I was riding the bike today and I noticed a fork misalignment, in order to go straight I have to keep the handlebar slightly to the right! how is that possible? I did not crash it, nor dropped it in the last 2 months nothing like that. Could it be that it was like this all the time? I think I would have noticed, because as soon as I started driving from the front of my school I immediately noticed it? Is there any fix to that? is it common to happen? please help!

is the handle bar straight/symmetric? or maybe you upper and lower triples are out of alignment?

it's a streetfighter handlebar.

it's simetric

It's absolutely possible, and for a couple of different reasons.

The most common, is that there was an accident, and one of the fork tubes got twisted in the triple clamp. In most cases, loosening the triple clamp bolts will let the fork legs relax, and help re-align the front wheel.

Somewhat less common, but still very possible is that one of the fork legs was bent in an accident. Best way to check this is to throw a straightedge on the fork leg. If the leg is bent, it's possible to repair by shipping off to a frame straightening shop, such as Gerry Piazza at GP Frame and Wheel up in Sanoma, CA. Otherwise, a new fork leg costs ~$200. Generally, it's the chrome leg that will bend, not the outer fork tube at the bottom of the fork.

While you're there, make sure that there's no damage to the fork brace that runs across the top of the front fender, and make sure that everything is tight.

If none of those issues are present, and nothing above resolves your problem, you might have a bent frame. While it's possible to straighten the frame out, GS500 frames are cheap enough that you might be better off just replacing it.

Make sure that it's not just the crown of the road, though.

Sometimes the lower triple gets bent from a crash as well.  I found out I had this after I replaced my forks and that didn't solve the problem 

thanks alot, I loosened the bolts from upper and lower triple clamp(i'hope I'm right with the terms, I'm new to bikes) and put the front wheel between the legs and realigned the handlebar, I hope it's right now, will see tomorrow when I go to school. I don't know what I would do without the GS community. I actually live in Denmark and it's such a small country and all the parts(if you find them) are actually extremely expensive.

well the bike was never crashed(as far as I know), could it be the near accident experience I had today?, a guy in front of me braked, I wasn't paying attention and when I was 1,5 meters from him I front braked and front wheel skidded on wet asphalt from left to right. didn't touch him or anything else thought.

Locking up a wheel won't misalign the forks. When you tighten everything together, I'd advise you to use a torque wrench; the fork pinch bolts are pretty critical, and hard to get right by hand.

Wouldn't hurt to check your rear wheel alignment either

-Jessie

that's all good, just readjusted chain, changed oil and cleaned air filter on Sunday. 

Quote from: Ionatan on September 15, 2011, 12:07:06 PMI actually live in Denmark and it's such a small country and all the parts(if you find them) are actually extremely expensive.

Depending on where you live exactly, I would consider a quick ride to Germany. There are at least 10 guys round the Hamburg area which might provide you with spare parts, help and beer.

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on September 15, 2011, 01:16:11 PM
Wouldn't hurt to check your rear wheel alignment either

-Jessie

+1

Quick test... if you ride down the road and let go of the handlebars, what happens?

Michael

Quote from: mister on September 15, 2011, 01:56:26 PM

Quick test... if you ride down the road and let go of the handlebars, what happens?

Michael

You end up on the next episode of "World's Dumbest Daredevils"

Quote from: adidasguy on September 15, 2011, 05:30:20 PM

Quote from: mister on September 15, 2011, 01:56:26 PM

Quick test... if you ride down the road and let go of the handlebars, what happens?

Michael

You end up on the next episode of "World's Dumbest Daredevils"

LOVE IT!!!!

Quote from: adidasguy on September 15, 2011, 05:30:20 PM

Quote from: mister on September 15, 2011, 01:56:26 PM

Quick test... if you ride down the road and let go of the handlebars, what happens?

Michael

You end up on the next episode of "World's Dumbest Daredevils"

If I do that , my bike tracks straight. 

Michael Ross

Quote from: adidasguy on September 15, 2011, 05:30:20 PM

Quote from: mister on September 15, 2011, 01:56:26 PM

Quick test... if you ride down the road and let go of the handlebars, what happens?

Michael

You end up on the next episode of "World's Dumbest Daredevils"

Not gonna say it is the smartest thing to do but I will let go of the bars to sit up straight and stretch my back after I have been riding for a while.  The gyroscopic effect of the wheels combined with a little body English keeps everything on track for me.  A bike should want to track straight when you let go of the bars if it is properly aligned.  On cold mornings I could use the radiators of the RC51 as a hand warmer on a nice long downhill   

-Jessie

Before I tightened up my steering head bearing mine would wobble violently and pull right, now they stay put and only pull slightly to the right so I guess I gotta check my alignment too.

Quote from: adidasguy on September 15, 2011, 05:30:20 PM
You end up on the next episode of "World's Dumbest Daredevils"

Eh... I like doing this while standing on the pegs. Passed an officer like that once, actually. Boredom+cruise control=strange ways of self entertainment.

Also like to ride down twisty hills with the key in the off position handless. Fun while stuck behind tourists.

Absolutely inadvisable fun.

Quote from: mister on September 15, 2011, 06:17:56 PM

Quote from: adidasguy on September 15, 2011, 05:30:20 PM

Quote from: mister on September 15, 2011, 01:56:26 PM

Quick test... if you ride down the road and let go of the handlebars, what happens?

Michael

You end up on the next episode of "World's Dumbest Daredevils"

If I do that , my bike tracks straight. 

Michael Ross

Did that, it goes straight, I really had/have big problems adjusting the chain, it'such a drag for me, so hard to get it right, and everyone says something different, adjust on the center stand, of the center stand, sitting on it....aaah. Also my front sprocket has some movement on the crankshaft, i' don't know if it's normal, but it's because of the small teeth on the crankshaft are used.