Steering geometry help
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 77
Likes: 3
From: Olympia, wa
Steering geometry help
Ok, here is the short story....the bike is a rescue. The previous owner cut the neck off and it was later welded back on by a pro. Then I bought it.
My problem is when I and cruising down the road and let go of the handlebars, not matter how hard I work at balancing the bike will not just track straight down the road. It will quickly start diving to the left or right and require hands on correction.
Its not like I want to ride hands free all the time but this thing should track straight. I have had other bikes that you could set the throttle and ride for miles with your hands in your lap.
My question is: where do I start looking to get this thing to track true?
More rake?
Tighter bearings?
Training wheels?
My problem is when I and cruising down the road and let go of the handlebars, not matter how hard I work at balancing the bike will not just track straight down the road. It will quickly start diving to the left or right and require hands on correction.
Its not like I want to ride hands free all the time but this thing should track straight. I have had other bikes that you could set the throttle and ride for miles with your hands in your lap.
My question is: where do I start looking to get this thing to track true?
More rake?
Tighter bearings?
Training wheels?
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 282
Likes: 62
From: Wilson, NC
You would think that if it was welded back on wrong it would pull the same way all the time.(unless road is slanted) I guess I would check head bearings and wheel bearings to see if they are tight first then the front tire or see if the fork is flexing somehow. Hold the front brake and rock the bike back and forth and see if anything cluncks.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Livingson, Texas
Ok, here is the short story....the bike is a rescue. The previous owner cut the neck off and it was later welded back on by a pro. Then I bought it.
My problem is when I and cruising down the road and let go of the handlebars, not matter how hard I work at balancing the bike will not just track straight down the road. It will quickly start diving to the left or right and require hands on correction.
Its not like I want to ride hands free all the time but this thing should track straight. I have had other bikes that you could set the throttle and ride for miles with your hands in your lap.
My question is: where do I start looking to get this thing to track true?
More rake?
Tighter bearings?
Training wheels?
My problem is when I and cruising down the road and let go of the handlebars, not matter how hard I work at balancing the bike will not just track straight down the road. It will quickly start diving to the left or right and require hands on correction.
Its not like I want to ride hands free all the time but this thing should track straight. I have had other bikes that you could set the throttle and ride for miles with your hands in your lap.
My question is: where do I start looking to get this thing to track true?
More rake?
Tighter bearings?
Training wheels?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 77
Likes: 3
From: Olympia, wa
Fat11lo - yes, its the bike in my profile but its a 2001 with 22k miles Swingarm feels real tight and I notice no slop in the forks but the head bearings have little to no drag/preload on them.
Turtle2 - you callin me fat?
Turtle2 - you callin me fat?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
If your neck bearing adjustment is too tight it will cause the front end to be 'twitchy'. I would suggest checking your fall away but, if your rake has been increased, I can't tell you what it should be. Anyway, this >could< be due to too much fall away. By reducing the fall away the front wheel won't flop from side to side as easily. Reducing it too much and your front end will probably 'clunk'. You may just have to do a lot of trial and error... time to get one of those bike jacks! <grin>
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 77
Likes: 3
From: Olympia, wa
Explain fall away - are you speaking tfo the preload or tension on the neck bearings? Mine are very free turning with nearly no effort but not so loose that the clunk of have slop. Should these be tighter?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
According to Harley, clunk was eliminated by how much torque you put on the securing nut. Fallaway is adjusted by turning the notched ring on top of the bearing which I believe would be termed pre-load. If you have a custom front end then it is strictly hunt and peck as far as I know... but your symptoms sound just like improperly adjusted fall away. Twitchy front ends are caused by too much pre-load... and a number of other things such as an improperly aligned drivetrain or rear wheel, bad swingarm bushings, unbalanced lower fork sliders, and one too many beers.
C#
Last edited by cwsharp; Feb 20, 2014 at 08:44 AM.
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Club Member
Joined: May 2007
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From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
I'd start with the fall away as said above and make sure the neck bearings have been greased correctly and lately. They could also be bad.
then look else where if that doesn't fix it..
Some bikes just don't track, but usually pull either to the left or right.. UNless the road crown is different..
.
then look else where if that doesn't fix it..
Some bikes just don't track, but usually pull either to the left or right.. UNless the road crown is different..
.