slight lean to the right

[jimmytee]

Got a question. My first Valkyrie was a 98 standard. I could take both hands off the handlebars at any speed and like a train on rails it would track down the road straight as an arrow without any input. It was so solid that I could even lean back and use my knees in the wind to alter course. Not so with my current bike. It doesn't instill such confidence.My current 2000 standard feels like it wants to veer to the right unless I shift my weight to the left to counter the effect. I notice no issues with one or both hands on the bars. Any ideas?

[Gavin_Sons]

Mine does the same thing. Maybe more weight in the right saddle bag? Maybe the fairing catching the wind? I do tend to put more weight in the right bag since it's on the high side when parked.

[MP]

My purple 97 does the pull to the right a little too.  My 97 black does not, nor does my 01 IS.

MP

[Former BMW Guy]

Straight from the Service manual troubleshooting section for steering and suspension:

Steers to one side or does not track straight

*Faulty steering head bearings
*Bent fork
*Bent axle
*Wheel installed incorrectly
*Bent frame
*Faulty front tire
*Worn or damaged wheel bearing
*Worn or damaged swingarm pivot components

Good luck.

JP

[Jess from VA]

I'll bet if you had new tires front and back, your bikes would track straight.  It's usually tires (esp front, and does not mean cupping or other defect, just regular wear)... but could be some of those other things.

[Chiefy]

Mine does the same thing. Maybe more weight in the right saddle bag? Maybe the fairing catching the wind? I do tend to put more weight in the right bag since it's on the high side when parked.

Mine did that until I emptied the bags and reloaded with even distribution of weight.

[MP]

I'll bet if you had new tires front and back, your bikes would track straight.  It's usually tires (esp front, and does not mean cupping or other defect, just regular wear)... but could be some of those other things.

Mine has had numerous new front and rear tires, same thing.  It is not much, just a slight pull to the right.  You do not notice it, unless you take your hands off the grips.  Then, it slowly goes to the right.

Also new bearings front and rear wheel.  New swingarm bearings.

Has done it ever since I bought it with 10,000 miles on it.

MP

[Jess from VA]

I'll bet if you had new tires front and back, your bikes would track straight.  It's usually tires (esp front, and does not mean cupping or other defect, just regular wear)... but could be some of those other things.

Mine has had numerous new front and rear tires, same thing.  It is not much, just a slight pull to the right.  You do not notice it, unless you take your hands off the grips.  Then, it slowly goes to the right.

Also new bearings front and rear wheel.  New swingarm bearings. Has done it ever since I bought it with 10,000 miles on it.
MP

Road crown?  (I got that it is only one of three bikes)

I can keep my bikes pretty straight (and steer on gradual turns) with no hands, feet pushing on Hwy pegs and body english.  A cross wind forget it.

[MP]

I'll bet if you had new tires front and back, your bikes would track straight.  It's usually tires (esp front, and does not mean cupping or other defect, just regular wear)... but could be some of those other things.

Mine has had numerous new front and rear tires, same thing.  It is not much, just a slight pull to the right.  You do not notice it, unless you take your hands off the grips.  Then, it slowly goes to the right.

Also new bearings front and rear wheel.  New swingarm bearings. Has done it ever since I bought it with 10,000 miles on it.
MP

Road crown?  (I got that it is only one of three bikes)

I can keep my bikes pretty straight (and steer on gradual turns) with no hands, feet pushing on Hwy pegs and body english.  A cross wind forget it.

Same with the other two Valks.

 I have changed both front and rear WHEELS too.  Not because of this though. Newer front wheel for the bigger bearings, newer rear wheel to get the polished coated wheel.

 There is something off just a touch.  I do not worry about it.  As long as I am holding on, you do not notice it at all.

MP

[Jess from VA]

I use my throttle lock and take my hands off the grips from time to time, to do something briefly (get a bug out of my glasses).

I can ride no handed and will do it on long freeway hauls for five minutes or so, but it seems to attract nuisance looky-loo cagers.  But not often.  I do ride right-handed only about a third of the time (always have).  I believe the car tire only makes this better with less.... wandering.

[jimmytee]

I'll bet if you had new tires front and back, your bikes would track straight.  It's usually tires (esp front, and does not mean cupping or other defect, just regular wear)... but could be some of those other things.

Mine has had numerous new front and rear tires, same thing.  It is not much, just a slight pull to the right.  You do not notice it, unless you take your hands off the grips.  Then, it slowly goes to the right.

Also new bearings front and rear wheel.  New swingarm bearings.

