Fender rubbing problem

[R J]

Here is a picture of the fender that is rubbing.

From what I can see of it, I'd say the frame is bent.
Not enough room otherwise in there.

What do others think?



In comparison to MGM on the trailer.

[Chrisj CMA]

frame and forks as well is my guess.  I cannot believe anyone would ride it like that.  Stop riding it!!!!!!!

There is supposed to be about 4" of clearance at that point.

[old2soon]

Concur on the quit riding it. My bet is still forks and/or frame. RIDE SAFE.

[Daniel Meyer]

Ya don't suppose the fender is on backwards?

Got a wider shot?

[R J]

Daniel, I sent an email to him asking for some more pictures.

When I get them I'll post them also.

[eric in md]

Here is a picture of the fender that is rubbing.

From what I can see of it, I'd say the frame is bent.
Not enough room otherwise in there.

What do others think?



In comparison to MGM on the trailer.

great parts bike for ali???

[Chrisj CMA]

Ya don't suppose the fender is on backwards?

Got a wider shot?

wouldnt the stays for the hydraulic lines be wrong if the fender was on backwards?

[semper5]

Fender is not on backwards, that is confirmed. I believe the frame is bent.

[John Schmidt]

Ya don't suppose the fender is on backwards?

Got a wider shot?

wouldnt the stays for the hydraulic lines be wrong if the fender was on backwards?

That, plus the front of the fender wouldn't come down that far if mounted backward....assuming it could even be mounted that way. The picture needs to be rotated so it's shown in the vertical.

[Grumpy]

I just measured mine, 4 inches from the timing center cover bolt to the fender. If the forks were bent that bad I believe it would be visible,  laying a straight edge on the front or rear of the forks would show if it was bent that much. My money is on a bent frame. need to pull  the tank and take a close look at the frame in the front, cracked paint, welding that is not factory etc should be visible. And I agree, park it before you kill your self riding it.

[Rio Wil]

any chance someone put a different set of triple tree/forks to change the rake......??

lets have a picture of the tree/forks

[semper5]

any chance someone put a different set of triple tree/forks to change the rake......??

lets have a picture of the tree/forks

Ok, will get pics in the morning.

[R J]

More pictures from the gentleman.

#1 additional.



#2



#3



#4



#5



#6

[R J]

From the additional pictures that I got from him top post, I'm betting my $$$$ on the Roan Nag in the 5th.

That the frame is bent.

Now good buddy, send us some pictures of the frame neck with the tank off.

Try to get a good closeup of the frame steering neck.    Take a top down on the frame and a couple of the sides of the frame in the neck area.

[BF]

any chance someone put a different set of triple tree/forks to change the rake......??

lets have a picture of the tree/forks

I'm thinkin' the same thing.  Somebody put a weird set of triple trees on the bike?

[olddog1946]

If those forks are set too far up into the triple trees, wouldn't that put the fender a little closer to the timing cover? I can't tell from those pics how far the forks are into the trees.

[R J]

Hey olddog, you might be on to something there.

We will have to figure out the points we want semper5 to measure from and report back to us.

Hey semper5, does ya'll hear us?

Keep your ears open so we can tell ya where to measure from and to.

[John Schmidt]

Just have him check the top tree and let us know if the forks are protruding above it. If so, shouldn't be more than about 3/4" if I recall, someone correct me if needed.

[R J]

I can't even go look at mine.    It is somewhere with my son & Bride in a bike show.    They left 3 days ago, and was to be there and set up today.

Show runs Fri, Sat & Sun.

He has either forgot his phone charger or he got tired of it ringing all the time.  All I get is his answering machine.

Of all times to take off, he had nothing booked when he left and right now I got 4 vehicles booked for tomorrow.     We pushed 5 out the door today.    4 the day before that.     So, I've had a good week and the mechanic we hired will make quite a few bucks this week.    He is good enough I might fire the son and hire him full time, oops, forgot, it ain't my shop no more.   Oh well, the pay for me is also good this week.     LOL........

[vanagon40]

Doing some rough measurements with the photo, it does appear that the forks have been lowered.  But, looking closely at my bike, I do not believe that moving the forks up into the triple tree even several inches would result in the fender hitting some part of the bike.

For comparison, the measurements I took on my bike, on a centerstand, showed that the length of the fork was 34".  From the bottom, the top of the chrome shield was 13½", the center of the bottom triple tree was 24", and the center of the turn signal mounts was 28".  These measurements were about to the nearest ⅛".

I think there is more going on than lowered forks.

