Pointed in a different direction
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Pointed in a different direction
Tuesday I'm going to take the bike in for it's 5,000 mile service and I'm also going to have them check on the front end.
It's hard to describe, but I feel like the tire is pointed in a different direction than the rest of the front end. It doesn't look out of whack, but when on a long ride on the highway, it just doesn't feel right. I feel like the bars are bent or something. And if I take my concentration off the road and look at the scenery just a little, I'm all over the road. That's because my arms naturally want to even out and point me where I want to go. But then the bike heads for the double yellow line.
This all started, or I should say first noticed, on the first long ride we took after getting the Heritage style bars installed. That was just before my 1,000 mile service. I thought at the time that I'll just keep riding and maybe the feeling will go away, but it hasn't. I still think something is out of whack, even though eyeballing it doesn't show anything.
Anyone else have bars installed and had this issue? The bike has never been dropped.
It's hard to describe, but I feel like the tire is pointed in a different direction than the rest of the front end. It doesn't look out of whack, but when on a long ride on the highway, it just doesn't feel right. I feel like the bars are bent or something. And if I take my concentration off the road and look at the scenery just a little, I'm all over the road. That's because my arms naturally want to even out and point me where I want to go. But then the bike heads for the double yellow line.
This all started, or I should say first noticed, on the first long ride we took after getting the Heritage style bars installed. That was just before my 1,000 mile service. I thought at the time that I'll just keep riding and maybe the feeling will go away, but it hasn't. I still think something is out of whack, even though eyeballing it doesn't show anything.
Anyone else have bars installed and had this issue? The bike has never been dropped.
Thread Starter
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
That's what I'm thinking, but I've never experienced that kind of thing yet. Not with new bars and the bike never being dropped or crashed. I guess quality control isn't what it used to be.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Tuesday I'm going to take the bike in for it's 5,000 mile service and I'm also going to have them check on the front end.
It's hard to describe, but I feel like the tire is pointed in a different direction than the rest of the front end. It doesn't look out of whack, but when on a long ride on the highway, it just doesn't feel right. I feel like the bars are bent or something. And if I take my concentration off the road and look at the scenery just a little, I'm all over the road. That's because my arms naturally want to even out and point me where I want to go. But then the bike heads for the double yellow line.
This all started, or I should say first noticed, on the first long ride we took after getting the Heritage style bars installed. That was just before my 1,000 mile service. I thought at the time that I'll just keep riding and maybe the feeling will go away, but it hasn't. I still think something is out of whack, even though eyeballing it doesn't show anything.
Anyone else have bars installed and had this issue? The bike has never been dropped.
It's hard to describe, but I feel like the tire is pointed in a different direction than the rest of the front end. It doesn't look out of whack, but when on a long ride on the highway, it just doesn't feel right. I feel like the bars are bent or something. And if I take my concentration off the road and look at the scenery just a little, I'm all over the road. That's because my arms naturally want to even out and point me where I want to go. But then the bike heads for the double yellow line.
This all started, or I should say first noticed, on the first long ride we took after getting the Heritage style bars installed. That was just before my 1,000 mile service. I thought at the time that I'll just keep riding and maybe the feeling will go away, but it hasn't. I still think something is out of whack, even though eyeballing it doesn't show anything.
Anyone else have bars installed and had this issue? The bike has never been dropped.
Your bike tends to go where your eyes go. If your looking at scenery to your left, that's where the bike will tend to drift. If you're looking to the right, you'll drift to the right.
If the dealer tells you there's nothing wrong, here's something you can do to check it out yourself...
- Position the bike upright and level
- Front wheel straight ahead
- Hang a plumb-bob from each handlebar tip to the ground
- Draw a line through the two points where the plumb-bob meets the ground
- That line should be perpendicular to the front wheel
Give it a shot.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,403
Likes: 20
From: Indy
I'm not doubting that there may be something out-of-whack on your bike, but I wouldn't use the highlighted statement in trying to explain the possible cause.
