]

Does that mean I can't use it? Or do I need something else to make it work? Thanks.

 

[Gr8adv]

Does that mean I can't use it? Or do I need something else to make it work? Thanks.

If you do not have a leading link and have the stock front forks it will not be if use. Sorry to have mislead with limited information.

 

[Doyle]

If you do not have a leading link and have the stock front forks it will not be if use. Sorry to have mislead with limited information.

That's ok, thanks for the help anyway. At least now I know what I have to do.

 

[Rider0974]

You don't need leading links to fit a steering damper. My K100 & Kwak VN1600 outfits both
kept the standard front forks. All you need is a couple of ball joints to allow for the range of
movement from the forks. The pictures are of my VN1600 steering damper as fitted by Watsonian
Squire when they fitted the sidecar for me.

 

[Gr8adv]

You don't need leading links to fit a steering damper. My K100 & Kwak VN1600 outfits both
kept the standard front forks. All you need is a couple of ball joints to allow for the range of
movement from the forks. The pictures are of my VN1600 steering damper as fitted by Watsonian
Squire when they fitted the sidecar for me.View attachment 6878View attachment 6879

How much movement til they bind?

How much movement til it binds?

 

[Rider0974]

Full range range of movement lock to lock, & full travel on forks, no binding anywhere. I had the
the sidecar fitted by Watsonian as I wanted the job done properly. The damper was fitted by them
at the same time. I doubt they would fit something that would cause problems, even in the UK that
would find someone making a claim for damages.
Every outfit I have owned has had a little bit of head shake at some point. I have found that the
correct tyre pressures often has the biggest impact on the severity. It can take a bit of trial & error
to get the right pressures for your setup & use.

 

[Gr8adv]

Cool. It looks like you would only get an inch or so of travel before the eyebolts hit. Glad it’s good.

Mine is for off-road with considerable vertical movement all the time. Not good for a ‘linear’ damper to be moving up and down during compression and rebound.

Without question the best answer is a steering head damper like Scott’s or something similar. Regrettably they don’t make one for my bike.

Fwiw I get no head shake.

 

[Doyle]

Cool. It looks like you would only get an inch or so of travel before the eyebolts hit. Glad it’s good.

Mine is for off-road with considerable vertical movement all the time. Not good for a ‘linear’ damper to be moving up and down during compression and rebound.

Without question the best answer is a steering head damper like Scott’s or something similar. Regrettably they don’t make one for my bike.

Fwiw I get no head shake.

If I install an original steering damper from BMW that is stock equipment on R18's with cruise control, will that solve the problem. My bike is rather difficult to steer as it is. Especially in left hand turns. I appreciate all of your input from everyone.