Handle bars slightly crooked to the right

woodman · Full Member Joined: Oct 12, 2008 Posts: 256

I was wondering if I loosened everything up on the front end if it would be possable to straighten the bars so they face straight when the wheel is straight. They are only just slightly off but it annoys me and Id like to correct it if possable

pumps

Are the bars bent or the triple trees?

pamcopete

woodman,

It's worth a try to loosen up everything on the front end, including the axle and the fender, then tighten everything back starting with the top pinch bolts and work your way down. However, handle bars going one way and the bike the other is usualy the result of bent forks or triple trees.

If it's the forks, and it's only a slight bend, you can correct for it by looseneing the pinch bolts and turning the upper fork tube one way or the other. The idea is to position the bend to the side instead of front to back.

You can see if there is a bend by watching the bottom of the fork tube where the axle is attached. If bent, the bottom of the fork tube will move in and out. Position the bend so it is to the right or left instead of front or back. Generally, you want the bend to be inside so that the speedometer box engages the slot.

For a more exhaustive inspection, you would have to dissasemble the front end and roll the upper fork leg across a perfectly flat surface and look for a bend.

To inspect the triple trees, remove them and clamp them to a flat surface to check for treness, like this:

This is an example of a warped triple. Generally, if one triple is bent, the other one will be as well.

woodman · Full Member Joined: Oct 12, 2008 Posts: 256

Well, Ill give it a try. Ive got an 80 Special parts bike if anyone knows if the trees are the same. I was thinking about putting it on the center stand and using a level across the trees to see if they are straight

xjwmx

The old dirt bike fix is loosen the fork pinch bolts a little, hold the front wheel between your knees, and twist the bars to where you want them. While you tighten the bolts back up, hold things where you want them.

woodman · Full Member Joined: Oct 12, 2008 Posts: 256

I bought a $4.99 set of trees on Egay rather then take my other bike apart if I need new trees. The selling days for the little guy are over on there now that you have to take credit cards & Gaypal which they own. I spent 40 minutes doing an ad for Z1 carbs and they kicked it out & said I had to take credit cards

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650