Drifting left: HELP
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,035
Likes: 8
From: Western Canada
What he said
The clutch cable is against the engine guard and applies pressure through the cable to the handlebars, causing the bike to drift left. Even the slightest pressure can cause it.
Novice
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Fairly certain it is the clutch cable, the plastic shield is pretty stiff for what it needs to do. It pushes forward on the left bar and like counter-steering makes the bike go left. I routed my clutch cable in front of my engine guard when I put my demon grip heaters on. My bike will go straight if I sit a little right and have only right leg on the highway peg. I was going to move the cable but now wonder if that might make it worse instead of better. I've also considered removing the clamp to the fork, figuring that would free it up and reduce the pushing effect.
Today I moved the clutch cable to the rider side of the crash bar, no change. Moved it again, this time to the rider side of the handlebar, and strapped to it so it goes right down next to the neck and no fork clamp. I can't believe it has any real effect this way, and STILL no change. Time to get a couple of magnet laser levels and try that.
Today I moved the clutch cable to the rider side of the crash bar, no change. Moved it again, this time to the rider side of the handlebar, and strapped to it so it goes right down next to the neck and no fork clamp. I can't believe it has any real effect this way, and STILL no change. Time to get a couple of magnet laser levels and try that.
Last edited by mcgyver_wi; Jul 1, 2013 at 06:52 PM. Reason: update
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Prescott Valley, AZ
Wow!
Look at all the people with issues. I'm glad I asked. I am a machinery tech and I have tried a lot of different things like taking off my windshield to see if it was that, taking off the bags, taking off one bag, etc. Like I said earlier, I can make it go straight hands off but I have to sit way off the seat to the right. There is something wrong and if a lot of bikes are doing this then there is either a design problem or major component alignment problem like was mention here. None of us should put up with it. It also appears that the majority of the bikes all go left. Only one has said their bike goes right. My arm does not usually bother me but when I put on 1,800 miles in less than 5 days, it really ended up bothering me. Up at the top of the arm/shoulder deltoid area. When I got home and couldn't ride anymore because of the weather, the pain went away. I've tested the bike on all kinds of roads and it does the same. One thing I forgot to say, with my wife on, it's worse. This tells me that when the swing arm changes position, the alignment goes off more, because of the weight I would think. I think either the swing arm, swing arm mount, or the chassis is off. It can be off half a millimeter and cause the issues we're all having. I can ride my son's dirt bikes down the road and they stay straight, why not my RK!
Thanks for the advise on how to go about the conversation with HD. I agree completely. If it is considered a safety issue and I go about it diplomatically, they will be more willing to work with me. I will keep all posted on my progress.
Look at all the people with issues. I'm glad I asked. I am a machinery tech and I have tried a lot of different things like taking off my windshield to see if it was that, taking off the bags, taking off one bag, etc. Like I said earlier, I can make it go straight hands off but I have to sit way off the seat to the right. There is something wrong and if a lot of bikes are doing this then there is either a design problem or major component alignment problem like was mention here. None of us should put up with it. It also appears that the majority of the bikes all go left. Only one has said their bike goes right. My arm does not usually bother me but when I put on 1,800 miles in less than 5 days, it really ended up bothering me. Up at the top of the arm/shoulder deltoid area. When I got home and couldn't ride anymore because of the weather, the pain went away. I've tested the bike on all kinds of roads and it does the same. One thing I forgot to say, with my wife on, it's worse. This tells me that when the swing arm changes position, the alignment goes off more, because of the weight I would think. I think either the swing arm, swing arm mount, or the chassis is off. It can be off half a millimeter and cause the issues we're all having. I can ride my son's dirt bikes down the road and they stay straight, why not my RK!
Thanks for the advise on how to go about the conversation with HD. I agree completely. If it is considered a safety issue and I go about it diplomatically, they will be more willing to work with me. I will keep all posted on my progress.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
