rear fender off center
Monkeyman, not sure who told you that but thats not why. Its just a fender adjustment thats required. Loosen the fender strut bolts and push the fender the other way and tighten them up. Just did it on mine when i installed my new wheels and 160 rear tire.
You can go ahead and bend your fender if you want, i'm just telling you the REAL reason so many of us notice this. I have had the rear fender off and measured the distance between the frame horns and the wheel.
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Read the appendix of the wheel alignment site:
http://motorcyclemetal.com/subpage14.html
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nce in width between the rear and front tires (it usually is).
http://www.bikernet.com/garage/spacertech-1.asp
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Generally motorcycle wheels should track one directly in line with the other. That's why motorcycles are called, in some circles, a single-track vehicle\\; however, this is not always the case. Harley-Davidson offsets the rear wheel on some of their Softail models as much as a half inch to the left, to move the center of gravity back towards the center of the motorcycle. As of this writing we know of three different offsets for the Softails. The different offsets can be found in your service manual in the chassis section, titled vehicle alignment (page 2-30 in the H-D service manual for 1997-1998 Softail models, H-D part number 99482-98). Be sure to check the correct service manual for your particular model.
Here is another article:
http://www.bikernet.com/garage/spacertech-1.asp
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Generally motorcycle wheels should track one directly in line with the other. That's why motorcycles are called, in some circles, a single-track vehicle\\\\\\; however, this is not always the case. Harley-Davidson offsets the rear wheel on some of their Softail models as much as a half inch to the left, to move the center of gravity back towards the center of the motorcycle. As of this writing we know of three different offsets for the Softails. The different offsets can be found in your service manual in the chassis section, titled vehicle alignment (page 2-30 in the H-D service manual for 1997-1998 Softail models, H-D part number 99482-98). Be sure to check the correct service manual for your particular model.
Monkeyman... \\; \\; one of the worst things that happen on these sites is bad advice. and your advice sir, is bad. The \\;offset bikernet speaks of is due to the wide tire and the need to offset the primary to fit the \\;primary to the motor. You need to check the facts. \\;Beepo does not have a widetirekit and hence no need \\;for an offset primary.
What agentorange says is absolutely correct. I have done the same to my bike. Not trying \\;to be a jerk here, just tired of guys regurgitating bad info without even doing homework on their own. \\;
Here is another article:
http://www.bikernet.com/garage/spacertech-1.asp
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Generally motorcycle wheels should track one directly in line with the other. That's why motorcycles are called, in some circles, a single-track vehicle\\\\\\\\\\\\\\; however, this is not always the case. Harley-Davidson offsets the rear wheel on some of their Softail models as much as a half inch to the left, to move the center of gravity back towards the center of the motorcycle. As of this writing we know of three different offsets for the Softails. The different offsets can be found in your service manual in the chassis section, titled vehicle alignment (page 2-30 in the H-D service manual for 1997-1998 Softail models, H-D part number 99482-98). Be sure to check the correct service manual for your particular model.
Monkeyman... \\;\\\\\\; \\;\\\\\\; one of the worst things that happen on these sites is bad advice. and your advice sir, is bad. The \\;\\\\\\;offset bikernet speaks of is due to the wide tire and the need to offset the primary to fit the \\;\\\\\\;primary to the motor. You need to check the facts. \\;\\\\\\;Beepo does not have a widetirekit and hence no need \\;\\\\\\;for an offset primary.
What agentorange says is absolutely correct. I have done the same to my bike. Not trying \\;\\\\\\;to be a jerk here, just tired of guys regurgitating bad info without even doing homework on their own. \\;\\\\\\;
Believe what you will, I have seen this offset of Stock Harleys talked about on Shows, in Motorcycle magazines, etc. But if you believe that my fender is crooked, yet my seat is exactly centered that is your perogative. If you really want to come over a measure my wheel in my frame you can see for youself, that my stock wheel is offset to the left.
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I have given 2 website that refer to the WHEEL being offset, not the primary. Would it help if I can find the article in American Iron Magazine?
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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Monkeyman, your seat is centered to what? \\;The front part of the rear fender stays put. Its only the rear that gets pulled over to center it over the tire.
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Chaos1 - Do me a favor... Measure the distance from the fender lip to the tire just above the drive belt at the very front part of the rear fender and compare it to the other side. I'll bet you that its almost identical. This will tell you that the front is fine and its only the back that needs to move over. Its not rocket science guys, its a little tweking here and there.
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AO
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