Alignment is off

[RandallIsland]

When I'm driving down the road, the bike pulls to the right.
I cant see where a problem lies. Does anyone know why, when I take my hands off the handlebars, the bike drives to the right?
I can ride down the road fine with no hands, but I really have to compensate by leaning to the left while doing so.
It's like there is something wrong with my steering or something.
Nothing looks wrong but something is definitely not kosher with my steering.

Any ideas? :dunno

Ahhh yes. 85 K100

[godzilla]

Gee, I think mine does the same thing. I thought maybe it was due to the way engine is applying torque to the bike. I think she tends to want to go right coming off a dead stop quickly. :dunno

Good question!

[RandallIsland]

Gee, I think mine does the same thing. I thought maybe it was due to the way engine is applying torque to the bike. I think she tends to want to go right coming off a dead stop quickly. :dunno

Good question!

If I hadn't been riding this bike for 12 years, I think I would have come to the same conclusion, but I remember days past when cruising with no hands led me in a straight line on the slab. I think I've been dismissing the pavement, the lack of balance on my rear tire (mechanics machine was down last time I had a new tire put on), one saddlebag, etc. for too long though. Something is definitely up.

My first inclination is to tear apart the whole front end for a lube job on the steering column and front axle, which I'll probably do anyway, but I was hoping for some constructive feedback on things to look for while I do so, especially if I'm going to be needing, God forbid, parts...

[godzilla]

Well mine is at the shop now for her two year service. One of the things she needed was a new steering head bearing. Last summer, I noticed she was wobbling awful bad in low speeds, something she never did before. Maybe she'll be better when i get her back... I'll have to try it and see if I still get the pulling effect.

140K+ on her... a bearing replacement isn't much to ask...

[RandallIsland]

Well mine is at the shop now for her two year service. One of the things she needed was a new steering head bearing. Last summer, I noticed she was wobbling awful bad in low speeds, something she never did before. Maybe she'll be better when i get her back... I'll have to try it and see if I still get the pulling effect.

140K+ on her... a bearing replacement isn't much to ask...

Not at all! That sounds like a great amount of time between bearings.
I kinda wish I had the slightest clue as to what my odometer would read if I had:
a) the original odometer
b) the original engine
c) the actual privileged status of being the first (rather than second) owner

[CustomSarge]

...known flat road, No wind, constant speed, balanced load: bike should track straight, with a slight right pull from engine loading (driveshaft "climb").

If not, I start with the shock tubes' positions in the triple clamps. Seemingly small differences have big effects. Just my take after a few K bike setups... <<<)))

[godzilla]

Not at all! That sounds like a great amount of time between bearings.
I kinda wish I had the slightest clue as to what my odometer would read if I had:
a) the original odometer
b) the original engine
c) the actual privileged status of being the first (rather than second) owner


Yeah, well my original speedo was very intermittant and finally quit at 113K. I bought the bike with 69K on the odometer. I took at least one 1000+ mile trip without it working at all before I learned how to proper thump it to get it back alive. We took it apart to do all the little fixes, but someone had already been in there previously. It worked on and off and died in a rainstorm at 113K, just as I was preparing to go on a 3000+ mile trip to Canada. I rode her maybe a couple thousand after that trip, then got a used cluster that had 31K on it last winter. It read 39K at the end of the year (plus more thumping and about 2K-3K lost when it got wet and had to dry out last summer!). So 140K is a very rough guess. For all I know, she has a lot more than that even!!

[godzilla]

...known flat road, No wind, constant speed, balanced load: bike should track straight, with a slight right pull from engine loading (driveshaft "climb").

<<<)))

Now THAT sounds more like what I was talking about.....

"Driveshaft climb": I like that term.

[RandallIsland]

So 140K is a very rough guess. For all I know, she has a lot more than that even!!

