Fork Alignment

[fjrshanta]

I have been trying to find information on the FJR front forks and have had no luck. Several months ago, I noticed that my bike wanted to steer to the left slightly. There was not anything definitive or substantial that took place to have caused that. One day I simply noticed that the bike wanted to steer left. I looked and the fork and triple clamp assembly's and have been unable to see anything bent or damaged. I had put the bike on the center stand and loosened 3 of the pinch clamps on the triple clamp assembly's and tried to reset the natural fork position and even gave a pretty good tug on the handlebars to try to rotate them to the left. None of this seemed to make any difference. I have also been on two different sets of tires and the problem remains.

Any Ideas?

 

[Pepperell]

The smart-ass in me wants to say "take the lead weights out of the left saddle bag".

Just for drill, any changes that may have affected rear wheel alignment, like maybe a worn/loose swing arm pivot point?

I assume the preload adjusters on the fork are set the same, although I'm not sure they would affect steering in that way. Perhaps set them

to different values to test for a broken/bad spring in the forks?

Pepperell

 

[mattster31]

I'd suggest the "crown" of the road may be the culprit. If I'm in the fast lane................bike veers left. In the slow lane.................veers right. Could be that, coupled with the tires (ie. balance, wear pattern, etc...) Unless your bike slammed a wall at 100mph, the frame should be straight. Try this method.

 

[Geezer]

Unless you hit some big pot hole or something, I'd suspect a worn tire.

If you did hit a big pot hole or something, you might try loosening up the bolts that clamp the fork tubes into the triple tree and wiggle things a bit, then tighten them back up. There are three bolts on each tube. Do this with the weight off of the front wheel.

 

[FJRBluesman]

I have found that many bikes don't go perfectly straight when riding. My FeeJ also pulls ever so slightly (or at least feels like it). If I ride with no hands I have to lean a bit to compemsate for the pull, or weight of one side of the bike. My Beemer (K-bike) was so bad I couldn't lean far enough it would zip to the right so fast it was unreal. I'm not sure how well the bikes are all balanced out.

 

[fjrshanta]

I guess a better question is, is there any way to make a torsional head, fork tube alignment on the axis of the steering stem?

 

[BugR]

I guess a better question is, is there any way to make a torsional head, fork tube alignment on the axis of the steering stem?

Sounds like a quick way to destroy the front wheel bearings

They will not like the axle being twisted in that the manner

Chris

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

I have been trying to find information on the FJR front forks and have had no luck. Any Ideas?

I guess a better question is, is there any way to make a torsional head, fork tube alignment on the axis of the steering stem?

Question: Did you buy your FJR 'new'?

In the automotive world it could be put on a frame rack and measurements taken from specific points and compared with specs given in the factory (dealer's) shop manual.

I don't think MamaYama readily provides those specs? You could, tho, compare your bike's measurements with a friend's similar FJR (that doesn't exhibit the symptoms...).

As far as front forks go -- I've seen jigs that align front forks and steering head for proper assembly (not for FJR, tho... ).

If everything's straight & true? -- it should be easily assembled without any undue strain or binding.

 

[Geezer]

Well, if it's bad enough that you really think something needs to be formed (bent), then first check the fork tubes to make sure they are both perfectly straight. Beyond that, if the frame is tweaked, then I don't know of any way to straighten it.

 

[vabrzn]

You might try loosening the axle bolt and pinch bolts that secure the axle. Take the bike off of the centerstand and compress the forks a few times. Put it back on the center stand and tighten everything up in the sequence outlined in the repair manual.

 

[Slardy]

A poll was taken about 2 years ago, and EVERYONE'S FJR pulled to the left. My 2004 did and my 2007 purchased new does. Shall we take another poll?

Slardy

 

[ML-FJR13AE]

You might try loosening the axle bolt and pinch bolts that secure the axle. Take the bike off of the centerstand and compress the forks a few times. Put it back on the center stand and tighten everything up in the sequence outlined in the repair manual.

