05 RKC Handling dilema
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 330
Likes: 6
From: Jersey Shore
RE: 05 RKC Handling dilema
I picked up my bike tonight, and my suspisions were correct. The bike still pulls the same.
I got to speak to the factory service rep also and he said that 30-40 percent of them pull, he said the tollerances were different between bikes. but he would come out to take a ride on my bike within the next couple of days. I am not happy with his answer. With todays technology a vehicle manufacturer should be able to produce a vehicle that does not pull you into oncoming traffic. I'll keep you all posted.
By the way is there a lemon law on motorcycles?
This makes me sad. It's the first new vehicle I have ever purchase in my life.
I got to speak to the factory service rep also and he said that 30-40 percent of them pull, he said the tollerances were different between bikes. but he would come out to take a ride on my bike within the next couple of days. I am not happy with his answer. With todays technology a vehicle manufacturer should be able to produce a vehicle that does not pull you into oncoming traffic. I'll keep you all posted.
By the way is there a lemon law on motorcycles?
This makes me sad. It's the first new vehicle I have ever purchase in my life.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 2
From: Central, NY
RE: 05 RKC Handling dilema
There was a thread posted here earlier this year where more than a few people admitted their bikes pull left when they let go of the bars. Mine does also. Some said it's inherent due to the primary assembly being on the left side. No one really knew for sure.
On my bike, it feels like when you take your hands off the bars, the bike tips slightly off the center of the tires (to the left) and then pulls in that direction. I can counteract it by my body position or by loading the right side of the bike heavier than the left.
There is a thread in another forum of this site posted now regarding a similar issue on a fatboy.
Good luck with this. I'd love to hear what you learn.
On my bike, it feels like when you take your hands off the bars, the bike tips slightly off the center of the tires (to the left) and then pulls in that direction. I can counteract it by my body position or by loading the right side of the bike heavier than the left.
There is a thread in another forum of this site posted now regarding a similar issue on a fatboy.
Good luck with this. I'd love to hear what you learn.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 330
Likes: 6
From: Jersey Shore
RE: 05 RKC Handling dilema
The way I see it also if the rear wheel is not in line with the front it will influence the steering abilities of the bike. Am I correct here?
The service manager at the dealer said the rear wheel has no affect on the pulling of the bike. WTF?
The service manager at the dealer said the rear wheel has no affect on the pulling of the bike. WTF?
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 1
From:
RE: 05 RKC Handling dilema
According to the service manual, there is a specific method of aligning my Road King - it does not look like a very easy job, but, it does look like it would cure a "pull" problem. In the procedure, there are specific tools including an alignment "jig" that I doubt most dealers have. Sounds to me like you're getting the famous "run-around". Keep after HD - I bet you'll get it fixed.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 330
Likes: 6
From: Jersey Shore
RE: 05 RKC Handling dilema
I don't plan on going away quietly, It's a problem in their manufacturing process.
If you stand at the back of the bike and kneel down you can actually see that the rear wheel is not sitting square in the rear fork.
The service manager said the rear wheel position will not cause my complaint. But why would HD put a rear alignment procedure in thier manual. Not happy.
If you stand at the back of the bike and kneel down you can actually see that the rear wheel is not sitting square in the rear fork.
The service manager said the rear wheel position will not cause my complaint. But why would HD put a rear alignment procedure in thier manual. Not happy.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 189
Likes: 1
From:
RE: 05 RKC Handling dilema
Which way does it pull? took my hands off my 05 RKC yesterday and crossed into the left
lane post hast. Does yours pull to the left? i just did this to try it and no traffic was in the left lane. Yes, i would beleive they should recall and fix these.
lane post hast. Does yours pull to the left? i just did this to try it and no traffic was in the left lane. Yes, i would beleive they should recall and fix these.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Prior Lake, MN
RE: 05 RKC Handling dilema
ORIGINAL: skywagon
Which way does it pull? took my hands off my 05 RKC yesterday and crossed into the left
lane post hast. Does yours pull to the left? i just did this to try it and no traffic was in the left lane. Yes, i would beleive they should recall and fix these.