[Rio Wil]

The problem here is the fork travel is not correct,  The bike  is sitting on the bottom half of the fork travel, look at the remaining portion of the fork tube that is exposed.....someone did something to shorten fthe fork travel .....maybe they were too short legged.  The fork tube is not the same diameter where the trees clamp, so the tube can not be moved up in the tree clamp more than maybe a 1/4 inch with out sacrificing clamp integrity....

I would be willing too bet the front suspension bottoms out HARD on small bumps.....

[NiteRiderF6]

It looks like somebody has shortened those forks internally, probably too much and now the springs have gotten weak and it's now banging on the fender when the forks are compressed. I copied the pics and put them in my drawing program, they don't look crooked (bent) from what I can tell about them from two of the pictures..... The clamps look like they are clamped in the right place, just under the top caps. The windscreen clamps are just under those too.  

It would be interesting to see how easily the forks would collapse if some weight was applied to the front of the bike, also how long the overall length of the forks is as compared to the stock length. With the mod that is on this site, http://www.valkyrieriders.com/ShopTalk/loweringforks.htm the recommendation is not to shorten them by more than about 1.25", but weak springs will complicate that equation. I think, if everything else looks correct with the neck, that the forks need to be rebuilt.

Looking at that first pic that RJ posted, it looks like there was a fender extension on there that had to be removed at some point. The OP said that the bike was new to him, so I wonder if this bike was set up for someone a lot smaller, perhaps a woman?

The way to measure the forks would be from the center of the front axle to the top cap on this bike and compare this measurement to at least a couple of other bikes. I'll bet that will point to an internal problem with semper5's forks. I hope that is all it is. Forks can be rebuilt and fenders can be repaired, which is a lot easier fix than finding and replacing a frame with a good title.

BTW I measured my forks: I can't get into Photobucket to post any pics though..... Ugh!

Center of Front axle to Top Cap = 31 7/8"
Gap in travel area opening = 4 3/4"

Valkyrie Interstate with Progressive Springs

[Robert]

My vote is for frame, the radiator sits just a bit to vertical for a normal valk and the seam above the radiator looks slightly bowed. Also looking at the front shots it seems as though the tire is moved to the passengers rt just a bit and the tire marks bear that out. The radiator does not seem centered in the forks even with a slight turn. With the forks fully compressed which should compensate if the forks are lowered my front fender does not come close to touching.

[semper5]

I hear ya'll and appreciate your input very much. Looking to be a little while before I can pull the tank and grab some more pics.

[Regis]

That frame looks bent above radiator cap in photo
I enlarged .

[semper5]

That frame looks bent above radiator cap in photo
I enlarged .

I wondered, seen that last night while taking pics. Sure wish there was another Valk in my locale to compare.

[shortleg]

  R J
   Looking at your picture #5 the forks have been slipped
way too much. Looks like about an inch or better.
         Shortleg[Dave]

[Hook#3287]

It seems that what we see in # 5, that makes it look like the fork tubes are high, is the windscreen bracket.

In # 4, the tube tops look in the correct position or flush with the top triple tree bracket. The tree brackets also look stock.

In #2 & #3, it seems the lower frame tube from the neck down is bowed and the radiator does look misaligned.

IMHO, the frame is bent.

[Regis]

Pic 5 looks like upper and lower triple tree misalignment . Forks may be slightly bent . Headlight looks straight but wheel and fender look turned slightly to the left from drivers position . If trees are misaligned it will track tires unevenly . Do a wet tire ,dry pavement check or have someone follow you to see if off track . Frame looks bent though .

[Jess from VA]

I believe it is a lowering nightmare of one sort or another.

I suppose it could be a post-accident damage shortcut, but I am betting lowering.

[cma1]

just went out and looked at my 03. the trailing edge of the fender is about 3/4 inch below the plane of the lower edge of the oil filter. in the photo the fender is above the entire oil filter which would indicate the bike has been lowered, maybe shorter springs ?

ya know, honda hired really good engineers to build the best bike in the world. it never ceases to amaze me how many backyard mechanics go out of their way to screw all that good work up.

if the forks turn out to be bent, and if you wind up needing a new tree, i have a couple on the shelf that are complete, yours for the shipping.

[Regis]

Jack it up , loosen fork pinch bolts and spin the forks in the tree . That will show you something.

[semper5]

I'm liking all this input, I surely appreciate it.

[pancho]

This is not very accurate, but doing a measurement of the pictures shot from the side, gives a caster angle of the fork tubes at 28 degrees,,,,   it is supposed to be 32 and a bit.

[9Ball]

I think it is a combination of all of the above....the forks definitely look tweeked to me.