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Leaning to the right.

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  • wadewilson
    wadewilson
    4 years ago

    Stew,


    If you think it may be the wheel alignment have a look at this link it is how we used to do it back in the day. Possible to do it with one person but having a buddy do the measuring while you are doing the string makes it a lot easier. At least you may be able to rule out misaligned wheels as the issue.


    Back in the 80s one of my Ducatis always seemed to go around left turns better than right so once when I was in Melbourne I took it to a frame straightener and he realigned the frame for me. He reckoned it was out by about 3/4 of an inch from the factory. I owned that bike from new, and in fact still have it, and so I knew it had never been dropped or abused. From memory he was out Ferntree Gully way, maybe someone else can step in here and advise if there is someone still out there doing this.


    Hopes this helps or at least helps eliminate one issue it could be.


    Wade

  • Old Fatty
    Old Fatty
    4 years ago
    Quoting wadewilson on 10 Sep 2019 11:14 PM

    Stew,


    If you think it may be the wheel alignment have a look at this link it is how we used to do it back in the day. Possible to do it with one person but having a buddy do the measuring while you are doing the string makes it a lot easier. At least you may be able to rule out misaligned wheels as the issue.


    Back in the 80s one of my Ducatis always seemed to go around left turns better than right so once when I was in Melbourne I took it to a frame straightener and he realigned the frame for me. He reckoned it was out by about 3/4 of an inch from the factory. I owned that bike from new, and in fact still have it, and so I knew it had never been dropped or abused. From memory he was out Ferntree Gully way, maybe someone else can step in here and advise if there is someone still out there doing this.


    Hopes this helps or at least helps eliminate one issue it could be.


    Wade

    That would have been Bob Martin. The man was known as a wizard who could fix frames. From what I was told back in the day he was self taught on the frames, and then the Government ruled that anyone working on frames had to have tertiary qualifications. However, there were no courses on frames in Australia so he closed it down. 
  • beaglebasher
    beaglebasher
    4 years ago
    Are you sure the bike is leaning?
    Sounds like the handlebars might wonky
  • Mr.Mow
    Mr.Mow
    4 years ago
    Quoting beaglebasher on 11 Sep 2019 11:25 AMedited: 11 Sep 2019 11:27 AM

    Are you sure the bike is leaning?
    Sounds like the handlebars might wonky

    My forks were ever so slightly twisted in the triple trees when it arrived, real easy fix and you’d be surprised how easy it is to wrench it all out of whack.
    Keep in mind also all our roads are cambered from the middle to flow water away.
  • Jay-Dee
    Jay-Dee
    4 years ago
    Quoting wadewilson on 10 Sep 2019 11:14 PM

    Stew,


    If you think it may be the wheel alignment have a look at this link it is how we used to do it back in the day. Possible to do it with one person but having a buddy do the measuring while you are doing the string makes it a lot easier. At least you may be able to rule out misaligned wheels as the issue.


    Back in the 80s one of my Ducatis always seemed to go around left turns better than right so once when I was in Melbourne I took it to a frame straightener and he realigned the frame for me. He reckoned it was out by about 3/4 of an inch from the factory. I owned that bike from new, and in fact still have it, and so I knew it had never been dropped or abused. From memory he was out Ferntree Gully way, maybe someone else can step in here and advise if there is someone still out there doing this.


    Hopes this helps or at least helps eliminate one issue it could be.


    Wade

    Quoting Old Fatty on 11 Sep 2019 11:02 AM

    That would have been Bob Martin. The man was known as a wizard who could fix frames. From what I was told back in the day he was self taught on the frames, and then the Government ruled that anyone working on frames had to have tertiary qualifications. However, there were no courses on frames in Australia so he closed it down. 

    A local well known frame guy in Brisbane told me years ago that most bikes aren't straight from the factory.
  • Bob
    Bob
    4 years ago
    Hi guys
    Turns out that after removing and weighing the aftermarket exhaust. It is 4kg lighter than the original and that is not even taking into account that the original is more bulky with more overhang.The bike was leaning  just standing it up vertical and holding it at its balance point, about 20mm out of vertical just to the top of the tire, so even more at handlebar height, it was pretty bad. I have fabricated a steel and lead filled ballast with extra weight to compensate for the weight loss to the right side, and taking into account that the ballast is mounted with less overhang. Mounted it in under the exhaust. This has corrected the balance from left to right. The bike balance point is now dead vertcle and it rides straight as a die. Could not be happier with the results. Problem solved. Thanks guys for all your imput. And I hope this may help others who also ride with this type of lean.


    20190913_183132.jpg
  • Ken in Cairns
    Ken in Cairns
    4 years ago
    Good outcome, pity you had to add ballast instead of lightning the other side.
  • brucefxdl
    brucefxdl
    4 years ago
    Quoting Bob on 13 Sep 2019 01:41 PMedited: 13 Sep 2019 01:49 PM

    Hi guys

    Turns out that after removing and weighing the aftermarket exhaust. It is 4kg lighter than the original and that is not even taking into account that the original is more bulky with more overhang.The bike was leaning  just standing it up vertical and holding it at its balance point, about 20mm out of vertical just to the top of the tire, so even more at handlebar height, it was pretty bad. I have fabricated a steel and lead filled ballast with extra weight to compensate for the weight loss to the right side, and taking into account that the ballast is mounted with less overhang. Mounted it in under the exhaust. This has corrected the balance from left to right. The bike balance point is now dead vertcle and it rides straight as a die. Could not be happier with the results. Problem solved. Thanks guys for all your imput. And I hope this may help others who also ride with this type of lean.


