Pulling to the left
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 56
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Pulling to the left
Hi;
I just took my 08 SG for a long trip for the first time. I did some experimentation to see how well it tracks. With the cruise control on, I removed my hand off the handle bars, and noticed it always wants to pull to the left. It did not matter if I was on the inside or outside lane of the HWY. I moved my weight around a bit to see if it makes a difference, and did not.
Is this an issue?
Thanks.
I just took my 08 SG for a long trip for the first time. I did some experimentation to see how well it tracks. With the cruise control on, I removed my hand off the handle bars, and noticed it always wants to pull to the left. It did not matter if I was on the inside or outside lane of the HWY. I moved my weight around a bit to see if it makes a difference, and did not.
Is this an issue?
Thanks.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Pulling to the left
My '08 Street Glide is doing the same thing. I suspect the front and rear wheels are not in line. I am going to put mine on my lift table and string it to check wheel alignment. The belt adjusters may be off or marked out of calibration. I'll let you know what I find out.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,621
Likes: 1
From: Matthews, NC
RE: Pulling to the left
I think that issue is because the bike is not perfectly balanced.....supposedly there is more weight on the left side. At least this is what I have read in this forum.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: Franklin, TN
RE: Pulling to the left
I sure wold like to know if this is normal as well. A few weeks ago I put the IDS on my 07 and during the test ride I did the same thing.....put the cruise on and let go of the bars. I have the same symptom...pulling to the left. Prior to this I had never tried this experiment so I don't know if it was related to the IDS install or not.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 701
Likes: 72
From: SA TX
RE: Pulling to the left
My 07 was doing the same thing after the dealer had put on a rear tire. Because it was tracking straight prior to the tire change...I assumed it was because the back tire was not perfectly aligned. Took it back to the dealer and turned out the whole drive train needed alignment. Absolutely nothing had occured that would have caused a misalignment and the left drift was readily apparent immediately after the tire change. So, moral of the story is....have the dam thing check or do it yourself. Misalignment will cause abnormal wear on your tires, belt and your milage would probably decrease.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 976
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Pulling to the left
Engine is "left heavy"... although the stock exhaust makes an effort to compensate... it does not do much... Bikes with mufflers on the same side seem to be a little less "left heavy"
I doubt if the front to rear wheel tracking if off since it was set at the factory.... unless some rag worked on your bike and didn't get it lined back up..
Another thought for riding left heavy would be that heavy wallet you carry in you least rear pocket!!
I doubt if the front to rear wheel tracking if off since it was set at the factory.... unless some rag worked on your bike and didn't get it lined back up..
Another thought for riding left heavy would be that heavy wallet you carry in you least rear pocket!!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: Franklin, TN
RE: Pulling to the left
ORIGINAL: Doug45601
Another thought for riding left heavy would be that heavy wallet you carry in you least rear pocket!!
Another thought for riding left heavy would be that heavy wallet you carry in you least rear pocket!!
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 976
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Pulling to the left
BTW physics also play a part in pulling the bike to the left... ever hold a spinning gyroscope in your hand or balance it on your finger ... it tilts to the left! Even a spinning toy top will lean left!!
Motor cycle wheels turning at speed... well
Motor cycle wheels turning at speed... well
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 11
From: Grottoes Va.
RE: Pulling to the left
My '07 Road King did the same thing, took it back to the dealer and got the company line," that's normal, they all do that". I asked what the service guy do if his new car pulled to the left and he said he'd get it fixed or raise a stink about it. I just looked at him and asked what;s going to happen then, do I need to get loud? They fixed it. Take it to where you got it and make them fix it.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 572
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Pulling to the left
Riding two up my RK tracks to the left most of the time, I can compensate by shifting my weight a bit.
When I ride solo it goes right down the middle, no drifting to the left or right.
Wife says she is sitting straight, but I think not.
No biggie, she does not really like me cruising with my hands of the bars anyway.
Course, sometimes I do it anyway...she rarely notices until I put both my hands on her legs at the same time.
ROFLMAO...last weekend I did that and she gave me a little hug, then she realized that if both my hands were on her then there were none on the bars...hahaha!
When I ride solo it goes right down the middle, no drifting to the left or right.
Wife says she is sitting straight, but I think not.
No biggie, she does not really like me cruising with my hands of the bars anyway.Course, sometimes I do it anyway...she rarely notices until I put both my hands on her legs at the same time.
ROFLMAO...last weekend I did that and she gave me a little hug, then she realized that if both my hands were on her then there were none on the bars...hahaha!