Need help...question
Need help...question
Have done a few searches and can't find an answer, although I'm sure it's been covered.
My 2012 Heritage has drifted to the left (it's not road camber or how I'm sitting) since I first got it.
Had a new rear tire put on a few thousand miles ago and mentioned it at the time. Said they could find nothing.
Now with the new rear tire it is even more pronounced.
Is there anything unique to the softails that can cause this?
Gonna be checking forks and rear axle alignment....even though both tires are showing no abnormal wear patterns.
TIA for any help/ideas.
My 2012 Heritage has drifted to the left (it's not road camber or how I'm sitting) since I first got it.
Had a new rear tire put on a few thousand miles ago and mentioned it at the time. Said they could find nothing.
Now with the new rear tire it is even more pronounced.
Is there anything unique to the softails that can cause this?
Gonna be checking forks and rear axle alignment....even though both tires are showing no abnormal wear patterns.
TIA for any help/ideas.
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DKCustomProducts.com
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
My '13 Slim has done this since day 1, and from reading here I'm far from being the only one.
It's nothing noticeable unless I let go of the bars, and even then it's slight enough that I can overcome it just by leaning a little to the right.
I'm guessing it has something to do with the rear tire being offset slightly to the left, about a 1/2".
There's been plenty of discussion about that here too, and I've yet to see a definitive answer as to why this is.
EDIT: Here's a straight on photo of my rear tire and fender - you can clearly see that the tire isn't centered under the fender...
It's nothing noticeable unless I let go of the bars, and even then it's slight enough that I can overcome it just by leaning a little to the right.
I'm guessing it has something to do with the rear tire being offset slightly to the left, about a 1/2".
There's been plenty of discussion about that here too, and I've yet to see a definitive answer as to why this is.
EDIT: Here's a straight on photo of my rear tire and fender - you can clearly see that the tire isn't centered under the fender...
Last edited by jam436; Jul 27, 2014 at 09:22 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 3
From: Central Jersey
^^^
There was a topic on this a few weeks back. It happens to almost everyone. I think the best (reasonable) answer is that the bikes just aren't 50/50 balanced. Something to do with the primary on one side and nothing to counter it on the left. I've had my tires tracked and trued, and it still happens..but like was mentioned, it only happens when i take my hands off from the bars.
And IIRC, the second best answer was "Well, keep your wallet in your right pocket.". Of course, I'd need a lot more money than I have right now to make a difference there.
donations, anyone?
There was a topic on this a few weeks back. It happens to almost everyone. I think the best (reasonable) answer is that the bikes just aren't 50/50 balanced. Something to do with the primary on one side and nothing to counter it on the left. I've had my tires tracked and trued, and it still happens..but like was mentioned, it only happens when i take my hands off from the bars.
And IIRC, the second best answer was "Well, keep your wallet in your right pocket.". Of course, I'd need a lot more money than I have right now to make a difference there.
donations, anyone?
I've heard both the above over the years, but was hoping it was not accurate.
I do like to take my hands of the handlebars now and then on the interstate on long rides (which is not possible with this drifting).
More importantly, when eating up the miles on a long trip, it does become a bit tiresome to keep constant forward pressure on the right bar to keep it heading straight. I have a bum left shoulder, so constantly pulling back on the left bar is not a good option either. (yeah, I'm an old fart...lol)
btw, in the corners and curves I don't notice it...it is only when I settle in on the relatively straight interstate for a lot of miles that it becomes irritating.
Could someone give me a link to the recent threads on the subject so I could do some reading up on it?
TIA
I do like to take my hands of the handlebars now and then on the interstate on long rides (which is not possible with this drifting).
More importantly, when eating up the miles on a long trip, it does become a bit tiresome to keep constant forward pressure on the right bar to keep it heading straight. I have a bum left shoulder, so constantly pulling back on the left bar is not a good option either. (yeah, I'm an old fart...lol)
btw, in the corners and curves I don't notice it...it is only when I settle in on the relatively straight interstate for a lot of miles that it becomes irritating.
Could someone give me a link to the recent threads on the subject so I could do some reading up on it?
TIA
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,098
Likes: 13,031
From: Texas, USA
Kevin,
I have a 2012 Heritage also. Mine has drifted left since I got it. This is not unique to our year and model Harley. It is possible that true duals may exaggerate the drift but doesn't cause it. If I let go of the bars, I cannot compensate for the drift by leaning right. Since I have no undesired consequences (uneven tire wear) I consider it normal.
EDIT: Some threads below may provide additional information
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/searc...rchid=25697214
I have a 2012 Heritage also. Mine has drifted left since I got it. This is not unique to our year and model Harley. It is possible that true duals may exaggerate the drift but doesn't cause it. If I let go of the bars, I cannot compensate for the drift by leaning right. Since I have no undesired consequences (uneven tire wear) I consider it normal.
EDIT: Some threads below may provide additional information
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/searc...rchid=25697214
Last edited by Bone Doc; Jul 27, 2014 at 03:03 PM.
Kevin,
I have a 2012 Heritage also. Mine has drifted left since I got it. This is not unique to our year and model Harley. It is possible that true duals may exaggerate the drift but doesn't cause it. If I let go of the bars, I cannot compensate for the drift by leaning right. Since I have no undesired consequences (uneven tire wear) I consider it normal.
EDIT: Some threads below may provide additional information
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/searc...rchid=25697214
I have a 2012 Heritage also. Mine has drifted left since I got it. This is not unique to our year and model Harley. It is possible that true duals may exaggerate the drift but doesn't cause it. If I let go of the bars, I cannot compensate for the drift by leaning right. Since I have no undesired consequences (uneven tire wear) I consider it normal.
EDIT: Some threads below may provide additional information
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/searc...rchid=25697214
TIA
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,098
Likes: 13,031
From: Texas, USA
Sorry, Kevin. I didn't test the link when I posted it. Strangely, I had better hits by searching the Softail forum than I did with Google.
I searched "left drift" (without the quotes).
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Found some threads. Appreciate it.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 84
From: Southern Maine / Seacoast NH
Thanks for the links to other threads guys. Had been wondering about the left drifting tendencies of my new-to-me Deluxe, but was thinking it was something I was doing. Mine can be countered with some right body lean and a little adjustment off center of my seating position, but I wouldn't want to have to lean that far right for any length of time. Time to do some reading I guess.
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Still the best way to search this forum is with Google.
The forum search tools leave much to be desired.
In Google, enter your keywords then add "hdforums" to the search.
ie; left drift hdforums
You'll get far better results.
The forum search tools leave much to be desired.
In Google, enter your keywords then add "hdforums" to the search.
ie; left drift hdforums
You'll get far better results.