    20190913_183132.jpg
    swapped my original hd slip on mufflers for khrome works mufflers,thought i weigh the mufflers....originals are 1.7 kg per muffler heavier than the k.w slip ons , no noticable riding difference apart from far better performance.good to see you nutted out the problem and now enjoying the ride.
  • Bob
    Bob
    4 years ago
    Thanks Ken. Yes it is a bid of a shame although the weight is pretty low down below axle height.
    I went to harley today to check out a new Fatboy in the showroom. Turns out they lean to the right even with the original exhaust. Then I ran the balance test on the new Breakout. They also have a lean to the right. Checked out the Deluxe they seem pretty vertical. 
    So there you go.
  • Ken in Cairns
    Ken in Cairns
    4 years ago
    Well that's good info for anyone looking for a new ride Bob. Not something that you would normally think to check on a test ride.
    I'll just keep the old FatBob me thinks.
  • Bob
    Bob
    4 years ago
    Very true
    Like they say you learn something new everyday.
    And they don't make them like they used to.??
  • Stew70
    Stew70
    4 years ago
    Quoting Bob on 13 Sep 2019 01:41 PMedited: 13 Sep 2019 01:49 PM

    Hi guys

    Turns out that after removing and weighing the aftermarket exhaust. It is 4kg lighter than the original and that is not even taking into account that the original is more bulky with more overhang.The bike was leaning  just standing it up vertical and holding it at its balance point, about 20mm out of vertical just to the top of the tire, so even more at handlebar height, it was pretty bad. I have fabricated a steel and lead filled ballast with extra weight to compensate for the weight loss to the right side, and taking into account that the ballast is mounted with less overhang. Mounted it in under the exhaust. This has corrected the balance from left to right. The bike balance point is now dead vertcle and it rides straight as a die. Could not be happier with the results. Problem solved. Thanks guys for all your imput. And I hope this may help others who also ride with this type of lean.


    20190913_183132.jpg
    Great information and good effort the the ballast.  
  • micathia
    micathia
    4 years ago
    my bikes have the same problem. 
    both my 883 and dyna WG do that: slightly pointing to 5 degree rightward to its moving direction, while the bike body arent vertical straightup. 

    my theory is:
    1. bike is not symmetrical in weight left-vs-right, centre of gravity is slightly left of the mid line. upgrading pipe will make it worse as most after market pipes are lighter. 
    2. roads are never flat. M80, ring roads or any other freeways, they are all slopy 99% of the time your right side is higher than left. this is different from US as we drive on the left and this made it worse.  
    3. dyna is worse than sportster but neither is balanced. 
    4. so in theory, adding weight back on the right side will improve it or even fix it (I haven't tried yet). 
    5. thinner tyres will be less visible than fatter tyres. So I think street bob shows less of this problem than breakout or fatboy. 
    6. I 'd say, all harleys i saw riding passing me on the street, if I had a chance to look from back, i noticed this problem. And this problem happens to other brands too. 
    7. riding on the left in Australia, we have really little chance to experience the opposite, that the left side being higher than the right. the problem is not symmetrical, it is less visible when left side is higher. So I guess, people in US would have less complaint about this. 
    8. car drivers have this issue too, with most of the time when going straight, your steering wheel (and logo on it) is never straight-up.   


  • micathia
    micathia
    4 years ago
    Quoting Bob on 13 Sep 2019 01:41 PMedited: 13 Sep 2019 01:49 PM

    Hi guys

    Turns out that after removing and weighing the aftermarket exhaust. It is 4kg lighter than the original and that is not even taking into account that the original is more bulky with more overhang.The bike was leaning  just standing it up vertical and holding it at its balance point, about 20mm out of vertical just to the top of the tire, so even more at handlebar height, it was pretty bad. I have fabricated a steel and lead filled ballast with extra weight to compensate for the weight loss to the right side, and taking into account that the ballast is mounted with less overhang. Mounted it in under the exhaust. This has corrected the balance from left to right. The bike balance point is now dead vertcle and it rides straight as a die. Could not be happier with the results. Problem solved. Thanks guys for all your imput. And I hope this may help others who also ride with this type of lean.


    20190913_183132.jpg
    Hi, 
    How heavy is your ballast? how do you make it?

    many thx. 
  • wello
    wello
    4 years ago
    ive also found that if u fabricate a home made number plate it can have the same effect .. specially if u have more letters/numbers on one side  : )
  • Ratbob
    Ratbob
    4 years ago
    Hi Micathia
    When you mentioned,

    5. thinner tyres will be less visible than fatter tyres. So I think street bob shows less of this problem than breakout or fatboy.

    think more along the lines of the primary which, because of the 240 rear, sits farther out from the engine than on a Street Bob.
    I'm thinking putting skinny tyres on the Breakout or new Fatbob won't change the balance issue.
  • Bob
    Bob
    4 years ago


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    20191005_135108.jpg
  • Mr.Mow
    Mr.Mow
    4 years ago
    You guys are literally bolting more weight on your bikes? More.. that’s some crazy shit right there.
  • Wideglider
    Wideglider
    4 years ago
    Quoting Mr.Mow on 26 Feb 2020 11:48 PM

    You guys are literally bolting more weight on your bikes? More.. that’s some crazy shit right there.

    Yes, permanent lead ballast there. The only alternative to that is to remove something you don't need from the heavier side - but what?
    Or come to think of it you could install a water ballast/heeling tank each side, pump water across to either side until upright!
      
  • dicko
    dicko
    4 years ago
    Quoting wello on 26 Feb 2020 12:09 AM

    ive also found that if u fabricate a home made number plate it can have the same effect .. specially if u have more letters/numbers on one side  : )

     I just move my wallet to the other pocket.
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