Same here. My current odo reads something like 80 something, and when I went down for the inspection today, once again the guy took a look at that and shook his head with admiration. If he only knew, huh? :ha

If not, I start with the shock tubes' positions in the triple clamps. Seemingly small differences have big effects. Just my take after a few K bike setups... <<<)))

You know, they look fine, and that was one of the first places I looked. But unless they're off by a couple of mills I'd be surprised. Thanks for the feedback though. Any other ideas?

"Driveshaft climb": I like that term.

Me too! Sounds tough!

[rmarkr]

I noticed my F650 starting to pull a little to one side. Took a good look and around, and found a definite notch at the straight ahead position of the steering bearing (must be the lower bearing). My theory is that this notch gets worn a hair off from the true straight ahead position and results in this pull to the side. I'll replace the bearing and let you know. By the way, if I release the handle bars while riding, the forks rock from side to side (presumably in and out of this notch) and it can became quite severe/dangerous.

[BuddingGeezer]

When I'm driving down the road, the bike pulls to the right.
I cant see where a problem lies. Does anyone know why, when I take my hands off the handlebars, the bike drives to the right?
I can ride down the road fine with no hands, but I really have to compensate by leaning to the left while doing so.
It's like there is something wrong with my steering or something.
Nothing looks wrong but something is definitely not kosher with my steering.

Any ideas? :dunno

Ahhh yes. 85 K100

The longitudinally mounted K bike motor is heavier on the right side. The drive train is right of center. The bike's weight is right of center. Some carry extra weight in the left saddlebag to compensate. Add in a high crowned road and she pulls pretty good to the right.

There is nothing wrong with your bike.

Ralph Sims

[PGlaves]

Budding Geezer is correct.

But unlike most K75s, mine pulls to the left. Uphill, against the road crown. But then, I carry all my road-trip tools in the left saddlebag. :)

[RandallIsland]

Thanks folks!
I guess I'll load up the left saddlebag and see if that fixes the problem. :laugh

[carockwell]

Put your bike on the center stand and use a standard bubble level placed vertically on the rear wheel. Place some cardboard or other shim material under the center stand until the rear wheel is perfectly vertical. Now have an assistant put the bubble level on the front wheel and hold the front wheel perfectly vertical. If the handlebars look visually out of alignment from the straight ahead position, then you have an alignment problem. It is pretty easy to see if the bike is even one degree off this way. The idea is that both wheels have to be perfectly vertical in the staight ahead position. If both wheels are vertical, but the handlebars are turned, then the alignment is incorrect. For the bike's alignment to be off enough to be a problem, you will be able to see the handlebars turned, your eye is pretty accurate.

If the alignment is correct, you could have:

1. Sticking fork leg
2. Worn steering bearing (likely)
3. Loose rear wheel or wheel bearing
4. Cracked rear shock mount
5. Worn tires

If the alignment is incorrect, you will need some more forum help to get it sorted out.

[RandallIsland]

Put your bike on the center stand and use a standard bubble level placed vertically on the rear wheel. Place some cardboard or other shim material under the center stand until the rear wheel is perfectly vertical. Now have an assistant put the bubble level on the front wheel and hold the front wheel perfectly vertical. If the handlebars look visually out of alignment from the straight ahead position, then you have an alignment problem. It is pretty easy to see if the bike is even one degree off this way. The idea is that both wheels have to be perfectly vertical in the staight ahead position. If both wheels are vertical, but the handlebars are turned, then the alignment is incorrect. For the bike's alignment to be off enough to be a problem, you will be able to see the handlebars turned, your eye is pretty accurate.

If the alignment is correct, you could have:

1. Sticking fork leg
2. Worn steering bearing (likely)
3. Loose rear wheel or wheel bearing
4. Cracked rear shock mount
5. Worn tires

If the alignment is incorrect, you will need some more forum help to get it sorted out.

Thanks!
I never thought to approach it from the "level" of the wheels. Nice job!
I'll check that now.

[DarkCloud]

The problem was corrected on the 86 K100RT along with the jack shafting problem the 85 K100Rt had.