Drifting left: HELP
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: Cypress,TX
Hello All,
I'm new here. I was referred by a HD dealer. I purchased a 08' Anniversary Road King just about a year ago. I am experiencing a problem with it that my dealer tells me isn't there. I have had others ride my bike and they too experience it also. The dealer tells me they can't duplicate it.
The Problem: When riding the bike down the road, doesnt' matter the speed, the bike will slowly start to drift left, then drift more quickly the further it goes. I have to constantly apply a light pull on the left grip the whole time I'm riding it. To correct it so that it doesn't drift left with no hands, I have to sit with the right cheek of my butt way off the seat and my upper body way to the right of center.
History: When I first bought the bike it did it. The dealer told me to keep driving it until it's first check as it was probably a break in adjustment. When the bike went in they told me they could not get the bike to do it and wheel alignment, fork oil, tire pressure, etc. was all correct. I kept riding the bike hoping it would quit doing it. I sent the bike in to put a chrome front end on and they again went through everything again. This was done during the winter so I didn't ride it again for a while. Well, got on it and sure enough, still doing it. I took it back and told them that something was wrong. I told them if they set the cruise and took their hands off the handlebars, they would easily see the problem. They called and said they found the problem and the bike was ready. When I went to pick it up they said that the tire inflation was way off and that was the reason. So I said to them, "so, what your telling me is that you delivered the bike to me with incorrect air pressure and I guess I've never checked my air pressure?" They must think I'm stupid. I again take the bike home and sure enough. NO CHANGE, it's still doing it! Now I call back really P'd off and they tell me that they are not allowed to remove both hands at the same time! Supposedly HD rules. I said you really don't have to take your hands off but just hold the grips loosely and you will have it happen. Well, I went to Daytona this past Feb. and put on close to 1,800 miles in one week. My left arm was aching from having to constantly hold the pressure to pull the left grip back. Something is wrong!
Suggestions: I am looking for help here. Has anyone else had any problem like this and been told what I have been told. A local after market parts guy who has been around for forty years and is well respected told me he had heard that there is a problem with the wheels that came with this bike. The wheels are the the ones that are totally round or shaped like a half circle. There is no definition in the rim in the bead area. Can anyone shed some light on this. I am going to get the owner of the dealership aside and give a piece of my mind on this. I tell the people at the dealer to get on the bike and ride it but they never do. They always have just the mechanic who it is assigned to, ride it. The dealer (not where I bought the bike) that told me to post here agrees with me that it must be alignment but still told me to ask. Any suggestions.
Thanks in Advance,
Ted
I'm new here. I was referred by a HD dealer. I purchased a 08' Anniversary Road King just about a year ago. I am experiencing a problem with it that my dealer tells me isn't there. I have had others ride my bike and they too experience it also. The dealer tells me they can't duplicate it.
The Problem: When riding the bike down the road, doesnt' matter the speed, the bike will slowly start to drift left, then drift more quickly the further it goes. I have to constantly apply a light pull on the left grip the whole time I'm riding it. To correct it so that it doesn't drift left with no hands, I have to sit with the right cheek of my butt way off the seat and my upper body way to the right of center.
History: When I first bought the bike it did it. The dealer told me to keep driving it until it's first check as it was probably a break in adjustment. When the bike went in they told me they could not get the bike to do it and wheel alignment, fork oil, tire pressure, etc. was all correct. I kept riding the bike hoping it would quit doing it. I sent the bike in to put a chrome front end on and they again went through everything again. This was done during the winter so I didn't ride it again for a while. Well, got on it and sure enough, still doing it. I took it back and told them that something was wrong. I told them if they set the cruise and took their hands off the handlebars, they would easily see the problem. They called and said they found the problem and the bike was ready. When I went to pick it up they said that the tire inflation was way off and that was the reason. So I said to them, "so, what your telling me is that you delivered the bike to me with incorrect air pressure and I guess I've never checked my air pressure?" They must think I'm stupid. I again take the bike home and sure enough. NO CHANGE, it's still doing it! Now I call back really P'd off and they tell me that they are not allowed to remove both hands at the same time! Supposedly HD rules. I said you really don't have to take your hands off but just hold the grips loosely and you will have it happen. Well, I went to Daytona this past Feb. and put on close to 1,800 miles in one week. My left arm was aching from having to constantly hold the pressure to pull the left grip back. Something is wrong!
