how to check/fix wheel alignment

DO NOT 'flip the tyres.
M.C. tyres are designed to be mounted in a prescribed direction of
rotation.
RalleyRat.

 

Mark,
Sorry, I didn't focus. Replace 'chain' with 'shaft' where appropriate
in previous missives. Much redness of face; due, of course, to riding
in cold wind.
D

 

I mainly drive in the leftmost lane of freeways. There is very little
crown on these roads, and much of the crown is actually in the other
direction since freeways usually have center drains.

Anyway, the result of my experiments are in...

1. the torque reaction is not huge. I can tell the difference between
pull-to-the-right effect under full throttle and engine compression
braking, but the effect does not reverse as I expected. Also,
coasting down hill in neutral, the pull is still there.

2. weight shift can counter the effect, but I have to hang off pretty
far. If I sit on the left side of the seat and put almost all my
weight on the left footpeg and lean left, I can steer the bike with no
hands. I figure I'm offsetting between 50 and 100 foot pounds of
torque to keep the bike upright with hands off the bars.

3. I checked tire pressure. Nominal should be 26 front 31 rear and I
was more than 5 psi low on each. I increased tire pressure to 27 and
32 which resulted in a significant decrease in the pull. I suspect now
that this is an unstable tire wear pattern effect. The tires wear on
the left which causes pull to the right whch when compensated wears the
tires on the left. Vicious circle. I've reduced the effect
temporarily by increasing tire pressure.

Next step will be to replace both tires and measure the pull. I
predict the effect will be very small with new tires. I think I might
be able to compensate by loading the left saddlebag first instead of
the right as was my prior custom.

Thanks for all the help guys!

Chris

 

my 16v K100RS does the same. The tyre wear is noticable at present on
the front, as the front tyre is pretty shot
Geoff

 

Try a higher tyre pressure - you have a 1996 (?) same as my '93. Try
32-33 front, 36 rear
Geoff

 

Update: I just finished replacing the tires. I also removed the 2mm
rear hub spacer which shifts the rear wheel 2mm to the right. Some
discussions suggest this helps. I also carefully investigated tire
pressures and found I've been running low pressures. So, with new
tires, correct pressure, removed spacer, all luggage in the left
saddlebag, ... The PTTR is still there, but substantially reduced. I
can ride no-hands, but only by sitting on the left side of the seat and
pushing the left footpeg pretty hard. There is definitely a torque
reaction from the engine. Under throttle at 80mph, the pull is quite
strong. At 60mph, downhill with almost no trottle, the pull is much
less. Under deceleration torque, the pull seems to be absent
alltogether, but it is hard to say for sure. I'm going to put the rear
hub spacer back in, keep my tire pressures up, and live with it.

Chris

 

Hello, Chris!
You wrote on 2 Feb 2005 03:14:53 -0800:


C> Update: I just finished replacing the tires. I also removed the 2mm
C> rear hub spacer which shifts the rear wheel 2mm to the right. Some
C> discussions suggest this helps. I also carefully investigated tire
C> pressures and found I've been running low pressures. So, with new
C> tires, correct pressure, removed spacer, all luggage in the left
C> saddlebag, ... The PTTR is still there, but substantially reduced. I
C> can ride no-hands, but only by sitting on the left side of the seat and
C> pushing the left footpeg pretty hard. There is definitely a torque
C> reaction from the engine. Under throttle at 80mph, the pull is quite
C> strong. At 60mph, downhill with almost no trottle, the pull is much
C> less. Under deceleration torque, the pull seems to be absent
C> alltogether, but it is hard to say for sure. I'm going to put the rear
C> hub spacer back in, keep my tire pressures up, and live with it.

C> Chris

PTTR still there.... maybe your right ass cheek bigger than the left rofl.

FK