| Author |
Message |
    
Jackelfox
| | Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 06:17 pm: | 
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So here it is. My wife's bike has recently ungone a suspension switch. (06 cityx to scg suspension) i rode the bike quite briefly after that and all seemed fine. Fast foward, a friend of mine is out learning to ride on this bike and hits gravel/ understeers a turn and ends up low-sideing the bike. The handlebars were bent of course but those were being replaced anyway. Well they have been replaced and now i see that wasnt the reason for the off center steering. you can see very plainly that you steer slightly to the left to go straight (This was the side that hit the ground aswell) Whats broken or is this just a re-adjustment issue?? |
Ridrx
| | Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 07:08 pm: |
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Perhaps, since the swingarm is mounted to the engine you should check the engine locater tie bars for bends/cracks, if they are damaged the engine won't be oriented in the frame properly thus throwing off the r.wheel alignment. Just a suggestion. Also may want to check the swingarm pivot bolt, I've seen them bent in accidents as well. |
Jackelfox
| | Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 09:53 pm: |
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is the assumption that it is a rear wheel issue. i almost feel i can see the front fork at different angles |
Sparky
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 03:48 am: |
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Hopefully it's just a forks alignment issue due to the upper and lower triple clamps being skewed slightly. However there could be more serious damage like a bent fork if the following procedure doesn't help.
The easy fix is to loosen up the fork and triple clamp points, untwist the forks and button everything back up.
If you have the service manual handy, proceed to jack up the bike enough to unweight the front wheel, loosen slightly the steering stem cap nut, pinch bolt and upper and lower triple clamp bolts. Have someone hold the front wheel firmly with their legs and move the handlebars the opposite direction that they were tweaked until the forks look straight. Then give the bars a left and right tug to kinda center the bars.
Follow the general procedures in the manual for "Fork Clamps, Upper and Lower Installation" as it gives the correct sequence and torque values for tightening the parts loosened above. |
Jackbequick
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 08:26 am: |
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Here is a thread in the KV that has some details on wheel alignment. It is aimed at the tubers, which are easily set up on jack stands with a rod through the hollow axle:
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/142724.html
If you can set your CityX up in a similar manner and get some straight edges involved, you should be able to check for twisted alignment or bent forks and the alignment of both wheels to each other.
I've evolved to use a couple of pieces of 1/2" electrical conduit for straight edges because I had it handy. Those are light, straight, and easy to handle.
Once you get the tires aligned, you can use the caliper to make equal changes on both sides to adjust drive belt tension.
Jack |
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Steering off center