I recently purchased an '07 gs500f from a private shop dealer around town. It was an R-title bike but I got it for 2k so I was thinking a steal. Originally the bike's only problem seemed to be the bent handlebars, which I quickly replaced and haven't had problems with since. However, my buddy at work told me to make sure my fork wasn't bent. When asking how to check this, he told me to cruise it down the interstate at about 70 and let off the handlebars. He said if the bike breaks one way or the other, the forks are bent. Well, I did so, and it breaks left at a decent pace. I don't notice any major handling issues at all while riding... it actually feels pretty smooth. But I don't want to cause long term damage to anything. Do you guys think my problem warrants correction, or will it be ok to ride?

Going one way or the other when releasing the handlebars doesn't necesssrily mean bent forks, just alignment. Loosen the forks to let them spring back...

Thanks for the quick reply! However, I'm basically the greenest bike mechanic in my town. How do I go about loosening the forks?

if your not holding the bars, whos controlling your bike?

bent forks would b a safety issue....have someone professional check it out

good luck buddy!

Buddy told you to let go of the handlebars at 70 on the interstate to check that? Sure he isn't just trying to kill you? 

^ +1 !!

My first thought was, why the hell would anyone tell you to go 70mph and let go of the handlebars, not to mention that it's to find out if the bike is going to pull one way or the other!

Well, maybe my buddy isn't so much of a buddy  of course, this is the guy runnin a cbr600rr down the interstate at 130 on average, so it might have seemed like just a basic test ride gesture to him... but anyway, as mister says, it makes sense that it would be the alignment. But I never got an answer, how do I go about loosening the forks to re-align them?

Veering left on this bike could have been just you leaning to one side... this bike's light enough to steer with your body.

What you're inquiring on: (I think) he's talking about loosening the triples to see if they are binding with the front wheel and axle. They will move around or "pop" if they are binding. This, frankly, isn't an easy procedure to describe if you're new to bikes... basically you're looking for something that's bent and under pressure in this case.

I would start with basics: Put the bike on the center stand and eyeball the thing to see if it looks bent. Look for cracked / flaked chrome on the legs. Push the suspension in and let up to see if it binds.

If you are super paranoid, (but cheap like me) you would want to disassemble the forks, and set the fork tube on a perfectly level surface. I have a glass top table in my back yard I use to check if stuff is straight. Just roll it across the surface and see if it lopes or wiggles.

Hello,

There are 4 pinch bolts that hold the forks tight.  One on each corner of the triple clamps, upper and lower.  With the bike up on the center stand, find a block of wood that just takes up the space under the front tire.  It might be a half inch thick it might be a 2x4.  It just depends on how level your garage floor is.  Noe loosen up the tri[ple clamp bolts, bottom 2 first, then top 2.  Now retight the bottom, then the top.  Also use a string to see if your rear wheel is out of alignment with the front wheel.  It may be just a matter of properly adjusting the rear chain tensioners.  Don't forget to loosen the rear axle bolt if you are going to attempt this.  And always retighten it at the end.

While everyones suggestions are good and all, you seem like your relatively new at this.  I suggest you stop messing with it and bring to a reputable shop such as gmd computrack and have them put your bike up on their table.  They will be able to tell you if the forks/frame is bent is what the next course of action.  Anything outside of that is just guessing. 

This isnt a car, its a motorcycle which your life depends on.  With all the money you saved when you paid 2k for it, spend a couple hundred and get a definitive answer and fix the problem before you get killed. 

Quote from: catch2otwo on May 29, 2012, 02:37:46 PMAnything outside of that is just guessing. 

I don't necessarily agree with this. I would say this sounds like the perfect bike for a beginner(rider and mechanic) to learn on.

I think the punchline here is that there's really no indication that the forks are bent, except for the opinion of posters friend... you know, Mr. 70MPH No Hands. They're probably fine.

Thanks everyone for the advice... I learned enough to realize that I probably shouldn't try to do it own my own. At least on a bike that I'm taking to work every other day. I'll just take her into the shop and have a thorough look at it. It needs a new sticker anyway. But now I've got a little bug to get a project bike in the future just to try my hand at this stuff...