Front end shakes when I let off the throttle, does not shake when I brake using front brake, back brake, or both. The bike is smooth with no shaking at any constant speed and while accelerating. Do I have a problem? It is a 2010 Fatboy Low.

I wonder if the tire is balanced properly.

From your description it sounds like the shimmy stops when there's a "load" on the wheel. When it 'free-wheels' it shakes. Has that type of service been tried?

You are right, only get the shimmy when it free wheeles. I have not had any service at all, trying to figure out if it needs service or if this is "normal" for this bike. Thanks for your input on this.

I would take it back to the dealer for an inspection. The wheel could be loose. When there is no load on the wheel the axle is jumping around in the bearings. Good call tourist!

I've had stuff like this happen to me, as well.

Last riding season I thought I kept hearing distant police sirens. (Insert your own "Tourist hearing voices again" joke here.)

However, I live a mile away from the St. Mary's Emergency Center, and I often hear sirens and police cars in that area. The problem was I began hearing that same siren sound out on the slab amid noisy traffic.

Then one afternoon as I was parking my Sportster I rolled the bike slightly backwards and heard a loud blast, like one of those compressed air horn cannisters, like they blow at football games. I thought one of my friends had snuck up behind me as a joke.

Turns out that the 48 uses an older version of a floating caliper rear brake. The soft siren sound I heard was simply a corner of the pad whistling slightly against the rotor since it was crooked. Finally it failed to align altogether.

Minor issue. I drove to the dealer by downshifting and lightly using the front brake, and my mechanic made a very minor adjustment and used something he referred to as "brake lube."

I had never heard of lubing a brake, but the siren sound went away and the rear brake works fine.

This was just another case of a sound generated by "free wheeling" parts.

Thanks. I'm taking it in next chance I get. Better safe than not.

I had a problem with a loose head set bearing that sounds like that...
head set bearing is the bearing set that the front forks rotates on, if its not the tire check that next

I went for a ride this weekend and noticed that my bike has the same problem when i let off throttle, front end wobble on my 2012 Heritage. It's going to the dealer for the first service 2/15 & to get it checked out.

This is something that must be checked, better sooner than later. I yanked off the entire front end of my Dyna. I didn't come this far to be whacked by a substandard front end, or lousy set-up during assembly.

But if you guys really want to experience fear, mystery noises, lousy handling and incredibly bad brakes, go find a 1971 Super Glide in stock condition!

Check out the 2012 Harley-Davidson Softail motorcycle with authentic features. The Softail has a hardtail look with rear shock comfort for a smooth modern ride.