Which way does it pull? took my hands off my 05 RKC yesterday and crossed into the left
lane post hast. Does yours pull to the left? i just did this to try it and no traffic was in the left lane. Yes, i would beleive they should recall and fix these.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 96
Likes: 2
From:
RE: 05 RKC Handling dilema
No way this should happen. I can let go of the bars at 70mph on my '01 RKC and it tracks straight and true.
Rear wheel alignment is an art, although having an alignment jig can make it less so. They mount the rear wheels with an assembly tool made to cause the wheel to essentially be in line with the steering head on the front of the bike. If they've damaged that tool, or have an assembly line worker who doesn't know how to do it right, they could send out big batches of bikes which are misaligned. I doubt that they have a quality control procedure to catch this, instead counting on hearing customer complaints. But unless a company has a culture of enthusiastically accepting complaints as a way to improve, what you usually get is denial and a hiding of the bad news (because the employee would rather have a customer pissed off at them than have to give bad news to a boss).
It's not crazy hard to align the rear wheel, but there are tricks. If you dealer has any decent wrenches, they'll know how to do it. I still think you need to find a new dealer.
PL
Rear wheel alignment is an art, although having an alignment jig can make it less so. They mount the rear wheels with an assembly tool made to cause the wheel to essentially be in line with the steering head on the front of the bike. If they've damaged that tool, or have an assembly line worker who doesn't know how to do it right, they could send out big batches of bikes which are misaligned. I doubt that they have a quality control procedure to catch this, instead counting on hearing customer complaints. But unless a company has a culture of enthusiastically accepting complaints as a way to improve, what you usually get is denial and a hiding of the bad news (because the employee would rather have a customer pissed off at them than have to give bad news to a boss).
It's not crazy hard to align the rear wheel, but there are tricks. If you dealer has any decent wrenches, they'll know how to do it. I still think you need to find a new dealer.
PL
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Advanced
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 96
Likes: 2
From:
RE: 05 RKC Handling dilema
ORIGINAL: pococj
PLHOG, where are you getting the zero trail on the touring bikes? While the front ends are decidedly different than the usual setup, the actual trail is over 6 inches. The reversed geometry of the tourers' front ends gives a very light feel at low speeds, yet the somewhat greater than average trail gives good high speed stability. Only drawback I know is that they have a tendency to do the high speed wobble thing if something gets out of whack.
Mixed, there is something wrong with your bike. If the dealer can't fix it, and worse, won't admit there is something wrong, then get another dealer, and tell HD directly.
PLHOG, where are you getting the zero trail on the touring bikes? While the front ends are decidedly different than the usual setup, the actual trail is over 6 inches. The reversed geometry of the tourers' front ends gives a very light feel at low speeds, yet the somewhat greater than average trail gives good high speed stability. Only drawback I know is that they have a tendency to do the high speed wobble thing if something gets out of whack.
Mixed, there is something wrong with your bike. If the dealer can't fix it, and worse, won't admit there is something wrong, then get another dealer, and tell HD directly.
Thanks for the correction. The specs say 6.2" of trail. I wonder where I got that in my head -- I can almost see the illustration of the zero trail geometry in my head, like I saw it in a bike mag or an HD marketing piece. Did the Evo-era FLs have zero trail (that was my Dark Ages, when I didn't have a bike).
PL
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 2
RE: 05 RKC Handling dilema
These motorcycles are not right. MCNews has covered this problem with the roadkings? Harley doesn't seem to be responding because it isn't an easy fix, but a big engineering problem.
That's the problem. They have no idea how to fix it or it's just too much work to do so. I don't know why, but I know they won't. Police officers have gone into deadly high speed wobbles on these motorcycles and some departments have retired their road kings. Also, there is a law suit on road kings because some have experience tank slappers. Ride your bike carefully and watch out at speeds of 70mph and greater. If the factory won't fix this, then I would trade the bike in for another one making sure I get a very nice trade-in value.
Two things I’ve noticed: First, the back wheel is visibly off-center. The front of the back tire is centered. The rear is off by ¼”.