Has done it ever since I bought it with 10,000 miles on it
MP

Yeah, it is not a strong pull, just enough that I have to counter it with some body English. Like I said, my 98 required no effort. I could sit back with my feet on the highway pegs and actually steer and change lanes on the interstate by moving
either my left or right knee into the wind. This bike requires me to sit kind of leaning to the left or consciously aware anyways of putting weight to the left.
I've done what I understand to be the way to check the steering head bearings and swingarm bearings short of disassembly. I don't feel any looseness in either and feel no roughness with the bike on a lift.
The tires could be it.,but I believe it did it when the tires were new as well. I got a new brake away throttle lock this year,so it has just been recently that I could try this. Before the throttle lock, I attributed the veer to the right to possible de-acceleration when my hand left the throttle.

[JaysGone]

When I 1st got my Valkyrie I had a similar problem.
Turned out to be the front fork legs were not aligned properly.
The axle was beaten out to replace the tire by a tech.
The forks then were readjusted to the same length by adjusting the fork nuts under the cap.

[MP]

When I 1st got my Valkyrie I had a similar problem.
Turned out to be the front fork legs were not aligned properly.
The axle was beaten out to replace the tire by a tech.
The forks then were readjusted to the same length by adjusting the fork nuts under the cap.

Here is a possibility.  Thx.

MP

[jimmytee]

When I 1st got my Valkyrie I had a similar problem.
Turned out to be the front fork legs were not aligned properly.
The axle was beaten out to replace the tire by a tech.
The forks then were readjusted to the same length by adjusting the fork nuts under the cap.

Here is a possibility.  Thx.

MP

If you're referring to the proper sequence when reinstalling the front wheel, I've followed the Clymer manuals directions. If you're speaking of something different, please explain to me. Thanks.

[jimmytee]

I just re read your post, are you talking about the length of fork tubing in the triple trees?

[Michvalk]

My Interstate had to have the left fork slid up in the triple tree just slightly to get the bike to track straight. Also loading of the bags AND the trunk can have a noticeable effect on tracking

[97Valk_CT_Euless]

My Tourer has the same issue exactly.  I figured the forks were slightly bent but it wasn't enough to cause a leak or make it handle poorly.   Just can't ride hands off for very long.  Thought also that it could also be that the windshield isn't on perfectly, causing a slight pressure difference on the bars.  Hadn't thought about one of the forks needing to be raised slightly.  Any hint on raising which side will correct the track to the right?

[Disco]

Crowned roads. 

[Kep]

My 97 STD leans to whatever side I'm looking back over my shoulder to see if the Cops are still coming !

[Gryphon Rider]

Check to see if your forks are aligned perfectly parallel to each other.  Crouch down beside the forks and look at them between the fender and the lower triple tree, so that the far fork tube is almost completely hidden by the near fork tube.  Any misalignment should become apparent.  Another method is to use a piece of glass or something else that is perfectly flat and stiff that happens to be the right size to lie flat against both fork tubes above the fender, and check to see if it rocks like a chair with one short leg, indicating misalignment.

[Ricky-D]

If the front axle is correctly tightened there should be no influence to the handling characteristics of the bike, arising from any kind of difference between the two front shock absorbers.

***

Means: NOT LOOSE

[whitestroke]

Ricky
By correctly tightened you mean.
Install axle and tighten left pinch bolts.
torque axle nut.
Put bike on ground and rock a few times using brake.
Then tighten right side pinch bolts.
Or is there more to it????

[Hoser]

I ride with one hand, throttle side.  I use my left hand to hold my beer.    Hoser 

[Farther]

I ride with one hand, throttle side.  I use my left hand to hold my beer.    Hoser 

Make mine a Bourbon! 

[Jess from VA]

Really...... everyone should lean a little to the the right.

[jimmytee]

 

Really...... everyone should lean a little to the the right.

I've been waiting for that one now my life is complete.

[The Anvil]

When I 1st got my Valkyrie I had a similar problem.
Turned out to be the front fork legs were not aligned properly.
The axle was beaten out to replace the tire by a tech.
The forks then were readjusted to the same length by adjusting the fork nuts under the cap.

I've seen this numerous times on bikes (everything from cruisers to race bikes) that had the forks removed and then reinstalled without following the proper tightening sequence. It's usually up in the triple clamp but could be elsewhere.

[Alien]

Things happen fast.  Expansion joints, gravel, debris, water..... I keep my hands on the bars.

[pancho]

Hey jimmytee, give a shot at what Gryphon Rider said to try to look for fork tube misalignment,, piece of glass, sighting along tubes.........  Every time I have had a bike pull to one side it was caused by bent fork tubes or triple trees knocked out of alignment,, sometimes just barely noticeable, sometimes severely.

[Former BMW Guy]

Things happen fast.  Expansion joints, gravel, debris, water..... I keep my hands on the bars.

  Amen to that, Brother!

JP

[Regis]

might be a longshot , are your rear shocks on the same tension setting ?

[Firefighter]

When I bought my 2000 IS, I noticed the same thing. I keep the heavy things like tools in the left saddle bag and have never thought about it since, until I read your thread. Don't worry about it.