Handlebar alignment
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
We'll have a better idea once Mchad can verify his bars are indeed straight when torqued in the upper clamp. His posting the word 'drift' is why I assumed it was just the bars not straight in the clamp.
I always believed HD's would naturally drift left due to the primary and the final left side drive. I know my bike drifts; it's a subtle and slow drifting to the left that I can prevent by shifting my body position slightly right in the seat, that left drift is nothing that happens fast. Now, for the safety nannies, I only play that hands off the bars game occasionally on one specific road; that road is smooth, flat, straight, and very well maintained; the rest of the roads around here? Forget that nonsense, hold on
When my bike was new off the floor it did pull left, and there was nothing at all subtle about it; let go of the bars and you're heading for the other lane. My bikes alignment was out and the front isolator was distorted and contacting the engine bracket causing all sorts of vibrations, especially on decel. My bars were perfectly aligned when I rode the bike but she pulled hard when you let go of the bars. No one touches my bike but me so I replaced and shimmed the front isolator and performed the alignment at 600 miles on the ODO, ever since then there's been no vibration problems or tracking issues with hands off the bars; just that subtle 'HD' drift.
Just because a bike is new doesn't mean it's actually in alignment; hopefully Mchad's problem is nothing more than the bars sitting a bit akimbo in the bushings
I always believed HD's would naturally drift left due to the primary and the final left side drive. I know my bike drifts; it's a subtle and slow drifting to the left that I can prevent by shifting my body position slightly right in the seat, that left drift is nothing that happens fast. Now, for the safety nannies, I only play that hands off the bars game occasionally on one specific road; that road is smooth, flat, straight, and very well maintained; the rest of the roads around here? Forget that nonsense, hold on
When my bike was new off the floor it did pull left, and there was nothing at all subtle about it; let go of the bars and you're heading for the other lane. My bikes alignment was out and the front isolator was distorted and contacting the engine bracket causing all sorts of vibrations, especially on decel. My bars were perfectly aligned when I rode the bike but she pulled hard when you let go of the bars. No one touches my bike but me so I replaced and shimmed the front isolator and performed the alignment at 600 miles on the ODO, ever since then there's been no vibration problems or tracking issues with hands off the bars; just that subtle 'HD' drift.
Just because a bike is new doesn't mean it's actually in alignment; hopefully Mchad's problem is nothing more than the bars sitting a bit akimbo in the bushings
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Harleys are kind of unique with the drivetrain/rear wheel alignment, but another thing common to them and most bikes is the fork/triple tree front end. I've had forks slightly twisted in the clamps, and with the bike tracking straight, the bars will be off. I've had a couple where I loosened the clamps and with the front wheel locked between my legs, just tweaked the bar till straight, and tightened it back up, and that worked. I realize that wouldn't be so easy on a Glide with that big fairing; even loosening the clamps can be a job (I've pulled the front end off a tour glide, pita). But if all else fails... maybe... but that would be the last thing I'd check on a road glide.
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 10,734
Likes: 3,755
From: SWFL
Harleys are kind of unique with the drivetrain/rear wheel alignment, but another thing common to them and most bikes is the fork/triple tree front end. I've had forks slightly twisted in the clamps, and with the bike tracking straight, the bars will be off. I've had a couple where I loosened the clamps and with the front wheel locked between my legs, just tweaked the bar till straight, and tightened it back up, and that worked. I realize that wouldn't be so easy on a Glide with that big fairing; even loosening the clamps can be a job (I've pulled the front end off a tour glide, pita). But if all else fails... maybe... but that would be the last thing I'd check on a road glide.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 5
From: attleboro, ma, usa
Twisted Trees, I thought you were headed this way too.
Harleys are kind of unique with the drivetrain/rear wheel alignment, but another thing common to them and most bikes is the fork/triple tree front end. I've had forks slightly twisted in the clamps, and with the bike tracking straight, the bars will be off. I've had a couple where I loosened the clamps and with the front wheel locked between my legs, just tweaked the bar till straight, and tightened it back up, and that worked. I realize that wouldn't be so easy on a Glide with that big fairing; even loosening the clamps can be a job (I've pulled the front end off a tour glide, pita). But if all else fails... maybe... but that would be the last thing I'd check on a road glide.
Twisted Trees, I thought you were headed this way too.
I knew you were talking about the Dyna and I feel the same way looking down at mine without the fairing on. I took the squarest milk crate I could find, made sure it lay flat on all 4 corners on a mirror, then held it against the triple tree faces top and bottom trees at the same time. They did not seem to be off with this crude measurement but, it's the best I could think of. I hope someone has a better method than mine because I'd still like to be positive. I however have not replaced the riser bushings with neoprene as I should have by now instead of just living with it.
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Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: SWFL
I ordered a set of alloy art gooden tight bushings - already have poly's, but if I'm going to pull it apart I figure I'll change them anyway. But i don't think it's the bushings. Looking carefully while riding (not the easiest while doing highway speeds) it looks like the trees themselves are also cocked off a couple degrees to the right. The drift I mentioned earlier isn't significant, and based on Tin's comment, a slight lean does offset it. So I'm not worried about it, but the trees definitly seem off by a degree or two.
Read somewhere that loosening the pinch bolts, fork brace and fender bolts may allow everything to "self align" but since the bike tracks pretty straight, I kinda feel like if I mess with the forks and get the bars aligned, I'll end up pulling the other direction. Ugh.
I'll try the bushings first, the tree alignment may be all in my head, who knows.
Read somewhere that loosening the pinch bolts, fork brace and fender bolts may allow everything to "self align" but since the bike tracks pretty straight, I kinda feel like if I mess with the forks and get the bars aligned, I'll end up pulling the other direction. Ugh.
I'll try the bushings first, the tree alignment may be all in my head, who knows.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 555
Likes: 39
From: France
Have you chequed your rear Wheel ?
(I use a small laser tool, more precise than the coathanger method
)
(I use a small laser tool, more precise than the coathanger method
)
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
....
Read somewhere that loosening the pinch bolts, fork brace and fender bolts may allow everything to "self align" but since the bike tracks pretty straight, I kinda feel like if I mess with the forks and get the bars aligned, I'll end up pulling the other direction. Ugh.
....
Read somewhere that loosening the pinch bolts, fork brace and fender bolts may allow everything to "self align" but since the bike tracks pretty straight, I kinda feel like if I mess with the forks and get the bars aligned, I'll end up pulling the other direction. Ugh.
....