what if you feel bike goes not straight - Discuss what if you feel bike goes not straight on CBRXX, the ultimate on-line community for Honda motorcyclists. Read it in General CBR XX Discussion. (General Discussion of the Honda CBR 1100 XX Super Blackbird that does not fit into the other specific forums.)

Poundstretcher · 03-13-2009, 3:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shspirit

sounds right, my tires are bald and i get some headshake scrubbin speed for corners and on the turn-in. i'd invest in the new rubber before anything else.

Heisti is also bald but he can travel in a straight line ( except after the schnapps )

Poundstretcher · 03-13-2009, 3:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heisti

when i was young i had the same problem with my bicicle and later with a moped (50cm³) - i remember the steering fork and a rear wheel that wasn´t in the middle were the problems. don´t ask what problem on what vehicle

What problem? What Vehicle?

XXNUTZ · 03-13-2009, 4:16 AM

What about a dragging LF brake caliper?? Just a thought. Cheers.

Poundstretcher · 03-13-2009, 8:29 AM

Sure sounds like tires to me.
Have you tried it without the tires?

CanadianBird · 03-13-2009, 8:37 AM

OMG, have you taken her to a reputable dealer, there is such a thing, imo.

heisti · 03-13-2009, 8:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poundstrecher

What problem? What Vehicle?

edit:

Quote:

Originally Posted by heisti http://www.cbrxx.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif
when i was young i had the same problem with my bicycle and later with a moped (50cm³) - i remember the steering fork and a rear wheel that wasn´t in the middle have been the problems. don´t ask what problem on what vehicle

bicycle: puch clubman 27"
moped: puch maxi

wowerman · 03-13-2009, 1:55 PM

Hi again.I have checked forks and look fine.
Logoman,how comes that forks can be held in clamps improperly?
Birdfarmer.As long I have bike,never been even dropped.
If one of previous owners had an accident and fixed bike himself that You will not know it.Will you??
I'm going to Honda service tomorrow to do wheel alignment and periodic tests(MOT).

Logoman · 03-14-2009, 3:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wowerman

Hi again.I have checked forks and look fine.
Logoman,how comes that forks can be held in clamps improperly?
Birdfarmer.As long I have bike,never been even dropped.
If one of previous owners had an accident and fixed bike himself that You will not know it.Will you??
I'm going to Honda service tomorrow to do wheel alignment and periodic tests(MOT).

After I replaced my forks I didn't line things up correctly and the wheel was going a slightly different direction than the bars. I had to loosen the top clamp and the axle nuts, then tighten the axle first and then the top clamp.

If you have a slightly bent fork tube you're not going to know by looking at it. You'll have to put a straight-edge on it.

After I wrecked my bike, I rode it around the neighborhood every so often to keep the vitals OK and even with a bent fork, it never wanted to go anywhere but straight. It did turn one direction better than the other, though.

So, maybe your forks aren't the problem. Couldn't say without riding the bike myself. Send it over with the title.

DeathWish01 · 03-14-2009, 3:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heisti

balanced but not symetrical - i bet!

i bet 5 bucks

tire wear could be more on one side then the other i.e. riding in a circle or taking just left or right handed turns yadda yadda....

wowerman · 03-14-2009, 2:39 PM

Just came back from wheel alignment and tests and it is a little better but you still can feel pulling.So how can I check forks on bike again.Just look from side and see if they are parallel? Have you loosen only top clamp?

beestoys · 03-14-2009, 2:56 PM

Get the weight of the bike off the front tire. Just enough to keep it unloaded but not off the ground. Support it well to keep it from tipping. You can use the center stand just be sure to tie it off so that the bike won't fall forward. Leave your axle bolt tight on the wheel. Remove your handle bar slip ons. Loosen all of your triple clamp bolts upper and lower and turn the fork tubes. This should release any binding. Then check your fork tubes at the top of the upper triple to make sure they are the same distance to the top of the tube sticking out. Tighten everything back up and take her for a spin and see if it helps. I would also do the string check off the front tire to the back to make sure like Banshee mentioned just for an added confirmation.
The str8 edge may work but it easier to pull the tube and roll it across a flat surface. I have seen tubes bend at the triple and be str8 for the rest of the length and you can't see it with a str8 edge.

wowerman · 03-14-2009, 3:15 PM

Ok.That make sense maybe one fork is bent just by the clamp and never notice it.
Last time I have took forks off bike have turned fork tubes and they were turning without any problems.Can do it again,but to be 100% sure I think I have to roll fork tubes on glass or flat surface.
One more thing.If bike has been involved in accident and you want to check frame,what do you have to look at?
Again,I've been in Honda service and they checked frame with laser tools,it is straight.
I'm getting confused what is right.
One more thing.What point you take as visual reference to be sure that front wheel is in line with frame and rear tyre?

Misipi97 · 03-14-2009, 7:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wowerman

I did notice it when bought my xx.It is 2000 model registred in 2001.
I have noticed that my bird goes not straight.

Try these tests while riding (as straight as possible) on a smooth level surface and check if any of these conditions amplify the problem. And post the results please. And be careful.

1) Hard acceleration and downshifting.
2) At speed, grip the bike with your knees and legs, take your weight off of the handlebars and firmly (as safety permits) apply just the front breaks.
3) Same test as number 2 but apply just the rear brake.
It may be beneficial to have someone follow you while you perform these tests to watch your bikes posture. They may see something occur that can't be recognized while on the bike. Of course if you do have someone follow you...check your break light first.

beestoys · 03-14-2009, 8:26 PM

Thinking if they laser-ed it you should feel confident it is straight. Now i guess the next question is how did they do this? But I have a feeling that would take a long post to explain. Recommend you just run through the advice here and let us know what you find.

Banshee · 03-15-2009, 6:54 PM

I found that if the rear is not pointing straight, the bike will tend to start turning. With my rear aimed a couple of degrees to the right, (lined up on the same adjustment marks on each side), it tries to turn left if I take my hands off the bars. Regardless of camber.

wowerman · 03-19-2009, 2:53 AM

Ok.Yesterday I did ride my bb and I took weight form handlebars,tryed to accelerate,speed up.If I accererate bike or not(does not matter)bike turns left.If I sit down more on right hand side of sit bike then bb goes straight.
I want to see my front suspension again,take off,roll front forks on glass and if they are fine then it is nothing left that selling my bb.There is no pleasure to ride it.

Banshee · 03-19-2009, 9:24 PM

Yep, that is what I found with mine. If I moved my weight sufficeintly to the right, it would go straight, otherwise it would go left. Adjusting the rear using a stringline to verify alignment sorted it out.

deadman · 03-20-2009, 5:31 AM

I use two planks of dead straight wood, longer than the bike, I put them on blocks (bricks) To get them as high up the wheels with out fouling any thing, One each side of the bike. The back wheel is touching Front and back of the tyre to the planks, Both sides of bike, Then square the front wheel to one of the planks, equal measurement front and back of the front wheel,
The other side of the front wheel should be the exact measurement both sides, front and back of the front wheel.
Adjust your rear wheel a tiny bit at a time, checking that the higher measurements at the front wheel are moving towards being equal with the lower measurement on the other side of the front wheel.
Make sure the Planks are touching the back wheel, front and back and both sides of the wheel, at all times.
Every time you adjust the rear wheel, you will have to move the planks at the back to make sure they are touching the wheel again.

When the planks are touching the rear wheel, front and back equally.
The measurements both sides of the front wheel, both sides, front and back of the wheel, will all be the same measurement,

Closer to the axle line the better, you can put your planks away from the rear tyre, but you must measure the distance from the rear tyre, front and back both sides, and they must be exactly the same.

Make sure your chain adjustment is done first,

Its a pain in the butt doing this, A lot of fiddling around, But your wheels will be dead in line and the effort is worth it,

Put bike on centre stand first, use a couple of bricks ,one front and back of the front wheel to stop it moving sideways as you measure it.

If your bike wobbles at 200 clicks or above, or vears to one side or the other, your wheels are not in line.

All my bikes ran perfectly true using this method, and I have done over one million miles in my 45 years of riding.

Takes about one hour, from start to finish.

One or two millimetres out is not good enough. it has to be exactly the same measurements all round, and both sides.

Tighten the rear axle each time before measuring.

Cheers,
Brian.

deadman · 03-20-2009, 5:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wowerman

Ok.Yesterday I did ride my bb and I took weight form handlebars,tryed to accelerate,speed up.If I accererate bike or not(does not matter)bike turns left.If I sit down more on right hand side of sit bike then bb goes straight.
I want to see my front suspension again,take off,roll front forks on glass and if they are fine then it is nothing left that selling my bb.There is no pleasure to ride it.

Your wheels are not in line, You should be able to be doing 200 klms/per hour, take your hands off the bars and it will still run dead straight.

If it vears, either way, your wheels are out of line.

Just lift your hands up off the bars a bit, hold your tank with your knees,

My Bonnie chopper, I had a full back rest on it, and I could sit back with my arms folded, with the twist grip screwed up, at 200 klms per hour, on the slabs of course.

Brian.

wowerman · 03-20-2009, 4:43 PM

Thanks Brian.
My question is.If someone had crash with this bike and i do not know about it I will never get my BB going straight.
I would like to check frame and front suspension again.
I am frustrated.Sell it or not.There is no peasure to ride it.

03-13-2009, 4:16 AM	#23
XXNUTZ Flyin' Lo and Free Join Date: Mar 28 2007 Location: South Elgin, Illinois Age: 43 Posts: 547	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight What about a dragging LF brake caliper?? Just a thought. Cheers. __________________ 1998 CBR 1100XX Blackbird (Black, of course),PUIG Touring Windscreen, Corbin Gunfighter saddle, Two Brothers C2 Aluminum Oval Slip Ons, Factory Pro Stage 1 jet kit. ASE Master Tech. I do side jobs. PM with questions. AMSOIL dealer.

03-13-2009, 8:29 AM	#24
Poundstretcher A Rainbird Warrior Join Date: Oct 15 2008 Location: Tasmania Posts: 4,667	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight Sure sounds like tires to me. Have you tried it without the tires?

03-13-2009, 8:37 AM	#25
CanadianBird Join Date: Nov 25 2006 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 5,058	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight OMG, have you taken her to a reputable dealer, there is such a thing, imo.

03-13-2009, 1:55 PM	#27
wowerman Join Date: Dec 12 2007 Location: London Age: 33 Posts: 105	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight Hi again.I have checked forks and look fine. Logoman,how comes that forks can be held in clamps improperly? Birdfarmer.As long I have bike,never been even dropped. If one of previous owners had an accident and fixed bike himself that You will not know it.Will you?? I'm going to Honda service tomorrow to do wheel alignment and periodic tests(MOT). Last edited by wowerman; 03-13-2009 at 2:11 PM.

03-14-2009, 2:39 PM	#30
wowerman Join Date: Dec 12 2007 Location: London Age: 33 Posts: 105	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight Just came back from wheel alignment and tests and it is a little better but you still can feel pulling.So how can I check forks on bike again.Just look from side and see if they are parallel? Have you loosen only top clamp?

03-14-2009, 2:56 PM	#31
beestoys Join Date: Sep 24 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 446	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight Get the weight of the bike off the front tire. Just enough to keep it unloaded but not off the ground. Support it well to keep it from tipping. You can use the center stand just be sure to tie it off so that the bike won't fall forward. Leave your axle bolt tight on the wheel. Remove your handle bar slip ons. Loosen all of your triple clamp bolts upper and lower and turn the fork tubes. This should release any binding. Then check your fork tubes at the top of the upper triple to make sure they are the same distance to the top of the tube sticking out. Tighten everything back up and take her for a spin and see if it helps. I would also do the string check off the front tire to the back to make sure like Banshee mentioned just for an added confirmation. The str8 edge may work but it easier to pull the tube and roll it across a flat surface. I have seen tubes bend at the triple and be str8 for the rest of the length and you can't see it with a str8 edge.

03-14-2009, 3:15 PM	#32
wowerman Join Date: Dec 12 2007 Location: London Age: 33 Posts: 105	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight Ok.That make sense maybe one fork is bent just by the clamp and never notice it. Last time I have took forks off bike have turned fork tubes and they were turning without any problems.Can do it again,but to be 100% sure I think I have to roll fork tubes on glass or flat surface. One more thing.If bike has been involved in accident and you want to check frame,what do you have to look at? Again,I've been in Honda service and they checked frame with laser tools,it is straight. I'm getting confused what is right. One more thing.What point you take as visual reference to be sure that front wheel is in line with frame and rear tyre? Last edited by wowerman; 03-14-2009 at 3:21 PM.

