Drifting left: HELP

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May 22, 2009 | 12:44 PM

#61

metal gobmrc.org

Stage I

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

Answer to your pull to left

I bought a 08 Heritage and it did the same thing. Could bairly ride with no hands pulled very hard to the left. I went to a mechanic friend of mine and he said it was in the front end the neck bearings needed to be adjusted. apparently there is a way to adjust the front end to were the bike rides true he lifted the bike off the ground and sure enough the front end rolled to the left he gave the bearings in the neck about a eighth turn to corect the problem and it has been fine ever since. It drove me nuts for a long time. I thought i had a bent bike or something. But it was brand new and something wasnt correct. Have fun enjoy LLR..Metal gobmrc.org

May 22, 2009 | 02:09 PM

#62

cbears

Road Warrior

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 1,622

Likes: 1

From: Topeka, KS

I don't notice anything wierd with either of my 09s when holding on to either or both handlebars but if I take both hands off while riding, both of them drift left a bit. I actually don't know how the guys ride down the highway with no hands on the bars.

May 22, 2009 | 02:27 PM

#63

badherb

Road Captain

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 728

Likes: 1

From: Yakima, WA

09 SG brand new. I don't feel it pulling to the left but with no hands it goes left. When I have the bike on a jack my front end does not like to turn either way it wants to go back to center. Just a guess but I think that it's a little off on center. that's just what the bike does.
My thoughts: there is a lot of crap going to the bat wing. Most of those wires seem to be on the left hand side. Just a guess here but when I get more miles and the wires loosen up a little and get more plyable I thnk this issues will clear up. I think I might put $100 that is what's happening on most bikes that have this complaint.

May 22, 2009 | 02:32 PM

#64

beary

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 4,928

Likes: 285

From: Edmond Oklahoma

Some say these bikes are heavier on the left side because of the primary. I didn't really buy into that until I sat on a Thunder Mountain bike in Orlando. I nearly fell over when I picked it off the jiffy stand because it felt so light. The dealer said the weight is more balanced because Thunder Mountain uses a right side drive to counter the primary weight.

Beary

May 22, 2009 | 02:55 PM

#65

Twinrider

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 2,368

Likes: 14

From: Yokohama

Quote:

Originally Posted by chistech

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. s.

My RK will also start drifting slightly to the left if I take my hands off the handlebar. And when my wife's onboard it does it more. The reason why, though, is because she's leaning slightly to the left to see over my left shoulder.

May 22, 2009 | 03:19 PM

#66

abate1

Cruiser

Joined: Jul 2008

Posts: 150

Likes: 0

From: Elysian Fields Texas

There is more weight on the left side due to the primary, clutch, chain ect. I carry my tool bag and most of my gear in the right bag --- maybe that counters it cause I have never had this issue

May 22, 2009 | 03:37 PM

#67

beary

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 4,928

Likes: 285

From: Edmond Oklahoma

Yes, and there is also the clutch cable theory as well. If you run your finger down the cable, you will feel that it applies a pretty good force on the crash bar. I believe the maintenance manual even directs that the cable be disconnected while doing a balance test on the front wheel so that it doesn't effect the test.

That hard part about that theory is trying to figure out if the cable is apply a steering force or countersteering force.

The left side primary weight theory is easier to understand, so I like that one.

Beary