Bike pulls to the right!?!?

P.K.M.

Helped a mate of mine get her first bike a few months back. It's been at my place since. I cleaned it up, serviced it, did the brakes etc. It's pretty much ready for her to use after the winter now. Anyhoo, I fired it up this morning (hasn't been started in weeks) just to get the fluids pumping and keep the battery charged. I went for a wee spin, but couldn't help but notice the bike seems to pull to the right.

The bars are straight, the forks are fine, the stops are undamaged so I'm at a loss. Anybody any ideas for me?

Cheers.

RosieJoe

Try putting the front up on a paddock stand and check how the front wheel spins.

P.K.M.

RosieJoe wrote: »

Try putting the front up on a paddock stand and check how the front wheel spins.

Had it on front stand AND headstock stand while I was doing the front brakes. The wheel spins fine as I remember, but might have another look to see if there's a wobble.

nightster1

P.K.M. wrote: »

Helped a mate of mine get her first bike a few months back. It's been at my place since. I cleaned it up, serviced it, did the brakes etc. It's pretty much ready for her to use after the winter now. Anyhoo, I fired it up this morning (hasn't been started in weeks) just to get the fluids pumping and keep the battery charged. I went for a wee spin, but couldn't help but notice the bike seems to pull to the right.

The bars are straight, the forks are fine, the stops are undamaged so I'm at a loss. Anybody any ideas for me?

Cheers.

Same thing happened to me. It turned out that the bike was a USA import and thus left hand drive. The mechanic converted it to right hand drive and now it drives straight

CJhaughey

What does the rear wheel alignment look like?
Chain adjusters even?
Does the chain run straight from the rear sprocket to the countershaft sprocket?
Is one fork leg binding or twisted?
Is the front axle installed correctly? not bending the lower slider inwards or outwards?

Tyre pressures OK?
Front brakes not binding?

blu3r0ri0n

Could be the wear on the Tyre due to the chamber of the road, that's what it was on my FZ6 a while back when I had it. Do you find that it turns quicker/easier for right handers than left handers?

Wonda-Boy

blu3r0ri0n wrote: »

Could be the wear on the Tyre due to the chamber of the road, that's what it was on my FZ6 a while back when I had it. Do you find that it turns quicker/easier for right handers than left handers?

Just about to say this, and obviously the tyre pressure.

kaimera

nightster1 wrote: »

Same thing happened to me. It turned out that the bike was a USA import and thus left hand drive. The mechanic converted it to right hand drive and now it drives straight

wut? O.o

Wossack

woulda thought road camber would have it tending left, rather then right?

P.K.M.

nightster1 wrote: »

Same thing happened to me. It turned out that the bike was a USA import and thus left hand drive. The mechanic converted it to right hand drive and now it drives straight

PMSL!! Good one! :pac:

kaimera wrote: »

wut? O.o

I think someone is taking the piss! :pac:

CJhaughey wrote: »

What does the rear wheel alignment look like?
Chain adjusters even?
Does the chain run straight from the rear sprocket to the countershaft sprocket?
Is one fork leg binding or twisted?
Is the front axle installed correctly? not bending the lower slider inwards or outwards?

Tyre pressures OK?
Front brakes not binding?

Single sided swingarm, so only the one adjuster.
Front axle is fine.
Brakes are grand, I stripped them, cleaned the pistons, new seals etc.
Fork leg, looks ok but might need to have a closer look now.
Will check tyre pressures too, but I think they're ok.

Thanks man.

CJhaughey

Run a string across both sides of the rear tyre and see where it ends up in relation to the frame, If you wrap it around the tyre and measure the distance from a frame rail each side.

Also are the wheel spacers correct?

P.K.M.

CJhaughey wrote: »

Run a string across both sides of the rear tyre and see where it ends up in relation to the frame, If you wrap it around the tyre and measure the distance from a frame rail each side.

Also are the wheel spacers correct?

Spacers are grand. Only got a C-spanner a few days ago to do the back wheel/chain adjustment. Can have a better look then. Nice one chief.

galwaytt

CJhaughey wrote: »

Run a string across both sides of the rear tyre and see where it ends up in relation to the frame, If you wrap it around the tyre and measure the distance from a frame rail each side.

Also are the wheel spacers correct?

Indeed - run a string around front tyre to back tyre and measure the gap with handlebars straight (blue arrows) on each side, they should be equal.

Or, make them equal and then notice if handlebars are straight.

As others have said, if all stacks up that way, look at tyre pressures - or tyre wear. I mean, are you sure it didn't pttr before you went at it ? Could have been there before you...........