2018+ Softail Models Breakout

Turning right…

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Old Nov 16, 2024 | 06:02 PM
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Default Turning right…

Weird question regarding 2018 FLHC. I’m a relatively newer rider and I’m coming from an Iron 883, just for context. I’ve had the heritage for about 3 months and I’ve notice that 80-90% of the time that I’m turning right either from a stop or slow speed, the bars feel like they almost get stuck and I really need to muscle it to get through the turn. It doesn’t happen on left turns. Even sitting at a stop, it can be harder to move the bars to the right. Is this me, the bike, or just the things are?
 
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Old Nov 16, 2024 | 06:10 PM
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If it is knackered neck bearings then getting the front wheel off the ground will let you see.

How many miles on it?

When was the last time you did a fall away test?
 

Last edited by Andy from Sandy; Nov 16, 2024 at 06:12 PM.
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Old Nov 16, 2024 | 06:17 PM
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What do you mean by “feels like they almost get stuck?” Does it do this when you’re sitting still on the bike?

Stock bars? If not, is the clutch cable too short and causing resistance when turning the bars right?
 

Last edited by GalvTexGuy; Nov 16, 2024 at 06:24 PM.
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Old Nov 16, 2024 | 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Andy from Sandy
If it is knackered neck bearings then getting the front wheel off the ground will let you see.

How many miles on it?

When was the last time you did a fall away test?
it has just over 10k on it, I’ve never done a fall away test on it, but will tomorrow. It did just have its 10k service done at my local Indy shop, not sure if they did it or not, but if it needs adjusting when I do it tomorrow, I’ll check with them.

Originally Posted by GalvTexGuy
What do you mean by “feels like they almost get stuck?” Does it do this when you’re sitting still on the bike?

Stock bars? If not, is the clutch cable too short and causing resistance when turning the bars right?
its hard to describe, but it just doesn’t feel smooth on the right side. It happens at very slow speed, like taking a right in a neighborhood or taking a right from a dead stop. Stock bars, but not a cable issue, that’s one thing I did look at last time I noticed it.
 
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Old Nov 16, 2024 | 07:41 PM
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Sit on your bike, engine off, and turn your bars from lock to lock.

If it's not binding during this test, it's not binding on the road.

A right turn is sharper/tighter than a left turn and the tires will scrub a little more.
 
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Old Nov 16, 2024 | 07:41 PM
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After the fall away test, have an experienced rider take it for a test ride,
 
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Old Nov 16, 2024 | 07:54 PM
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I definitely never experienced right turns like that with the Iron, but that front tire is much narrower. I have test ridden a SG and don’t recall feeling it on that either. It’s certainly not unmanageable, just a little annoying.
 
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Old Nov 17, 2024 | 02:24 AM
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Fat Boy has a big ole chonker of a front tire and I have no problems with right turns. I can flip my bike back and forth, solo and 2 up.
 
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Old Nov 17, 2024 | 06:54 AM
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Jack up the front to where the front tire is off the ground… then check
 
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Old Nov 29, 2024 | 09:26 PM
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Sorry took me so long to get back to this. Did the fall away test. First time I tried to push it to the right I had to push hard, there was an audible click, like it caught on something, then couldn’t recreate it and all fall away testing was fine. Best way to describe it, it’s like when your elbow catches and you need to crack it and then it’s fine. I couldn’t find any indication of what is catching externally.
 
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