Weave, wobble video

[Rough Edge racing]

 This older British video on weave and wobble is interesting....Noti ce how the test riders stop a nasty weave at 90 mph....they have Nortons, BMW and Laverdas dancing ....


         https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z3OQTU-kE2s

[jbell]

Very, very interesting.  Never seen the lying down trick before.  At last, a benefit to being a lard a$$.

[Canuck750]

Very good video, luckily I have never experienced the dreaded weave, maybe if I should be thankful for me extra belly fat!

[fotoguzzi]

Yikes, that looked frightening.

[pressureangle]

Yeah, been there done that, on many older bikes.

My theory wrapped into this video is that when you're upright at speed the wind tends to make you pull against the bars. Lying down causes you to push them forward.

I don't think that the weight change in lying down has as much to do with it as the dynamic stability caused by balancing the trail effect with an opposing force above the neck. Pulling the bars adds to the rearward dynamic.
Try on your own, when at speed it gets nervous if simply pushing both bars forward doesn't stabilize, even without a big body position shift.

[Rough Edge racing]

My 79 Triumph with rear set pegs sometimes gets into a slight weave at around 70 mph. It's not scary but noticable .Pressing my knees against the fuel (Triumph has a very narrow tank) and a firm grip steadies the bike.
   I should try more tire pressure...

[Don G]

My 2004 EVT did this on a couple of occasions(bags weren't on at the time) always on the same stretch of road, shook hard enough to almost ruin my undies....   DonG

[Tom]

Lower air pressure in tires will allow the sidewalls to flex more. 

[80CX100]

     I've seen that video a few times, it's well done and a good reminder.

     The only bike that I've consistently been able to get a "wobble" going, was my DR650, and always on the same stretch of road leaving the city on the Ottawa River Western pkwy; a nice open stretch where I could really wring the throttle out hard (60-70 mph?) coming around a big open sweeper where the wind blows in from the open river.

     I think the contributing factors were the upright riding position where my shoulders caught the wind, as well as the soft CorTec saddlebags also acting like little parachutes.
     
     edit, After reading Tom's post, I agree that the lower tire air pressure/softer sidewalls and taller/softer suspension on my DR may have also been factors. fwiw

     It was very unnerving the first few times it happened until I learned the technique of lowering my chest and lying down on the tank and then gently easing off on the throttle, that would calm and straighten the bike out everytime,

     Thanks for sharing, stay safe

     Kelly

     

[Rough Edge racing]

Going down a deserted road at 60-70 mph, rapidly wiggle the handlebars an inch or so right and left...

[Tom]

More weight on the back of the bike (touring load & a pax) and a windshield will also take weight off the front wheel.  This will also contribute to front end wobble.  Throw in lower air pressure in the tires as recommended by the oem specs. of the factory and you've just help yourself to a wobble.     Do not hit the brakes.  I rode mine out.   

[ozarquebus]

I have only experienced that in a high speed sweeping corner.