Drifting left: HELP
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Your back wheel is not stright with the front. If you put a stright edge across the front wheel and it is long enought to reach the rear wheel you will see it hit one side of the rear and not the other. Easy fix count the threads on the adjuster should be the same on both sides. If the belt is too tight adjust that side in then adjust the other side. ( check the belt adjustment by turning the belt with your fingers right in back of the primary if it truns half way around it is adjusted right). If you ride it down the street and feel a vibration in the bars that is a sure sign. If it falls to the left adjust the right, if the fall is to the right adjust the lefy. Try it you will see I am right.
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!
Seriously though, the MOCO hasn't been able to build bikes that consistently track straight for decades. Every H-D I've ever owned, 7 bikes from 1980-on, baggers & dynas, new and used, all pulled to the left.
Every now and then they apparently build one that tracks straight, but it certainly isn't all that common.
It's just part of the "privilege" of owning an "American Legend".
Seriously though, the MOCO hasn't been able to build bikes that consistently track straight for decades. Every H-D I've ever owned, 7 bikes from 1980-on, baggers & dynas, new and used, all pulled to the left.
Every now and then they apparently build one that tracks straight, but it certainly isn't all that common.
It's just part of the "privilege" of owning an "American Legend".
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 810
Likes: 0
That's normal, they all do that!
Seriously though, the MOCO hasn't been able to build bikes that consistently track straight for decades. Every H-D I've ever owned, 7 bikes from 1980-on, baggers & dynas, new and used, all pulled to the left.
Every now and then they apparently build one that tracks straight, but it certainly isn't all that common.
It's just part of the "privilege" of owning an "American Legend".
Seriously though, the MOCO hasn't been able to build bikes that consistently track straight for decades. Every H-D I've ever owned, 7 bikes from 1980-on, baggers & dynas, new and used, all pulled to the left.
Every now and then they apparently build one that tracks straight, but it certainly isn't all that common.
It's just part of the "privilege" of owning an "American Legend".
I, too, have experienced this problem. I owned a Y2K FLHR that had a strong tendency to pull left when traveling at speed. It was really bad when new, but seemed to get better as I put the miles on her. I complained early on to the H-D dealer but they were unable to figure it out and told me there was nothing they could do about it. I ended up putting 30K miles on that bike and eventually learned to "deal" with the handling issues. Fast forward to my present day ride, a 2009 FLHX. I love, love, love "Marilyn" but she, too, tracks a bit left sometimes. I say sometimes because in my experience the severity changes according to speed. At slower speeds it's more pronounced. At highway speeds, say, 75mph, it's much more subtle, but still there. We know from basic physics that bikes are more maneuverable at slow speeds and more stable at faster speeds. This would explain the difference in the bike's tendency to drift differently at different speeds. My tires are wearing evenly, and the bike otherwise runs really well. It doesn't bother me enough to lodge a complaint but I notice it each and every time I saddle up for a ride.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 25
From: NorCal
I had a BMW K1200GT that rode straight as an arrow for the first 4000 miles. I changed from the original Bridgestones to Metzelers, and all of a sudden my bike pulled left. I changed the front tire again, and it was a little better but not much. I sold the bike shortly thereafter.
Perhaps motorcycles also suffer from "radial pull" if the tire is not constructed properly? I'm not sure, but it may be worth checking in to.
Perhaps motorcycles also suffer from "radial pull" if the tire is not constructed properly? I'm not sure, but it may be worth checking in to.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
Your back wheel is not stright with the front. If you put a stright edge across the front wheel and it is long enought to reach the rear wheel you will see it hit one side of the rear and not the other. Easy fix count the threads on the adjuster should be the same on both sides. If the belt is too tight adjust that side in then adjust the other side. ( check the belt adjustment by turning the belt with your fingers right in back of the primary if it truns half way around it is adjusted right). If you ride it down the street and feel a vibration in the bars that is a sure sign. If it falls to the left adjust the right, if the fall is to the right adjust the lefy. Try it you will see I am right.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Drifting left
It may be my imagination but it happened on my 2008 Ultra and when I put a new front tire on it seem that I was able to release both hands fronm the handle bars.
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Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: dartmouth ma
I've been away for a while. I followed some advise here on this thread and disconnected the clutch cable housing from the left downtube. This helped greatly but it would still do it. I was able to hang my *** off the right side of the saddle enough to keep the bike straight but still not right. I took it back to the dealer where I bought it and the looked at it again and they told me they could find nothing. I kept riding it more and took it into a new dealer close to my house for it's 10k checkup. They went through the bike normally and when I got it back, the pull was completely gone. I didn't tell them the bike had been pulling either. They just did the normal checkup done at 10k. When I asked them what they did to the bike they said nothing they don't do on every other bike at 10k. Funny though, the other dealer said they did all the stuff usually associated with the check ups but probably didn't do a thing. Anyway, it's great now and is so much easier to ride. I still have the clutch cable unattached from the down tube because it is so stiff. I wonder if this bike had a hydraulic clutch option with a light hose instead of a cable if it would do it from the start.
Stage III
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Any vehicle be it 2,3,4 or more wheels will follow the road crown to the lowest point (the right in most cases). Being an Automotive Technician I have aligned many many new Chrysler Jeep and Dodges for crown pull. The fact that mine and many others goes left is and issue. What I beleive is the issue is that there is alot of rotating mass on the left side. The rear pully and the clutch and chain and the belt. Those items will want to pull the bike left. Take the front wheel off your kids bike and tape 4 1ounce wheel weights evenly spaced on the left as you hold it in your hands. have someone spin the wheel it will want to spin tilt left. I think the key is to off set this by tweeking the rear wheel slightly to the right (front of wheel to right rear left) I did this with mine and it made a dramtic difference. Tire wear is minimal 10,000 on original before adjustment and 8,500 after. Tire is replace at 2/32 tread.