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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Twism86 on September 07, 2010, 08:40:22 PM

Title: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: Twism86 on September 07, 2010, 08:40:22 PM
Well basically the title says it all. With no hands, my bike wants to go slightly left. When i am holding on to the bars it tracks strait and i dont notice any pull. When i let go it wants to go left.

After my crash everything is visually strait. The bike also did this before the crash on an old tire also. So after a new tire and crash it still tracks left w/o hands. Could there be something wrong or im thinking maybe i tend to have more of my weight on the left when i "think" im centered? Any opinions....

Tom
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: ragecage23 on September 07, 2010, 09:12:23 PM
have you tried scooting to the right to see if that does it?

Other wise I'd say bent frame/forks.
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: black and silver twin on September 07, 2010, 09:15:16 PM
make sure the rear wheel is aligned properly. also try it in different lanes, it could be the crown of the road.
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: The Buddha on September 07, 2010, 09:53:13 PM
Left ... usually the front wears more on the left due to camber on the roads, get enough of it and it will turn left on roads wihtout serious camber. of course that in a country where you drive on the right side of the road. The countries where you drive on the left side, the new tires will track left and old tars will track right.

Some small exceptions to this rule. Some multilane highways especially in CA have left lane cambered left, to drain into the divider. Worn tars will track left like crazy cos the left of the tar still wears more.

Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: Twism86 on September 08, 2010, 05:23:51 AM
Quote from: black and silver twin on September 07, 2010, 09:15:16 PM
make sure the rear wheel is aligned properly. also try it in different lanes, it could be the crown of the road.

Yea i will check the rear wheel. My dad put it on for me so ill blame him  :icon_razz:
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: Twism86 on September 09, 2010, 09:11:47 AM
Well i havent had the chance to check out my bike yet. So if my rear tire is the culprit (i hope so) and my bike tracks left my rear tire should be like this  l/l correct? What i mean is the rear tire is "pointed" right therefore turning the bike left.
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: black and silver twin on September 09, 2010, 09:26:43 AM
Quote from: Twism86 on September 09, 2010, 09:11:47 AM
Well i havent had the chance to check out my bike yet. So if my rear tire is the culprit (i hope so) and my bike tracks left my rear tire should be like this  l/l correct? What i mean is the rear tire is "pointed" right therefore turning the bike left.

you wont be able to see the misalignment, if you can then its WAY off. you need to measure from the center of the axle to the rear of the swingarm on each side, they should be the same.
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: Twism86 on September 09, 2010, 09:37:45 AM
Oh i know i wont be able to see it, that was just a representation. Yea if it was that bad i dont think you could even ride it! Im not sure how to measure though so ill probably just re adjust it.
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: black and silver twin on September 09, 2010, 11:00:32 AM
in order to adjust it correctly you must measure it. the stock alignment marks are good but not great.
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: Twism86 on September 09, 2010, 11:41:41 AM
Ok, i guess its time to buy a tape measure....
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: Anaconda on September 09, 2010, 02:49:59 PM
i had to bring mine to the shop so they could take a good look at it.  Mine was obviously bent from low side too and I asked them to see if it's salvageable for it to be straightened out by a machine shop. good luck with yours twism86
Title: Re: No Hands, Bike Tracks Left
Post by: purplepeopleeater on September 10, 2010, 12:37:12 PM
Worn head bearings make a big difference, you said it tracked to the left pre-crash, look at them bearings as well as wheel alignment. I've used swingarm alignment marks all my miserable life and never had a problem. I'm riding a cut and shut gs at the moment, my frame's more bent than than an alpine twistie but it rides fine. :thumb: