Handlebar Alignment

[nelly5]

Hi all,

After dropping my bike while off-road, I picked it up by turning the bars to the opposite side, and using the bar to lever the biker up. It worked great, except for my bars became out of alignment. I was able to turn them to the opposite side and give them a good push and get them back into alignment, but this happens every time I use this method to pick up the bike. Does this sound normal? Is something loose? I have loosened everything from the steering not down to the callipers to do an alignment, and re-torque everything back to original specs, but it still does the same thing.
Any advice would be appreciated.



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[2daMax]

Is yours a GEN2? There are rubber dampers at the handlebar bracket/clamp area and that maybe giving more play when exerted. If it can be corrected, I suppose that is fine.

 

[nelly5]

Is yours a GEN2? There are rubber dampers at the handlebar bracket/clamp area and that maybe giving more play when exerted. If it can be corrected, I suppose that is fine.

Yes, a GEN2. It’s a quite pronounced misalignment. Barely drivable.


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[Don in Lodi]

The forks twisted in their clamps. Put the side of the wheel against a door jam or fence post and shove on the bars. An old dirtbike trick. A sizable number of folks with a first time lift have twisted things, my '12 did. Once everything is back where it should be, go over all the clamps with an allen wrench and snug everything up. Mine has been lifted a few times since then with no twisting.

 

[nelly5]

Thanks for the advice. I’ll try that.


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[Ramseybella]

The forks twisted in their clamps. Put the side of the wheel against a door jam or fence post and shove on the bars. An old dirtbike trick. A sizable number of folks with a first time lift have twisted things, my '12 did. Once everything is back where it should be, go over all the clamps with an allen wrench and snug everything up. Mine has been lifted a few times since then with no twisting.

Don, he may want to loosen the front axle clamp and lower triple tree clamps a little first, get on the bike and hold the front break and push down on the front hard a few times.
This will assure things are true.
I did the easy straighten on my ZRX 1200 on a public bicycle rack after a little spill.
Six months later i had to replace front wheel bearings because the axle was a little off center.

This may explain it properly, a bit long winded and he does a couple extra steps but explains it proper.
The guy sounds like Steve Irwin hunting down a Crock at one point .. ;D

https://youtu.be/vSunBRB6-r8

 

[nelly5]

Thank you. I followed this guys instruction to fix it. He has an updated video of the process that is excellent.

I guess my main curiosity is why does the act of simply lifting the bike by the bars, cause such a huge misalignment?


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[Ramseybella]

Thank you. I followed this guys instruction to fix it. He has an updated video of the process that is excellent.

I guess my main curiosity is why does the act of simply lifting the bike by the bars, cause such a huge misalignment?


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Six hundred and something pounds.
And the front wheel between the fork tubes and the ground being the point of all those pounds on it as you are pulling up on the far end of the bars.
Twisted the fork tubes slightly off center in the triple tree. That frankly are held in place by small bolts at a specific torque just to keep them straight and in place for normal riding.
If you can visualize what was going on from a stand back point of view it will make sense.
Yeah, i am going to check his other videos.
I like his detail and explanation, reason i use to watch Wheeler Dealers when Ed China was doing the wrenching. ::026::

 

[nelly5]

Thank you for your insight. Much appreciated.


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