I have a 2014 breakout. I have always noticed sone vibration at high speeds.
I just noticed that the forks are uneven by about a sixteenth of an inch. This got me looking into it more. When ever I cleaned my motorcycle I always used a different rag for the triple tree because of bearing geese. I thought this was the norm because it did it from day 1. I did a half *** fall test with all cables in place. From center it fell toward the primary side freely. When I tapped it to the exhaust side it did not fall at all. I was able to move it all the way without it falling. I just passed 2000 miles and the 1000 maintenance was done about a month and a half ago. I have an appointment in a few days would like tto know a little more before going. Any help would be great.

 

Not sure what you mean that forks are off by 1/16 of inch? Explain please.

I'm guessing the reason you are falling on one side and stiff on the other is more a cable resistance issue and not a freakish bearing.

After all the bearings are either stiff or they are loose. They are not directional although I suppose if your entire head assembly was bent and the bearings were cocked inside their races anything is possible... Take off those cables and do the test right or don't be surprised if the results are wrong.

If your steering head is out of alignment this would take a tech and some very precise measurements to discover what you have there. The factory frame welding jig should not allow for misalignment. Has the bike ever been hit or dropped hard?

In general I use a fall away test only to tell when I am successful in tightening up the bearing free play relative to where I started from. If I am getting the bearings tighter the forks will have more drag around the center point of "fall." I do NOT believe in claims that the forks must fall for the first inch and a half or whatever as every bike has its own individual needs for stiffness depending on tires, accessories, overall geometry and personal preference.

So I set my bikes up the way I feel it performs best and use the book specifications only as a "guide." You DO have all the books, don't you?

As for bearing looseness causing a vibration my way of finding out if that is so is to motor up to 50 mph, loosen my grip on the bars so that I barely have my hands on them and then feel for a shake as I let the throttle die down and the bike drops to 25 mph. If the neck bearings are too loose you can feel the bars wiggle in your very light grip. If the bike is wiggle free then you are tight enough most of the time.

I have heard rumors that if you really tighten the head bearings beyond tight and make the forks way too stiff then you may run into a slow "weave" problem at high speed because the bike can no longer "self-correct" and follow the tire straight. Instead the bike would be so tight it weaves from side to side. But not a vibration--- a weave.

Bear in mind that ALL bikes weave slightly by design (look it up) and proper tightness is supposed to allow the steering to track properly due to "trail."

So far I would suggest you do the test again but this time make it a fair test by removing anything which is hanging up movement. And I would suggest you do my handlebar wiggle test to see if you have obvious problems when decelerating.

Good luck. Handling issues require checking first the most likely trouble areas and then you just never know. Once I discovered my REAR swingarm was loose and making the FRONT wiggle so it is not all ways easy catching the culprit. Get a good mechanic who knows how to find trouble as there are guys out there who seem to have an instinct for working on bikes.

Me? I just do the meat and potatoes stuff and usually figure it out. But not all ways.

 

Thanks for replying and the info.
Where the forks come up and out of the top of the triple tree, one is lower than the other. The lower side is flush with the triple tree. Theyare also both cocked to where (on the lower side) it set into the triple tree.
I wasn't expecting the fall test to be 100% true and I did check to make sure it wasn't getting hung up on the cables. I just thought it was odd how it fell to one side from center and I had to push it all the way to the other. I do have access to a service manual and it says to tap 2 to 4 inches before it falls. I'm ordering my own manual soon. A friend of mine, with the same motorcycle just replaced his dust covers. When he had it up the front end would stay straight to where mine falls to the one side.

 

OK I looked at a photo of the way the fork tubes on the Breakout slide into the top triple tree and it looks like they slide up as far as you decide to put them and then get locked into place by some clamping bolts.

You are saying your tubes are not level and that would make me think you need to carefully check the entire assembly against the manual to see if it was assembled wrong as I can't think of a good reason for the tubes to be different heights.

As for each tube is "cocked where it goes into the LOWER tree" I can't tell if that is a problem without having the specific set up info on the Breakout.

How the tubes fit the LOWER tree is something the manual should explain.

I would take it to a trustworthy mechanic and discuss your concerns.

For what it's worth my new Deuce was assembled wrong by the factory and I have completely rebuilt all the bearings checking fall away, replaced and reset wheel bearings and spacer gap, reset wheel alignment, spoke tightness, trued the rim runout and replaced the fork tube sliders and added Intiminators.

In other words on a brand new bike I did not like my handling and most everything was off the way it came from the factory. So it happens.

Fifty years ago when I was 16 I was drag racing a fuel injected '55 Chevy at 110mph and sat up and hit the brakes to slow down after I "beat him."

That's when I found out what it feels like to go into a "tank slapper" as my forks whipped violently back and forth tearing themselves out of my hands as I lost control and watched the bike dance back and forth across the painted line at over 100 mph.

Along with a change of underwear I vowed never again to ride a bike without first knowing the fork and all running gear was absolutely spot on.

The whole experience made me a lot better mechanic as I came to realize that everything matters. A lot. Maybe not at 40 MPH but definitely at 100 MPH plus.

So keep checking this out. Find the vibration. Get confirmation that your running gear is absolutely perfect. It beats dirty underwear.

Of course it would be nice if you could just trust that everything is perfect because you have a great mechanic. But for my money and my own peace of mind I try to do what you are doing now---and learn myself what to look for and how my own bike works.

Nothing wrong with THAT. It could save your life. It is GREAT that you are checking NOW before anything scary happens. Any bike can LOOK good but a bike that runs jam up and jelly tight gives a feeling like no other.

I tend to believe that my bike has even taught me stuff about LIFE. Like using my own head to solve problems. Looking for "real" help and doing homework before touching those tools. Stuff like that.

Not to get all Zen about it but BIKES ARE COOL. Especially bikes that are BUILT. Have fun.

 

Rlee I dig what you got to say my man. I agree with everything you got to say. I'm in Bergen county. Maybe we'll put down some miles together one day.

OP i would think that those fork tubes being uneven have something to do with the vibrations.

 

Most likely, you can loosen the triple-clamps, set the tubes to the same height, twist the handlebars while holding the wheel till the forks are straight, and re-tighten the clamps. Probably doesn't have anything to do with your vibration though. Easiest thing to check there might be wheel balance, or wheel or tire runout.

 

Good news, all is good. Forks are now level. The steering is still tight. The tech says it should by the 5000 miles service and they will check it again. I also asked about a whining noise I've been hearing. He said it was from the back tire. "Oh yeah all the fatter tires sound like that" the text said. I know that this is BS. I will be getting a service manual and I will be doing everything myself, with the help of Google and you guys.
Thanks again!

 

I don't know what makes a fatter tire whine.

Anyway, glad to hear you got the steering sorted out.