Bagger wheel alignment, bike has a lean????

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Jul 4, 2025 | 02:45 PM

Taxgod4u

Thread Starter

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Joined: Mar 2020

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From: West Coast

Bagger wheel alignment, bike has a lean????

Need to do an alignment on a brothers '23 street glide bagger but could use your experience. He has had this issue since new and does not want the bike stuck at the dealer. No mods, he kept bike stock. I rode his bike and on a flat stretch of road with no crown and it leans to the left when you let go of the bars traveling in a straight line. It is not a super severe lean but what feels like maybe a couple 2-3 inches . You need to lean your body 4 or 5 inches to the right to go straight. Bags are empty and the rear axle cams are both seated against the stops. Does this lean at any speed you let go of the bars w/ cruise control on. Bike has never been down and it has about a month in on a new set of OEM tires. Tank dash seems to be crooked with the rear by the seat being angled a bit to the right so to me it looks like the rear end of the bike is trailing to the right of the front tire.

Never see this before. Is this just a matter of trimming one of the axle cams? If so, if leaning to the left which side do you trim? aim rear wheel in direction of lean like centering a steering wheel on a cager?
Are there any other things I should look at in the frame/forks/swingarm/other... or do I tell him to live with it and hold on to the bars...

Jul 4, 2025 | 03:15 PM

MURPHCC1

Club Member

Joined: Apr 2013

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From: Cape Cod

My 07 does that.
In my mind, the clutch cable coming out of the fairing on the left side puts JUST a little pressure on the front end pushing it to the right, which in turn, produces a slight left turn on the bike.

Jul 4, 2025 | 03:39 PM

Keithhu

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Joined: Sep 2009

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From: SE Michigan

Harley's are not completely symmetrical. Look at the primary side from behind, and you'll see why it will drift to the left if you let go of the bars. Add what Murph said and you have your answer.

Suggestion: keep hands on bars and obsess about something else.

Jul 4, 2025 | 03:41 PM

Highwaymans

Road Warrior

Joined: Nov 2016

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From: IE, CA

You could start with an adjustable front dogbone.

Jul 4, 2025 | 03:47 PM

GalvTexGuy

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Joined: Apr 2015

Posts: 10,083

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It could be the shocks, the front forks, the fairing, the windshield, the swing arm, tires, belt deflection, wind speed and direction, etc. You’re chasing your tail. If he took it to the dealer and told them the bike wants to go left when I ride without my hands on the bars, they would probably laugh at him.

Jul 4, 2025 | 04:05 PM

CoolBreeze3646

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Joined: Aug 2006

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From: Pennsylvania

Jack the front end up and loosen the triple tree bolts that hold the fork tubes see if the fork tube move at all when the bolts are loosened. Then tighten the top triple tree clamp making sure the fork tubes are in the correct location per the service manual. Then put the bike down so the front tire touches the floor but not with the full weight of the motorcycle. Loosen the axle and move the front end back and forth, then center the front tire, tighten the bottom triple tree bolt, and then the axle. Make sure you use the correct torque on all the bolts in accordance with the service manual.

Sometimes the front fork tubes get tweaked or not aligned correctly in the triple trees and cause the bike not to track correctly.

Last edited by CoolBreeze3646; Jul 4, 2025 at 07:56 PM.