Your bike tends to go where your eyes go. If your looking at scenery to your left, that's where the bike will tend to drift. If you're looking to the right, you'll drift to the right.
If the dealer tells you there's nothing wrong, here's something you can do to check it out yourself...
Give it a shot.
Your bike tends to go where your eyes go. If your looking at scenery to your left, that's where the bike will tend to drift. If you're looking to the right, you'll drift to the right.
If the dealer tells you there's nothing wrong, here's something you can do to check it out yourself...
- Position the bike upright and level
- Front wheel straight ahead
- Hang a plumb-bob from each handlebar tip to the ground
- Draw a line through the two points where the plumb-bob meets the ground
- That line should be perpendicular to the front wheel
Give it a shot.
Thread Starter
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Thanks for the ideas guys. One thing I thought about was to do the same as far as standing the bike up with front wheel straight, and measure from the center of the backrest to the tip of each side of the bars.
I'll definitely check it before I take it in.
I'll definitely check it before I take it in.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Houston
sounds like head steering to me. Your bike will go where you're looking. If you're not careful, if you start looking to the side it will veer in the direction your head is looking. My mom (who is a terrible driver) has done this her whole life in a cage - she looks over at the scenery and suddenly she's over the double yellow line swerving all over the place and freaking out. She SWEARS it's the wheel allignment in her cars. All the cars she's ever had. Apparently it's one of those things that auto makers and repair shops never get right.
I saw someone construct a rig by taping lasers to a bubble level - looked like it would give you a really good reading. I think it was on youtube. He was using it to check not only if the wheels were alligned with eachother, but if they were both parallel, which is just as important.
I saw someone construct a rig by taping lasers to a bubble level - looked like it would give you a really good reading. I think it was on youtube. He was using it to check not only if the wheels were alligned with eachother, but if they were both parallel, which is just as important.
Last edited by blarg; Nov 11, 2011 at 11:41 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Long Island
It wouldn't take much of a tweak to cause that feeling of not going where you are pointing. I doubt I would be able to accurately measure it.
It would drive anyone crazy.
It would drive anyone crazy.
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Thread Starter
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
It certainly is doing that! Another thing, this is the first Harley I've ever ridden where I'm afraid to take both hands off the bars at the same time. It just doesn't track right, to me. I had no problem doing that with my old Low Rider, and on a few others as well. But this one, uh huh. Just feels squirrely the minute I take them off, so one is always back on in a split second. I know, something else to not mention to the dealer. But surely most of us have done this.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
probably related t the new bar install
the bars are mounted loosely on clamps attached to bushings, could be a matter of loosening, straightening and tightening.
UNLESS you have done other "improvements"to the front end--- axle and spacers are correct.
no comparo to the low rider--- the front end weighs twice as much, the bike weighs 300 pounds more, the geometry of the front end has the forks behind the frame neck
That said, I can ride my bikes with hands off- balance is important--- forgetting that 10 pounds of crap left over in one saddlebag is enough to pull the bike to one side
have another look at your bar install and any front end work you have done
overall chassis and drivetrain alignment are covered in the manual- not for the novice to attempt.
if you lay 2 8' flourescent tubes alongside the rear wheel, the should be an equal distance between the tube and front wheel on each side.
quick and easy test.
mike
the bars are mounted loosely on clamps attached to bushings, could be a matter of loosening, straightening and tightening.
UNLESS you have done other "improvements"to the front end--- axle and spacers are correct.
no comparo to the low rider--- the front end weighs twice as much, the bike weighs 300 pounds more, the geometry of the front end has the forks behind the frame neck
That said, I can ride my bikes with hands off- balance is important--- forgetting that 10 pounds of crap left over in one saddlebag is enough to pull the bike to one side
have another look at your bar install and any front end work you have done
overall chassis and drivetrain alignment are covered in the manual- not for the novice to attempt.
if you lay 2 8' flourescent tubes alongside the rear wheel, the should be an equal distance between the tube and front wheel on each side.
quick and easy test.
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Nov 13, 2011 at 03:21 PM.