Suggestions: I am looking for help here. Has anyone else had any problem like this and been told what I have been told. A local after market parts guy who has been around for forty years and is well respected told me he had heard that there is a problem with the wheels that came with this bike. The wheels are the the ones that are totally round or shaped like a half circle. There is no definition in the rim in the bead area. Can anyone shed some light on this. I am going to get the owner of the dealership aside and give a piece of my mind on this. I tell the people at the dealer to get on the bike and ride it but they never do. They always have just the mechanic who it is assigned to, ride it. The dealer (not where I bought the bike) that told me to post here agrees with me that it must be alignment but still told me to ask. Any suggestions.
Thanks in Advance,
Ted
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 987
Likes: 2
From: Sierra Nevada Mountains of N. Calif
Try this, put your bike on a jack. Turn your bars and let go. See if it centers. My bet is it will stop just off of center. Now remove your clutch cable and try it, I'll bet it will center every time.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 38,428
Likes: 896
I'm saying you have a problem. My 07 will track straight as an arrow on a good road. That is what you should expect of any vehicle. If you have to fight the steering, you have a problem.
The suggestions to seek someone with the proper chassis training and equipment is a good one.
Personally, I would never put up with any vehicle I had to fight, no matter how many wheels ..or wings.. it had.
The suggestions to seek someone with the proper chassis training and equipment is a good one.
Personally, I would never put up with any vehicle I had to fight, no matter how many wheels ..or wings.. it had.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: dartmouth ma
On the RK the tires are the same size front and back. I do not have the service manual for it so I'm not sure if there is any offset of the rear wheel to the front. My 89 Heritage's rear tire was not in line with the front. There was actually some offset. If you watch some of the older bikes from the rear you will notice that the tires do not track in the same line. That is normal and that is the way they were designed. The reason I am trying to fix this problem is 1, it shouldn't be there, and 2, it's still in warranty and they should do it on HD's wallet not mine. What if down the road a problem pops up because of this and now it's out of warranty. I eat it! The problem with going to another dealer is no one really wants to prove another dealer wrong. Same with car dealers. They're like a brotherhood that way. Trust me, some way, some how, I will get this resolved.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: dartmouth ma
gs34doc, thanks for the support. I wish I had said what you did so easily. I agree, Why should I have to put up fighting it? It is in between mild and severe. It is hard to explain how bad it is but it is bad enough. Any bike should track straight and true. I also have tried bringing it up to speed and then coasting to see if it was a motor torque issue. Still goes left. To me, the front of the rear tire has to be favoring the left side of the bike causing the bike's rear to move left which in turn makes me counter by pulling the left grip in to make it stay straight. Crabbing like another here has suggested. I had gotten advise to get HD corporate involved and I am going that route. I think it's better to follow their direction so they can't back out down the road if something major is found. Imagine if it's found to be a frame problem?
I definetly don't want to pay for that. I like this bike and want to keep it a long time. I just want it to drive correctly like all my other bikes have.
I definetly don't want to pay for that. I like this bike and want to keep it a long time. I just want it to drive correctly like all my other bikes have.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
My 2007 Ultra drifts left with no hands on the bars. I slide my butt over to the right of the seat to compensate. Slow drift to the left so not too bad. Mainly wanted to post to be able to follow this thread to see if anyone can figure out what it is.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,434
Likes: 658
From: Vancouver Island B.C.
My 07 street glide drifted right and had the bad "wobble". Did chassis alignment (tools from Georges Garage)and routed clutch cable so it is only clipped to the lower right down tube. I ended up adjusting top stabilizer almost 1/8". 75 mph with cruise on, no hands and the bike now tracks dead straight. The bike now feels right.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 267
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
That's normal, they all do that. Sounds like the usual MOCO line, but this time it's true. Harley can't build a bike that tracks straight. Every H-D I've ever owned did it to some extent regardless of the model. There are a few that don't, but they're the exceptions.
Whaddya expect fer yer 20,000+ dollars anyway? Buildin' these bikes to a quality standard that actually tracks straight would make 'em cost a fortune!!! This is just the MOCO's way of takin' care of their ungrateful customers. If ya want a bike that runs straight, get one o' them cheap-built Jap bikes.
Whaddya expect fer yer 20,000+ dollars anyway? Buildin' these bikes to a quality standard that actually tracks straight would make 'em cost a fortune!!! This is just the MOCO's way of takin' care of their ungrateful customers. If ya want a bike that runs straight, get one o' them cheap-built Jap bikes.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 34
From: Newport news, Virginia
Have the dealer check the bushings in the swing arm. If they are wearing or loose as the belt pulls on the drive pulley it will pull the tire out of alignment causing the crab you are referring to. You can get harder bushings but the trade off will be more vibration. You can check it yourself buy putting the bike up on a center stand jack with the wheel off the ground and push the tire side to side to see of there is any play.