Curious if this is normal..**Update**
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: PNW
Curious if this is normal..**Update**
Does your bike steer true when you let go the grips momentarily?
I don't make a habit of this but wanted to zip my right sleeveso I let go and needed to lean right pretty good to make her go straight. Good road, no wind. Thanks.
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*Update* Well, I rolled her out of the garage yesterday with the motor off and the brake is dragging a little. I would have thought some drag is normal. When I looked closer at the front brake pads, there is barely enough room to get the width of a small flat screw driver between the pad and disc.
How much space is normal? New brakes, new bike-500 miles. Thanks.
I don't make a habit of this but wanted to zip my right sleeveso I let go and needed to lean right pretty good to make her go straight. Good road, no wind. Thanks.
************************************************** **************************************
*Update* Well, I rolled her out of the garage yesterday with the motor off and the brake is dragging a little. I would have thought some drag is normal. When I looked closer at the front brake pads, there is barely enough room to get the width of a small flat screw driver between the pad and disc.
How much space is normal? New brakes, new bike-500 miles. Thanks.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
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From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: Curious if this is normal..
Straigt as an arrow. This reminds me while riding earlier there was a guy with some really tall apes who must have had a throttle lock or cruise control as he was riding with his hand off the bars for about half an hour. That is longer than I am comfortable riding like that.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: ST. Louis
RE: Curious if this is normal..
Straight as an arrow here as well.
Except for trying it at 30 mph, slowing down it wobbled like crazy once.
Other than that one time,straight as an arrow.
Except for trying it at 30 mph, slowing down it wobbled like crazy once.
Other than that one time,straight as an arrow.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Rochester, NY
RE: Curious if this is normal..
It may be a draging brake pad. Just for grins get the bike out in an open area (big road) and use a screwdriver to try prying the pads away from the rotor disk a little. Then get on the bike, get it up to speed and give it a try. If it tracks straight try tapping the front brake and see if it still tracks straight. If it doesn't you found the problem.
Now figuring why its dragging that much is going to take a little detective work.
If I had to guess I think it might be either a slightly warped rotor or a sticking caliper piston.
If it doesn't track straight with the pads pushed away from the rotor I'm not sure where your going to need to look. But don't rule out the rear tire not being straight. Problem with that is that if the belt is tracking properly I don't think thereis much you can do to straighten the wheel out.
Belt tracking is a combination ofwheel sprocket and transmission alignment. If the rear tire is "off" and the belt is tracking right you would have to move the engine and tranny to get the rear wheel straight while keeping the belt aligned. A tall order, and something I personally would let either the dealer's shop or an indy I trusted fix.
Now figuring why its dragging that much is going to take a little detective work.
If I had to guess I think it might be either a slightly warped rotor or a sticking caliper piston.
If it doesn't track straight with the pads pushed away from the rotor I'm not sure where your going to need to look. But don't rule out the rear tire not being straight. Problem with that is that if the belt is tracking properly I don't think thereis much you can do to straighten the wheel out.
Belt tracking is a combination ofwheel sprocket and transmission alignment. If the rear tire is "off" and the belt is tracking right you would have to move the engine and tranny to get the rear wheel straight while keeping the belt aligned. A tall order, and something I personally would let either the dealer's shop or an indy I trusted fix.
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Buffalo Lake, MN
RE: Curious if this is normal..
Every bike I've ever ridden, including bicycles as a kid, I was not able to track straight with no hands. It was not until I started to ride cycle toa chiroprctor appt.that I noticed that after my back was adjustedI was able to ride with no hands, whereas before I would drift.Another mechanical thing to check it the rear wheel alighnment.
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From: PNW
RE: Curious if this is normal..
Frank,
Thanks. The brake drag sounds the most reasonable being its on the left side and makes a lot of sense. I will investigatebeyond that if required and post my findings. Appreciate the thorough answer.
Thanks. The brake drag sounds the most reasonable being its on the left side and makes a lot of sense. I will investigatebeyond that if required and post my findings. Appreciate the thorough answer.
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RE: Curious if this is normal..
I can let go of handle bars in neutarl and roll to red light till allmost 0 M.P.H., I have 200/17 rear and 140/17 front tire, so something is out of line for sure! PURPLE HAZE.
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