straightening yokes.

I just got my R1 back on the road, but now when travelling in a straight
line the bars seem to be off centre. there seems to be adjustment needed.
how do I check the yoke and wheel are at 90 degrees to each other. I can
slacken the top yoke but I want to be sure the bars are straight.

Rob

 

First check the back wheel is in line with the front - that's the usual
cause of the bike 'crabbing'. Two long, straight bits of wood either side of
the back tyre should do it.

 

I just got my R1 back on the road, but now when travelling in a

and...........
If they are straight/in-line put the bars in the straight ahead position
and slacken the pinch bolts top and bottom, gentle straighten the bars in
relation to the wheel to align them by eye.

Nip up the bolts and check again by eye from the top before tightening
properly.

Oh, don't forget to do this on the centre stand with some weight on the back
of the bike. If no stand then prop it securely so the front wheel is off the
ground.

Other than that............get a man in,

--


--
Robbo

Trophy 1200 1998
BotaFOF #19. E.O.S.M 2001/2002/2003/2004.
B.O.S.M 2003, 2004, 2005
FURSWB#1 KotL..YTC449
PM#7
..

 

RJAG wrote :

Remove the front wheel if you need to. Place a straight bit of wood at
the bottom of the forks and another at the top, both touching both
forks. Sight down the two bits of wood, to see if they are parallel,
adjust until they are.

 

That's really useful, Harry. This is an R1, you see. Apart from the
difficulty in finding two pieces of wood that are actually straight
and of a useful size and length - consider your reply.

Take the wheel out - OK. Using a crane to support the front end, or
removing the bellypan to get a jack under the front of the engine -
because I don't suppose a front paddock stand would be much use in
this context. Then remove the mudguard because it wraps around the
forks - that will be another 45 minutes of fiddling and swearing.
Then the biggie - have the fucking fairing off in toto because you
can't even see the forks, let alone get bits of wood on them. FFS.

Easy way round - stand astride the wheel, hands on bars and /feel/ if
they are straight. Just like a pushbike but bigger. Or set the wheel
straight ahead by eye and measure off two comparable parts of the
frame/tank/WHY to symmetrical points on the bars.

I would still expect it to be rear wheel alignment, unless the OP has
had the front end apart.