Originally Posted by chistech

UPDATE: She said HD claims that it is their policy that a rider has to maintain 2lbs pressure on the handle bars at all times while riding.

Originally Posted by idagon

Here is a procedure that i read awhile back, and saved it to a file for future reference.
BTW my 03 RK doesn't have any pull or drift even when the bags are unevenly weighted.

HD TOURING ALIGNMENT
Jack up the bike and set on stand then got the frame dead nuts level with a good quality two foot level across the frame tubes under the seat.
Sears sells a laser that is cheap, projects a flat plane for about 180 deg., has a magnetic base, and the plane can be rotated 90 deg to vertical or horizontal.
I put one laser on front and rear brake rotors on the same side of the bike pointing forward. Mounted this way the laser's project a beautiful red line on the floor.
Then put a magnetic base torpedo level on front and rear rotors to check for vertical.
Take the center bolt out of the front motor mount and loosen the lock nuts on the rod eyes at the front and top of motor.
Turn the front end until the level on the front rotor shows vertical.
Adjust the top rod eye to get the rear rotor vertical then adjust both rod eyes until rear laser intersects front laser directly below the front axle center and be sure to keep the front and rear rotors vertical. Adjusting one rod eye changes the other. So after the first adjustment of top rod eye to get rear rotor vertical adjust both rod eyes together.
Loosen the front motor mount and move over to match the engine plate hole.
Be sure to tighten everything up.

You will be amazed how well the bike handles when it's all lined up!

When I started the bubble in the level on the rear rotor was about a third pass the line with the wheel leaning to the right. The laser on the rear shot way right of the front and missed the front axle center line by about 1 1/4".
What started me on this was when I rode the bike and looked down at the speedo the *** end looked to be tracking to the right. It was ez to see why when I checked the alignment. And, a buddy of mine who has the same bike told me his bike was way out of alignment too. He used straight edges to align his.

Originally Posted by chistech

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