Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: stopintime on September 28, 2009, 12:44:54 PM

Title: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: stopintime on September 28, 2009, 12:44:54 PM
When I take my hands off the bars, either rolling in a high gear or with the fast idle lever on, I have to lean over to keep it rolling straight. I tried it in the opposite lane as well to be where the road has a left falling/facing degree - same, but not as much. I have to pull left and/or push right to follow a normal straight line, not much but anyway.

The bike has not been down, it has SSS.

Only thing I can think of is that the fork upgrade was done with the forks off, but the forks are even height at the top tripple.

What do you think?
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: ducpainter on September 28, 2009, 12:48:34 PM
I'm told the 1098/848 does it because of the swingarm and battery/electronics all being on the left side.

Have you moved anything to further bias the weight to one side on your bike?

I know you have less exhaust than a stock bike.
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: somegirl on September 28, 2009, 01:15:57 PM
When I used to ride MrI's S4R, I always felt a slight pull to the right (he never noticed).

At one point prior to the sale I took it to a frame expert to have the bike professionally measured and evaluated.

After he took lots of measurements he asked me if it pulled to the right (I was impressed).
Turns out that the fork position was slightly off from one of the lowsides, it wasn't visually evident but he could detect it.

Anyway, he just had to make a small adjustment and the pull went away.

So you might want to re-check your forks, loosen them up a bit then re-tighten.
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: Christian on September 28, 2009, 01:18:23 PM
+1 what somegirl said. Especially if you've had the forks off the bike, there's a good chance that you're just slightly off on the alignment. They can be tricky to get right.
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: stopintime on September 28, 2009, 01:42:01 PM
I have to lean to the left, so the swingarm is probably not it. Exhaust and battery is on the right hand, so....

It's too bad I didn't check (or notice) any of this before the fork was off. If the fork legs are out of allignment - is that a matter of trying and testing? The suspension shop will probably do it for free, if it's that easy.
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: ducpainter on September 28, 2009, 02:07:26 PM
Quote from: stopintime on September 28, 2009, 01:42:01 PM
I have to lean to the left, so the swingarm is probably not it. Exhaust and battery is on the right hand, so....

It's too bad I didn't check (or notice) any of this before the fork was off. If the fork legs are out of allignment - is that a matter of trying and testing? The suspension shop will probably do it for free, if it's that easy.
Did you push down on the forks before tightening the axle?
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: stopintime on September 28, 2009, 02:15:47 PM
Quote from: ducpainter on September 28, 2009, 02:07:26 PM
Did you push down on the forks before tightening the axle?

The shop did the work, so I don't know. Should they? Why? Brakes on or off?
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: ducpainter on September 28, 2009, 02:35:40 PM
Quote from: stopintime on September 28, 2009, 02:15:47 PM
The shop did the work, so I don't know. Should they? Why? Brakes on or off?
It aligns the axle and legs, so I'm told.

Basically just loosen the axle and pinch bolts. Push down on the bars several times to compress the forks then re-tighten. I don't think it matters if the brakes are applied.

(Det justerer aksel og ben, så jeg sa.

Utgangspunktet bare løsne aksel og klemme bolter. Trykk ned pÃ¥ barer flere ganger for Ã¥ komprimere gaflene sÃ¥ re-stram. Jeg tror ikke det spiller noen rolle hvis bremsene brukes)  ;D
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: stopintime on September 28, 2009, 02:44:31 PM
Tusen takk - jeg skal snakke med dem om dette  ;)
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: herm on September 28, 2009, 03:13:50 PM
fotvandra upp din trosorna ung dam [evil]
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: ducpainter on September 28, 2009, 03:23:11 PM
Quote from: herm on September 28, 2009, 03:13:50 PM
fotvandra upp din trosorna ung dam [evil]

   
Dude ....


Vi snakker norsk.
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: dlearl476 on September 28, 2009, 06:41:21 PM
If the "loosen the axle/pinch bolt" bit doesn't work, this article is an excellent step-by-step of diagnosing and repairing crooked forks. It's written for BMW forks, but most of it translates directly.

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/fork/contents.html (http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/fork/contents.html)
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: IdZer0 on September 28, 2009, 10:33:16 PM
I had the same problem a while ago. It went away when I replaced the front tyre. Don't know if it was the axle/forks alignment or maybe asymmetrical wearing of the front tyre (track  I went to is mostly right-handers)
Title: Re: Why do I have to lean over to keep my bike rolling straight?
Post by: herm on September 29, 2009, 04:57:51 AM
Quote from: ducpainter on September 28, 2009, 03:23:11 PM
   
Dude ....


Vi snakker norsk.


my bad... [roll]

Quote from: herm on September 28, 2009, 03:13:50 PM
fotvandra upp din trosorna ung dam [evil]

Fotvandra opp eders trosorna unge lady