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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: drok on October 11, 2008, 02:13:58 PM

Title: front end problem
Post by: drok on October 11, 2008, 02:13:58 PM
when my handlebars are straight it looks like the wheel is slightly turned to the left??? What could be the problem, wheel bearings?  The bike hasn't been layed or crashed or anything like that so I don't know.   helppppppppppppp
Title: Re: front end problem
Post by: ohgood on October 11, 2008, 02:17:58 PM
the tubes might be tweaked in the triple trees. i'd bet on it. everyone drops, but no one tells ;)


loosen stuff, wiggle, tighten stuff. doesn't take much. USE A TORQUE WRENCH (almost forgot)

(just remembered) align your wheels with twine OH WAIT HERE'S A LINK and you won't have to worry about your tires wearing for no reason. it makes the bike leaaaaaaaaaan instead of flop :)

linky: http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/sportryderswheelalignmentmethod.shtml
Title: Re: front end problem
Post by: drok on October 11, 2008, 02:24:18 PM
I really don't think that thats the case because the rim and tire look crooked compared to the fender and the tire does have unusual wear on the left side
Title: Re: front end problem
Post by: Danny500 on October 11, 2008, 10:00:16 PM
Is one of your fork tubes higher than the other? Have you checked your fender mount (fork stabilizer)? Maybe you bent your axle... Put the bike on the stand, lean it back and spin the front tire... does it wobble, or run straight but slanted?

Dan
Title: Re: front end problem
Post by: drok on October 12, 2008, 08:09:02 AM
It runs straight its just crooked no wobble.  The only way you can tell when your on it is because the handlebars are just slightly turned
Title: Re: front end problem
Post by: Danny500 on October 12, 2008, 04:17:28 PM
Weird.

Are both sides of the tire seated in the rim properly?

You could, possibly have a bent fork tube from a pot hole, speed bump, hard wheelie landing... who knows.

Try this... park the bike on the center stand and take a ruler/tape measure and measure the bottom of one fork leg to the ground, then the other and see if they match. If they're the same then it's probably your wheel bearings/tire/axle.

If they don't match then check the shock stabilizer (that thing that connects the two shocks above the fender).. bent? missing bolts? Fix it. If fine, then check the top of the forks, is one fork higher than the other in the trees? If yes, loosen the higher fork clamps, twist and pull the fork down to match, re-tighten bolts... see if it worked. If it's not that... then it's something internal. Broken spring, seal blow-by inside the fork, wrong oil level... anything.

I still think it's tire/axle related... but you never know.

Dan

PS... are you sure your handlebars arent bent and that the forks are off from the bars? not the whole front end is off from the tire?
Title: Re: front end problem
Post by: drok on October 14, 2008, 04:54:44 PM
everything on the front is def. in line, except for of course the tire.  I'll try some of the things you mentioned this weekend though.  thanks for the advice