Originally Posted by
thumpism
I've had shimmy on a bike with rear panniers and handlebar bag, a different bike with different rear panniers and different handlebar bag, a third bike with different front and rear panniers and the same (#2) handlebar bag, and the same bike with that handlebar bag and pulling a B.O.B. trailer. The trailer setup shimmied least but was still detectable. I'd like to find a tourer that will not shimmy.
I have no studies to base this on, but it is my opinion that steel bikes are more likely to shimmy, as they are more flexible than aluminum bikes that often have oversized tubing. I can't recall ever hearing of anyone complain about a shimmey on an Aluminum bike. If I am wrong on that, I am sure we will hear about it here.
My Sherpa (first photo below) does not shimmy, even with a heavy load. My Nomad (second photo below) with an exceptionally heavy load will have a very slight resonance in the 29 to 31km/hour range, but it is just barely perceptible and dissipates if I loosen up my grip on the bars. (Yes I said that correctly, loosening my grip on the bars reduced resonance.) Both of those bikes are steel, but they have robust tubing that results in a fairly heavy bike.
