Left turns feel funny... help please
Left turns feel funny... help please
I'm wondering if anyone might know where to start looking at this... I am not sure exactly how to explain this either, so please bear with me.
Lately, when making left turns - sweeping, from a stop, or other - the bike has felt very strange. Specifically, the rear end, and how the bike feels/handles in the turn. It feels something like the rear floats, or pulls, or wants to turn too... it doesn't feel like it's tracking correctly. It's not like a skid, or sliding, but something doesn't feel right. It's almost like the rear is coming around in the turn, and not really following the front track properly... it's REALLY difficult to explain... the bike doesn't feel like it's otherwise riding unusual, or trying to stand up in the turn, it doesn't feel like it's dipping either... but the rear feels like it is coming around weirdly... Right turns feel better, but they aren't feeling right either. The bike otherwise tracks fine, holds straight and the fall away test was fine a couple hundred miles ago.
I have not had the chance to perform any serious troubleshooting... but the tread and tire pressure, front and rear, is fine, the suspension is holding 20psi at this point, but it happened at 50psi too, and noticed some 2-up, but I rarely ride 2-up.
I have looked for any 'rear alignment' check in the service manual, and all I can find is removing/installing the rear wheel.
Any ideas so I have something to look for when I get her in the air today???
Thanks!
Holt
Lately, when making left turns - sweeping, from a stop, or other - the bike has felt very strange. Specifically, the rear end, and how the bike feels/handles in the turn. It feels something like the rear floats, or pulls, or wants to turn too... it doesn't feel like it's tracking correctly. It's not like a skid, or sliding, but something doesn't feel right. It's almost like the rear is coming around in the turn, and not really following the front track properly... it's REALLY difficult to explain... the bike doesn't feel like it's otherwise riding unusual, or trying to stand up in the turn, it doesn't feel like it's dipping either... but the rear feels like it is coming around weirdly... Right turns feel better, but they aren't feeling right either. The bike otherwise tracks fine, holds straight and the fall away test was fine a couple hundred miles ago.
I have not had the chance to perform any serious troubleshooting... but the tread and tire pressure, front and rear, is fine, the suspension is holding 20psi at this point, but it happened at 50psi too, and noticed some 2-up, but I rarely ride 2-up.
I have looked for any 'rear alignment' check in the service manual, and all I can find is removing/installing the rear wheel.
Any ideas so I have something to look for when I get her in the air today???
Thanks!
Holt
I'm wondering if anyone might know where to start looking at this... I am not sure exactly how to explain this either, so please bear with me.
Lately, when making left turns - sweeping, from a stop, or other - the bike has felt very strange. Specifically, the rear end, and how the bike feels/handles in the turn. It feels something like the rear floats, or pulls, or wants to turn too... it doesn't feel like it's tracking correctly. It's not like a skid, or sliding, but something doesn't feel right. It's almost like the rear is coming around in the turn, and not really following the front track properly... it's REALLY difficult to explain... the bike doesn't feel like it's otherwise riding unusual, or trying to stand up in the turn, it doesn't feel like it's dipping either... but the rear feels like it is coming around weirdly... Right turns feel better, but they aren't feeling right either. The bike otherwise tracks fine, holds straight and the fall away test was fine a couple hundred miles ago.
I have not had the chance to perform any serious troubleshooting... but the tread and tire pressure, front and rear, is fine, the suspension is holding 20psi at this point, but it happened at 50psi too, and noticed some 2-up, but I rarely ride 2-up.
I have looked for any 'rear alignment' check in the service manual, and all I can find is removing/installing the rear wheel.
Any ideas so I have something to look for when I get her in the air today???
Thanks!
Holt
Lately, when making left turns - sweeping, from a stop, or other - the bike has felt very strange. Specifically, the rear end, and how the bike feels/handles in the turn. It feels something like the rear floats, or pulls, or wants to turn too... it doesn't feel like it's tracking correctly. It's not like a skid, or sliding, but something doesn't feel right. It's almost like the rear is coming around in the turn, and not really following the front track properly... it's REALLY difficult to explain... the bike doesn't feel like it's otherwise riding unusual, or trying to stand up in the turn, it doesn't feel like it's dipping either... but the rear feels like it is coming around weirdly... Right turns feel better, but they aren't feeling right either. The bike otherwise tracks fine, holds straight and the fall away test was fine a couple hundred miles ago.
I have not had the chance to perform any serious troubleshooting... but the tread and tire pressure, front and rear, is fine, the suspension is holding 20psi at this point, but it happened at 50psi too, and noticed some 2-up, but I rarely ride 2-up.
I have looked for any 'rear alignment' check in the service manual, and all I can find is removing/installing the rear wheel.
Any ideas so I have something to look for when I get her in the air today???
Thanks!
Holt
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
"Rear-steer" can be an issue on pre-'09 touring bikes but I haven't heard of an issue with post '09 bikes. Other than tire pressure and tire wear, I'm not sure what to tell you, except that your '11 should still be under warranty. Maybe wheel bearings? I'd have it checked out.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
You stated you have good tread but how many miles on the rear tire?? Has it been worn flat in the center which will give you that feeling when rolling over to the sidewall. Is your belt tight? Is your axle nut tight and the adjusters inside the slot and lined up?
Last edited by gmc; Aug 13, 2012 at 12:27 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: ALABAMA
Unless it's completely undeniable that it can be felt.. I'm betting you will get the "feels alright to me" answer at the dealer.... Have you got a buddy you trust to ride it (especially if they have the same bike) and see if they think they can feel it? (not that that makes a huge difference to the dealer, but it might give you peace of mind before taking it in if the buddy can or can't feel it too.)
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
Road Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 907
Likes: 8
From: Greeneville, TN
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The belt deflection test was fine at last check, about 1500 miles ago... haven't checked the axle nut yet...
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Unless it's completely undeniable that it can be felt.. I'm betting you will get the "feels alright to me" answer at the dealer.... Have you got a buddy you trust to ride it (especially if they have the same bike) and see if they think they can feel it? (not that that makes a huge difference to the dealer, but it might give you peace of mind before taking it in if the buddy can or can't feel it too.)
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
Everyone gets different milage out of their tires but with the newer wider tires I bet you are getting some transition effect with 7k on the rear. I only get between 7-8k on my rear tires and start feeling the effect around 6k. I'm still on the old 16" rims but tried the 160 on the rear once and definetly noticed the transition being worst when they started wearing so I went back to the 140 rear. With the price of the new tires you probable don't want to swap right away but bikebandits has 10% off and good prices today (last day for 10%). I just switched to the Michilin Commander II's from the Dunlop Elite III's and first impression is great. They are suppose to last about 2x longer than Dunlop's.