[RosiersW]

Hi there,
While cleaning my chain last week I noticed some play on the rear sprocket. With the wheel on the ground you can slightly move the sprocket back and forth (not sideways). According to my dealer this is normal due to the construction of the rear hub. Checking some other bikes at a demo ride confirmed that they had this too, but still I don’t find this reassuring on a high power bike.
Anyone else notice this and have official Harley feedback? Or am I worrying over nothing?
Thanks for your replies!

 

[Euro_Traveler]

I've heard people mentiioning this before but it must just be a bit of play. If was a true issue I think we would have heard much more negative news about it...Maybe they will rid of it with the next series?

 

[Knobbin]

Hi there,
While cleaning my chain last week I noticed some play on the rear sprocket. With the wheel on the ground you can slightly move the sprocket back and forth (not sideways). According to my dealer this is normal due to the construction of the rear hub. Checking some other bikes at a demo ride confirmed that they had this too, but still I don’t find this reassuring on a high power bike.
Anyone else notice this and have official Harley feedback? Or am I worrying over nothing?
Thanks for your replies!

Google rear sprocket isolator.
Measure wear per spec.
Wheelie off into the sunset.

 

[Matilda]

It is normal. The Isolator is damping the whole system, when you give power or the motor breaks the bike down.
The chain has no damping compare to a belt.
To prevent all components not to expose to all that high altitude Frequenzies (force peaks) go on the driveline. Those Frequenzes will cause big wear to the chain, the Transmission and the motor itselve.

That is my conclution to that technical features.
Excuse my Englisch, but who find a mistake in writing , He can keep it.

 

[RJ_the_Moto_Guy]

Hi there,
While cleaning my chain last week I noticed some play on the rear sprocket. With the wheel on the ground you can slightly move the sprocket back and forth (not sideways). According to my dealer this is normal due to the construction of the rear hub. Checking some other bikes at a demo ride confirmed that they had this too, but still I don’t find this reassuring on a high power bike.
Anyone else notice this and have official Harley feedback? Or am I worrying over nothing?
Thanks for your replies!

This is completely normal. The sprocket hub isolator is also known as a "cush drive" and every chain drive (on-road) motorcycle I can think of has it. The purpose is to dampen shock loads on the drive train which would otherwise have an extremely damaging effect since the crankshaft is directly linked to the contact patch of the rear tire. In fact, the more HP the bike has the more important this feature is.