I recently received the following E-mail. I am posting it, and my answer, to try and help any other motorcycle riders with this problem. Be sure to check the bottom of the page for the link to buy a SuperBrace for your motorcycle.
Larry Alger
Webmaster
www.motorcycletrailer.com
I am looking for help. I just put a Hitch Doc hitch on my Shadow 1100 and bought a used trailer from another biker who used it with a Gold Wing. The Shadow gets a severe shimmy in the front end while pulling the trailer. The trailer was smooth as glass behind the other guys bike. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan
*********
Dan,
Thanks for the E-mail. Sorry to hear about your front end shake. It is *VERY*
unusual for a trailer to effect the front end of the motorcycle. What kind of
trailer is it and how much does it weigh?
The recommendations I can make with just the little information I have are:
1. Check the steering head bearing torque. If they are not at proper specs, the trailer
may cause the front end wobble.
2. Check your front tire for uneven wear patterns. High or low air pressures
can cause a tire to wear unevenly. This may not have been a handling issue
until you added the trailer.
3. Invest in a Super Brace after market front fork brace to firm up your front
end.
Like I said before, adding a trailer to a bike should not cause wobble because the
trailer is centered behind the bike. I have seen a lot of bikes develop wobble
when a sidecar is added because the sidecar is offset on one side. (It is pretty
common and to be expected with a sidecar) and a good fork brace will cure this in
many instances.
The last resort would be adding a SMALL- ADJUSTABLE steering dampener like many racers use
that fits between the triple tree and the frame.
Hope this helps...
Good Luck
Ride Safe
Larry Alger
Webmaster
www.motorcycletrailer.com
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