My Valk is not running vertical...Now it is Thanks for the direction guy's.

[DFragn]

...under any conditions, including low & high speed. I don't believe it's wind related to the fairing and such. It was suggested that it was dropped when prepping from the crate when I took delivery in '98, but it's only been doing it for the last 3 years or so.
I'm getting some ugly front tire wear from countering it constantly.

Swingarm bearings have been replaced as well as the steering stem bearings - all due to serious handling issues for & aft in the past. The swingarm was allowing the rear to move overall 3" or so at 70mph. Front-end is aligned.

I wonder if it could be a weak fork spring or weak rear shock. Both ends are progressive. I currently have I/S rear shocks in place while waiting the return of Progressives for warranty leak repairs. The thing is it wasn't riding vertical with the Progressives mounted either.

It leans about an 1" to the left. It's visible from the rear under all road & wind conditions by fellow riders and I can feel it. My arse is planted dead center in the Ultimate seat.

Anyone have any ideas of what to check???

[Chrisj CMA]

most likely shocks.  either unevenly adjusted or worn out unevenly

[junior]

you sure it aint that your butt is lopsided....you know like a womans breasts one lobe is bigger than the other?

[Jess from VA]

Boy, that is a tough one.

You would think it has to be suspension; shocks or forks.  I would suggest shock bushings, but Progressive's are tight and the upgrade bushings are for OE's.  Is it possible the PS fork springs have uneven/incorrect oil levels or other install problem?  With the bike level but on the ground with forks normally compressed, do they measure evenly?  Even if they do measure evenly while sitting, I suppose a fork problem might only show up under load when riding...... this seems to me to be the most likely culprit.  Do the tires show relatively even wear? (of course everyone wears the left front half more than right due to turns and road crowns)  I suppose a laser level might be used to shoot fore and aft from various locations to check the frame.  Supposedly, a bent frame may give telltale signs from flaking powdercoat at the inside locations of the bend(s).  

[fudgie]

You know like a womans breasts one lobe is bigger than the other?

+1 

[X Ring]

Check your forks.  If they are not in the triple tree correctly, i.e. one slightly ahead of the other, it will cause you to lean while riding.

Marty

[valkyriemc]

+1 on the forks out of true, seen it myself.

[Bald-dude]

I agree with the forks.    I had put mine back on and adjusted the height correctly and the fat lady wanted to right hand twisties all day!

[fudgie]

How do they get ahead of each other? If you tighten down both clamps and put the front wheel on correctly they should line up, right?

[DFragn]

Well, I brain farted once again.

I apparently double dipped when intending to remove 2 ounces per fork leg. It took 4 & 2 oz. (right/left respectively) to get the fluid level up to OEM spec.

I also turned the progressive springs around with the taper coil facing up yesterday.

Today did a short 12 mile test run through pavement surfaces I know would upset the handling. It feels plumb and doesn't react poorly with bumps in the curves or want to turn to the right when stopping.

With OEM fork fluid levels the Progressive springs are nowhere near as harsh as they used to be, the reason I shorted [intended] quantities in the first place. They "broken-in" nicely.

Good advice to take a look at the forks. Thanks Guy's.

[X Ring]

How do they get ahead of each other? If you tighten down both clamps and put the front wheel on correctly they should line up, right?

I don't know but I remember a video being posted on the old board about this problem.  The poster didn't realize he leaned as much as he did till someone rode behind and taped him.  When the poster inspected his bike he discovered one fork slightly ahead of the other.

Marty

[DFragn]

How do they get ahead of each other? If you tighten down both clamps and put the front wheel on correctly they should line up, right?

I don't know but I remember a video being posted on the old board about this problem.  The poster didn't realize he leaned as much as he did till someone rode behind and taped him.  When the poster inspected his bike he discovered one fork slightly ahead of the other.

Marty

Good memory...
Yep, I remember that. Because it was me. 

Seems I had 2 issues. Aligning the forks helped quite a bit. But, my front tire was worn oddly so I chalked up the rest of the issue to the tire. Well, I put a new tire on last week and still had an issue. Never even began to think I fudged up the fluid levels. No shock to me anyway. Been having terrible short term memory issues the last few years.

What probably happened is I removed 2 ounces from the right then the left then when back and did the right side again forgetting I had already done it. Difficult to measure fluid height without fully compressing the forks.

Been having health issues the last few years and according to one of my Dr's a few minor strokes in the beginning. My long term memory is still sharp as a tack, but I do stumble with the short a bit.

[Dave Weaver]

I suppose then, that you don't remember telling me to come get that ugly green/creme bike of yours.

[JimC]

Or that $500 I lent you last week???

Jim

[DFragn]

Really sorry 'bout loans & promises I don't recall. Since I don't remember I'll have to default on them or any others that surface henceforth. Unless of course you can provide voice recordings, e-mails / text postings or a signature page.
 

[Farther]

Well, I was a witness to the $500 loan from JimC to you and at the same time you borrowed $1000 from me.

[DFragn]

Well, I was a witness to the $500 loan from JimC to you and at the same time you borrowed $1000 from me.

Well, OK, checks are in the mail.