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Handlebars not centered after minor collision

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by jealentus, Mar 10, 2011.

  1. jealentus

    jealentus New Member

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    I was coming out of a four-way stop when an old timer didn't yield for my turn. I got up to maybe 12mph when I slammed the breaks and nudged into his front left wheel. The fairing was a bit bent but that was easy. The old man said he knew something about motorcycles and claimed to have straightened the wheel. It rode just fine and took me a few rides to notice the handlebars were a little off center. Since I noticed it became blaringly obvious and stands out any time I look down. Also, if I take my hands off there is a bit of a wobble. Sometimes its not so bad, but it won't stand up for long stretches without hands anymore. Any way to remedy this? I'm not the most mechanically inclined.
     

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    jealentus, Mar 10, 2011
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  2. snowwy66

    snowwy66 Member

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    i had a accident with my 600 ninja. a guy i worked with worked for the dealership before coming to work for us.

    he loosened the bolts where trees clamp to the forks. just enough for movement.

    he walked the bike. then slammed on the front brakes while pushing down hard on the handle bars at the same time. did that couple of times. tightened down the bolts.

    handlebars straight. problem solved.
     
    snowwy66, Mar 10, 2011
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  3. Bobe7316

    Bobe7316 Member

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    I googled "Motorcycle fork alignment" and a lot of stuff came up that
    may be of use to you. Some times it does not take much of a knock
    to put things out of alignment with the trees and forks which can leave
    the bars annoyingly off centre like in your picture.

    Do what snowwy66 and fitz suggested and let us know if it fixes your
    problem.
     
    Bobe7316, Mar 10, 2011
    #3
  4. mlew

    mlew Well-Known Member

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    You have bent a fork tube, it does not take much to do it. Hitting a car at 12mph is plenty to bend one. Handle bars could also be bent. Look at the straightness of both tubes by sighting down them both to compare. Its proably not bent very much, you may need the aid of a straight edge or string to see it.
     
    mlew, Mar 10, 2011
    #4
  5. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Or the forks are still just tweaked in the trees.

    The method snowwy66 outlined is the first step.

    -Loosen everything in the front end, including axle nut and pinch bolts. Snug back up but NOT tight.

    -Loosen fender, leave loose until finished.

    -Bounce front end. Tighten upper triple tree bolts to spec.
    -Bounce front end. Tighten lower triple tree bolts to spec.
    -Bounce front end. Tighten axle nut to spec.
    -Bounce front end. Tighten pinch bolts to spec.

    Now go ahead and tighten the fender mounting bolts back up.

    See how it looks then.
     
    bigfitz52, Mar 10, 2011
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