Hi,

This might be a completely stupid question but I'm throwing it out there:

I assume you are talking about the front wheel axle (?). By following your procedure, which I believe I do understand, couldn't that hut the front wheel bearings when taking the bike off the centerstand and it hits the pavement with a loose axle?

 

[RadioHowie]

You might try loosening the axle bolt and pinch bolts that secure the axle. Take the bike off of the centerstand and compress the forks a few times. Put it back on the center stand and tighten everything up in the sequence outlined in the repair manual.

Hi,

This might be a completely stupid question but I'm throwing it out there:

I assume you are talking about the front wheel axle (?). By following your procedure, which I believe I do understand, couldn't that hut the front wheel bearings when taking the bike off the centerstand and it hits the pavement with a loose axle?

The front wheel is already on the ground when the bike is on the centerstand, so there is no "hits the pavement."

Even if it were off the ground and "hit the pavement" as you pondered, the vertical clearance between the axle and the wheel bearings is the same whether or not the axle is tight in the forks or not.

The above description of "bouncing the bike on the forks" with the axle and pinch bolts loose is a time-honored method of aligning forks in a rotational plane.

 

[mdisher]

Google search: motorcycle string alignment

like: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/st...eels/index.html

Not sure how you'd adjust it... But there's your check.

 

[RadioHowie]

Google search: motorcycle string alignment
like: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/st...eels/index.html

Not sure how you'd adjust it... But there's your check.

Very important info.....for a chain drive bike.

Since any double-sided swingarm'd chain drive has chain adjusters on both swingarm legs, not only is it possible to "adjust" the rear wheel OFF the bike's centerline, it quite frequently happens. Improperly adjusted, the rear wheel can get cocked off to one side or the other of "dead center" and the bike starts crabbing down the road with the rear wheel attempt to steer the rear end in the direction of the misadjustment.

However, with a shaft drive bike such as the FJR, where the position of the rear axle is NOT fore and aft adjustable, it's really a moot point. The plus is, unless the frame gets tweaked or swingarm bearings fail catastrophically, and assuming the swingarm was manufactured correctly, you can't get the rear out of alignment.

The minus, of course, is hamfisted fuxors such as myself have one less thing to "modify."

'Howie

 

[skifrik]

I bet you have had one knee that has been bad for a while?

 

[RadioHowie]

I bet you have had one knee that has been bad for a while?

I you're talking to me, you'd be right 100%!

6 operations on my right MCL and ACL, plus cartilage removal.

If you ARE talking to me, how'dya guess?

 

[mdisher]

Google search: motorcycle string alignment
like: https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/st...eels/index.html

Not sure how you'd adjust it... But there's your check.

Very important info.....for a chain drive bike.

Since any double-sided swingarm'd chain drive has chain adjusters on both swingarm legs, not only is it possible to "adjust" the rear wheel OFF the bike's centerline, it quite frequently happens. Improperly adjusted, the rear wheel can get cocked off to one side or the other of "dead center" and the bike starts crabbing down the road with the rear wheel attempt to steer the rear end in the direction of the misadjustment.

However, with a shaft drive bike such as the FJR, where the position of the rear axle is NOT fore and aft adjustable, it's really a moot point. The plus is, unless the frame gets tweaked or swingarm bearings fail catastrophically, and assuming the swingarm was manufactured correctly, you can't get the rear out of alignment.

The minus, of course, is hamfisted fuxors such as myself have one less thing to "modify."

'Howie

Doesn't mean you can't use this method to check yo shit. I'd suggest that if you suspect it's out of alignment or bent.

 

[fjrshanta]

A poll was taken about 2 years ago, and EVERYONE'S FJR pulled to the left. My 2004 did and my 2007 purchased new does. Shall we take another poll?

Slardy

OK, Since I first posted this in September 2009 I have been unable to find any reason for the LEFT PULL. If everyone's FJR pulls left wouldn't that be a manufacturing problem. When I first got the bike, it rode perfectly straight. Does anyone know why they all pull left????