Drifting left: HELP
Novice
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
I have noticed this on 2 Road Kings (both police editions even). A '99 for 80k and now my '08. Many pads and tires, all lanes and road surfaces (crown etc). It isn't so my arm hurts (even on 500+ days), but has always bothered me. I can sit a little right with only my right floor on the highway peg and it goes straight, or the weight of my hand on the throttle is enough (and that would be proper operation I guess), but switching the bag contents doesn't help. I am no saddle surfer, but it would seem an 850 lb. bike should not drift because a shaft falls left of the seam. Clutch cable routing is a likely suspect, but I have had a play with that without success. I wondered if a braided cable might be more flexible and have less effect on steering. My local dealership techs have no troubleshooting skills, only how to perform procedures in book time. Anyone know the secret? 2-1 exhaust? Lighter weight fluid in the chain case? A .40 in my right boot?
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: colorado
Noticed this on my 08 king as well. I went to adjust the fall away and discovered Harley wants their touring bikes fall away set different from their cruisers. The test calls to move the bars full left and release. They should swing right left and then stop just right of center. This is normal but a wheel that wants Ti ride right will yield a tendency To pull left at speed. I lubed the bearings and adjusted the neck bearings so that the bars just barely stop right of center. I keep the right saddle bag filled with my rain gear and what not. She tracks straight and true now. Moral of story the left turn tendency on touring bikes is apparently normal.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Glad I found this thread. My '05 Road King Classic has always had a slight drift to the left. Dealer said it was normal.
I read this thread and then disconnected the clutch cable guide on the fork... no more left drift! In fact, it starts to go slightly right at first when I let go of the bars now. Easily corrected with a slight lean. I can FINALLY go down the road with no hands!!
I read this thread and then disconnected the clutch cable guide on the fork... no more left drift! In fact, it starts to go slightly right at first when I let go of the bars now. Easily corrected with a slight lean. I can FINALLY go down the road with no hands!!
Stage IV
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Buford, GA
Did anyone ever find out how to actually get this resolved?
I have a 2013 FLHX that does this.
Bike was wrecked and repaired back in March. Before the wreck, it would run perfectly straight. After the repairs, it pulls left.
I've gotten the "all of these bikes pull left" line and "there's nothing to align on the new models" line from the techs at my local dealership.
This past weekend, I had a friend that's a master mechanic (& HD certified) ride it and tell me what he thought. He says that it pulls too much and there's definitely something wrong, and all signs point to an alignment issue. I can't have him actually do any work on it because he doesn't work at an authorized HD service center, and I would risk having warranty issues.
I have a 2013 FLHX that does this.
Bike was wrecked and repaired back in March. Before the wreck, it would run perfectly straight. After the repairs, it pulls left.
I've gotten the "all of these bikes pull left" line and "there's nothing to align on the new models" line from the techs at my local dealership.
This past weekend, I had a friend that's a master mechanic (& HD certified) ride it and tell me what he thought. He says that it pulls too much and there's definitely something wrong, and all signs point to an alignment issue. I can't have him actually do any work on it because he doesn't work at an authorized HD service center, and I would risk having warranty issues.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 157,321
Likes: 56,881
From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
You may be the victim of "Tire Conicity" or what we use to refer to as "Conical Pull" best exemplified by laying a paper coffee cup on the table and giving it a push. As it rolls it tracks to one side because of the difference in the circumference of the cup between the top ( larger) and bottom ( smaller ) ... On a car we would generally swap the tires from side to side and correct the problem immediately ( We ran into this a lot when installing brand new tires ) However on your scooter their is the "directional" factor involved. Earlier in the thread someone insinuated that the alignment was and suggested you check the rear tire against the front tire ... While you may have this problem it wouldn't make the bike "pull" but it would/could leave you with the bars canted a bit to one side or the other ... I've seen some situations where the rider has inadvertently places himself off center in the saddle which can/would lead to a "pull" ... If at all possible ( and considering that your tire is new or in relatively excellent condition ) maybe you could try swapping a front wheel assy from one of your fellow riders to see if this aids in the rectifying of your problem ... It's not a big job and could be the resolve to your problem. Hope this helps!
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: NY
I have a 2012 StreetGlide...stock ...mine does it too...immediately drifts left if you take yer hands off the bars...my guess.....weight imbalance biased to the left side , since so many others seem to do it also......weight bias IMO is the engine to trans power transfer assembly ...that's a lot of heavy metal hanging out to 1 side.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
This is usually easily fixed by adjusting the rear wheel...but the newer touring bikes have no way to adjust the rear axle independently... may have to put a shim between the eccentric and the axle to get it "straight".
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