Sta-Bo works for me!
Installed Sta-Bo 1 on my 2001 RK and the difference was obvious in the first 1/10 mile! Only had a couple of brief rides before heading out of town for business. Even tho I've put less than a hundred miles on it, there is no doubt that the improvement is huge! With the early set-up there are really two seperate issues relating to how well the swing arm is 'connected' to the bike. The first is the connection between the swingarm (and tire) to the engine/trans and the second connection between the engine/trans and the frame. You guys with the '02 and laters have it easy as the MOCO fixed the first connection for you by getting rid of the "liquid-filled" bushings in the swingarm. Mine had that silly design which allowed the swingarm to wiggle in relation to the trans AND the second issue of the whole swingarm/trans/engine moving left and right between the frame. This added up to a disconnected feeling when riding. Putting in the bushings was a PITA, no doubt, but it was VERY worth it. Where the bike felt mushy and unsure even when just putting around at low speed, it now feels at least as 'tight' as any Softail. I rented a Softail Deluxe a few days ago and can reaffirm that judgement. I haven't had the chance to run it (my RK) through some particular long sweepers where I previously had the wobble, but I will as soon as I get back home. From the changes I already have seen, I have absolutely no doubt that the wobble will be eliminated.
I coated the outer sleeves (those pieces that are common to the Sta-Bo 2 set) with never-sieze where they contact the pivot covers as someone had suggested to reduce vibration. I have noticed only a very slight 'buzz' in the floorboards at highway speeds...in fact it felt exactly like the boards on the Deluxe. That buzz was not there before, but its un-noticeable unless you're looking for it (I was) and with no miles on it yet, it'll prolly go away. I did notice right away two effects that I've not seen mentioned; I'm betting that these effects are limited to the early style set-up, since the new stiff swingarm bushings explain it. The bike actually responds to throttle input differently now!
Ex.1 In gear, idling along in first and 'snap' the throttle, the response is right-now! It is NOTICEABLY less mushy in power transfer! When you snap the gas, the bike Moves Now!.
ex.2 At say 40 mph rolling thru a moderate curve and roll on the throttle at the apex,
what it used to do: squat, surge forward.
What it does now: no squat at all, immediate surge forward as the forks extend noticeably and my brain registers: DAMN....it never did THAT before!
Did I mention that it doesn't squat? The front VISIBLY unloads as the weight transfers and the King accelerates!
It used to just squat.
Note that there have been no tuning changes whatsoever. Air in shocks/forks, no change. Its just a matter of how much difference more-immediate power transfer makes. I'm of the opinion that this improvement was included in the '02 bushing change for factory bikes but don't have a good way to test that. It would seem that the nasty liquid-filled bushings were actually causing more unpleasantness than I thought.
Sta-Bo is a definite keeper!
Masstch
_dec5_08.gif "360 Brake Company")
04Roadglide
Linear Mode
