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

 

My '08 does it and my '07 Heritage did it. No one seems to know what causes it but dyou see it come up on the forums frequently. I'm used to it now and seldom notice it with normal riding.

 

Jim,
Thanks for the quick reply. Does your bikes do it to the point that your left arm aches from constantly pulling back on the grip? My 89 Heritage never did it and my 83 Sturgis has never done it either. Is the weight of these new bikes off center. Maybe someone from HD could shed some light on this. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Started thinking I was crazy.

 

Mine isn't bad enough that it causes my arms to hurt, but it definately is noticeable if you take both hands off the bars.

 

My '05 Heritage done it, drove me nuts and after checking everything, I was convinced that it was because of the heavy primary. Maybe, maybe not. My '05 Ultra runs straight as an arrow at any speed. It's a real pleasure to ride for any amount of time. I'm keeping her a long time.

 

I've read other posts about this in other forums. Some bikes have it, some don't. My friend's 07 Ultra rides straight as an arrow. My 09 EGC goes slightly to the left. My 07 Heritage Softail Classic will just about jerk you off the seat if you let go of the bars. But when I'm riding with my hands on the bars (even just one hand), I don't notice anything.

 

My 08 RK does it too. Bothered me initially as my Sportster would go in an arrow straight line all day with no hands. I asked the question same as you did. Got everything from "don't ride with no hands" to "maybe its the clutch cable how its anchored on the left" to "your wheels may be out of alignment" to "maybe your left nut is way way bigger than the right".
Finally got used to it and quite worrying about it. Tires are wearing evenly (~10K) which is enough to make me comfortable its not an alignment problem.
PS: I don't think its my nuts either. Neither one is very big

 

I'm having some problems understanding and maybe I'm reading this wrong.... In any event, I'm glad I don't have this issue. Please help me understand. If your bike drifts to the left and you're pulling on the left grip, wouldn't that make you go more to the left? If you're pulling on the left grip and it makes the bike go to the right, I would say that there's a serious issue and I would find another dealer. Also, tire pressure would only make a vehicle drift if it has more than two wheels.

 

Pulling on the left and having the bike go right is no serious issue, it's called counter steering... if your bike doesn't do it then it's defying the laws of physics

chistech, I only noticed this type of behavior myself on my last ride... tried the no handed thing briefly and started slowly drifting left towards the next lane, I dismissed it as uneven road at the time but now I'm wondering... It was never serious enough to notice while riding normally or even one handed, it's very subtle. I'll have to try again on a diff road just to verify it wasn't uneven road causing my issue.

 

Does the bike crab? Get a mate to ride behind you and check the front and rear wheels are in line as you go down the highway.