03-14-2009, 8:26 PM	#34
beestoys Join Date: Sep 24 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 446	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight Thinking if they laser-ed it you should feel confident it is straight. Now i guess the next question is how did they do this? But I have a feeling that would take a long post to explain. Recommend you just run through the advice here and let us know what you find.

03-15-2009, 6:54 PM	#35
Banshee Join Date: Jun 21 2007 Location: Springwood, West of Hell (Sydney), Australia Age: 43 Posts: 1,169	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight I found that if the rear is not pointing straight, the bike will tend to start turning. With my rear aimed a couple of degrees to the right, (lined up on the same adjustment marks on each side), it tries to turn left if I take my hands off the bars. Regardless of camber.

03-19-2009, 2:53 AM	#36
wowerman Join Date: Dec 12 2007 Location: London Age: 33 Posts: 105	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight Ok.Yesterday I did ride my bb and I took weight form handlebars,tryed to accelerate,speed up.If I accererate bike or not(does not matter)bike turns left.If I sit down more on right hand side of sit bike then bb goes straight. I want to see my front suspension again,take off,roll front forks on glass and if they are fine then it is nothing left that selling my bb.There is no pleasure to ride it.

03-19-2009, 9:24 PM	#37
Banshee Join Date: Jun 21 2007 Location: Springwood, West of Hell (Sydney), Australia Age: 43 Posts: 1,169	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight Yep, that is what I found with mine. If I moved my weight sufficeintly to the right, it would go straight, otherwise it would go left. Adjusting the rear using a stringline to verify alignment sorted it out.

03-20-2009, 5:31 AM	#38
deadman Join Date: Aug 16 2008 Location: Lilydale Melb Australia Age: 62 Posts: 3,057	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight I use two planks of dead straight wood, longer than the bike, I put them on blocks (bricks) To get them as high up the wheels with out fouling any thing, One each side of the bike. The back wheel is touching Front and back of the tyre to the planks, Both sides of bike, Then square the front wheel to one of the planks, equal measurement front and back of the front wheel, The other side of the front wheel should be the exact measurement both sides, front and back of the front wheel. Adjust your rear wheel a tiny bit at a time, checking that the higher measurements at the front wheel are moving towards being equal with the lower measurement on the other side of the front wheel. Make sure the Planks are touching the back wheel, front and back and both sides of the wheel, at all times. Every time you adjust the rear wheel, you will have to move the planks at the back to make sure they are touching the wheel again. When the planks are touching the rear wheel, front and back equally. The measurements both sides of the front wheel, both sides, front and back of the wheel, will all be the same measurement, Closer to the axle line the better, you can put your planks away from the rear tyre, but you must measure the distance from the rear tyre, front and back both sides, and they must be exactly the same. Make sure your chain adjustment is done first, Its a pain in the butt doing this, A lot of fiddling around, But your wheels will be dead in line and the effort is worth it, Put bike on centre stand first, use a couple of bricks ,one front and back of the front wheel to stop it moving sideways as you measure it. If your bike wobbles at 200 clicks or above, or vears to one side or the other, your wheels are not in line. All my bikes ran perfectly true using this method, and I have done over one million miles in my 45 years of riding. Takes about one hour, from start to finish. One or two millimetres out is not good enough. it has to be exactly the same measurements all round, and both sides. Tighten the rear axle each time before measuring. Cheers, Brian. __________________ If ya not boppin, Ya in ya coffin. Rock and roll will soothe your soul. Mods, 6mm Shim, 12 inch risers, Double bubble Windsceen, Homemade Ventura type packrack, Expandable to 82 litre, Rjays rack bag, Lowered rear end frame by 3 inches. Suspension is still stock, home made Cans, awesome. Last edited by deadman; 03-20-2009 at 5:50 AM. Reason: more info

03-20-2009, 4:43 PM	#40
wowerman Join Date: Dec 12 2007 Location: London Age: 33 Posts: 105	Re: what if you feel bike goes not straight Thanks Brian. My question is.If someone had crash with this bike and i do not know about it I will never get my BB going straight. I would like to check frame and front suspension again. I am frustrated.Sell it or not.There is no peasure to ride it.