The Honda PCX / Forza / ADV150 / SH Forums

Has anyone of you got the "death wobble" on your scooter? If so, how do I avoid that?

Proper maintenance and correct loading.

No, and I don't plan on feeling that either. Sorry.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_wobble

Here is Mr. Wobble himself to share exactly how that feels Plus added bonus face plant.

I read Honda did a tire recall in SE Asia a few years ago on the PCX for inducing wobble.

One time very little wobble in windy conditions. May have been my fault since i was a new rider at the time.

My steering has started wobbling... it's only slight and if i'm not holding the bars though....

Urbanfreestyle wrote:My steering has started wobbling... it's only slight and if i'm not holding the bars though....

Hold the bars then

you you wrote:Hold the bars then

And where's the fun in that!?

Had a tank slapper on the VFR years ago, not nice . Think it was due to the top box.

I have a 2013 PCX 150 and it will wobble but only if I loosely hold the handle bars as I slow down. This will happen at 27-29mph. After I changed the front tire it was much better. I also owned 3 other scooters (2) 2006 Honda Elite 80cc and a Buddy125cc that did the same thing at the same speeds. On the Buddy I changed the front wheel and tire and it still did it just as bad. The fix is to just hold the handle bars normal and it doesn't happen.

Urbanfreestyle wrote:My steering has started wobbling... it's only slight and if i'm not holding the bars though....

You'll need the headset checked because that's generally the cause of it.

Urbanfreestyle wrote:

you you wrote:Hold the bars then

And where's the fun in that!?

Well it wouln't make an idle post I guess...

dog64bull wrote: the "death wobble" on your scooter...how do I avoid that?

Being one who avoids solutions in need of a problem, I advised caution and testing in another thread relating to tire size swaps - and still do.
At 27° and 3.4", the PCX150 rake and trail feel too steep and the steering too quick. I am beginning to question whether Honda got this right. Swapping the stock front 90/90 for a 120/70 would lengthen the trail about 2mm. This may be small, but it is not insignificant, and may be enough to reduce your wobble if that is the cause.

But, a description of the wobble is necessary; Is it a low speed wobble, high speed, only during deceleration, how worn is the front tire, is there a cargo box...? And much more...

As mentioned earlier - maintenance! have the dealer check the steering head.

Bit of a random thread this one.

Death wobble? Not sure what you're referring to. Tank slappers are different, quite violent and have unpredictable outcomes. Possible on any bike but not likely on a scooter. Also good for exercising sphincter muscles for you and the oncoming driver you're possibly about to hit.

Assuming you have good tyres (incl. pressures), good steering head (checked/greased etc) and generally well serviced bike then that leaves only the factory geometry which is not necessarily absolutely straight and true.

Best bet would be to find a local frame builder and have them take off the wheels/forks and check the frame is straight.

If there is still a "wobble" after that I'd be asking for (Takanobu) Ito-san's personal number and start thinking about numbers for recompense.

Let us know if you have any issues with the ride.

So here we are again looking for some problem that doesn't exist just because of an obscure post from experienc about some other bike. The PCX is NOT prone to tank slappers. I have 17,000 miles on the stock front IRC tire, ride at 65 mph every day, and have never had any hint of wobble with out purposely trying to instigate it by letting go of the handlebars and jabbing at one bar end. Once you get used to the superlight and low weight which make the bike very quick to turn in around town, the PCX handles any speed like a dream.

My PCX 125 2014 does wobble if at higher speed I try to reduce speed while changing lane and remain behind a car. This vehicle does not have the safety of a motorcycle, which I rode many in the last 40 years (all Honda motorcycles). Unfortunately one has to live with this limitation and be aware of it, if one wants to remain without road accidents.

martago wrote:My PCX 125 2014 does wobble if at higher speed I try to reduce speed while changing lane and remain behind a car. This vehicle does not have the safety of a motorcycle, which I rode many in the last 40 years (all Honda motorcycles). Unfortunately one has to live with this limitation and be aware of it, if one wants to remain without road accidents.

Have a look at these Marty since there is speculation its tire related, easy application and couldn't hurt to test it out. http://www.bikebandit.com/aftermarket-p ... ds?m=20256

There is no wobble or need to "avoid road accidents" with the PCX. But if you want to balance your tires, balancing beads do work nice.

I've wobble-tested my '13 and it's quite solid. If you experience wobble (I mean REAL wobble) get the thing looked at (as posted above) because you got real trouble. I had one wobble experience on a bike and that was quite enough.