Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: MAXPWR on September 15, 2016, 07:33:24 PM
-
I just bought Connie with zero miles a few days ago (150 on it now) loving it.
When I let go of handle bars she pulls to the right. It's not the crown in the road either because it still does it on a flat road. Tire pressure is 40.
So much so that in an estimated 100-150 feet at 40ish mph, I'd be in the ditch.
My 09 VMAX did the same thing (Bridgestones) and when I needed new rubber up front, I bought Metzelers and never had that problem again.
Is this common? Is there an adjustment? Just orderd throttle lock and would love to use it.
-
Put the bike on the center stand and weight the rear so the front wheel is off the ground. You want to swivel the front end side to side checking for any obstruction to free movement paying attention to cables and brake lines to make sure there is no drag. you'll also want to spin the wheel to check if a brake caliper is dragging.
-
I'll try that. I forgot to mention, whether it's related or not, I can hear what seems to be a sound from the front tire as I'm slowing down...as if it had aggressive nobbies like a dirt tire. Is that normal on a new Bridgestone?
-
All of my bikes have pulled to the left. I figure it's me...somehow.
-
I just bought Connie with zero miles a few days ago (150 on it now) loving it.
When I let go of handle bars she pulls to the right. It's not the crown in the road either because it still does it on a flat road. Tire pressure is 40.
So much so that in an estimated 100-150 feet at 40ish mph, I'd be in the ditch.
My 09 VMAX did the same thing (Bridgestones) and when I needed new rubber up front, I bought Metzelers and never had that problem again.
Is this common? Is there an adjustment? Just orderd throttle lock and would love to use it.
I agree with gPink, but also do yourself and the bike a favor and get a decent set of tires like PR4's or Pirelli Angels. The stock 021 Crapstones are the worst tires I have ever encountered and almost made me sell my bike until I threw them in the dumpster along with the black bazooka exhaust. I bought a set of PR's and a Vance and Hines CS-1 pipe- now I'm happy, and have over 75,000 trouble free miles.
-
It's still under warranty. Take it to a dealer and have them fix it. Could be a bad tire, could be something mechanical not adjusted correctly.
-
I just bought Connie with zero miles a few days ago (150 on it now) loving it.
When I let go of handle bars she pulls to the right. It's not the crown in the road either because it still does it on a flat road. Tire pressure is 40.
So much so that in an estimated 100-150 feet at 40ish mph, I'd be in the ditch.
My 09 VMAX did the same thing (Bridgestones) and when I needed new rubber up front, I bought Metzelers and never had that problem again.
Is this common? Is there an adjustment? Just orderd throttle lock and would love to use it.
Maybe your alignment is off? ;)
-
Put more air in the right side of the tires
-
its a brand new bike... return it to the dealer, have them ride it and fix it.
Pretty much a no brainer.
-
Put more air in the right side of the tires
:rotflmao:
-
Move your butt to the left , but stay on the seat ... :finger_fing11:
Look Mom no hands
-
Entertaining comments, but seriously folks.... ;) what causes this? Does he have a warped wheel, a mis-mounted tire, mis-aligned forks? I agree that a new bike ought to go back to the dealer and say WTH?
-
Entertaining comments, but seriously folks.... ;) what causes this? Does he have a warped wheel, a mis-mounted tire, mis-aligned forks? I agree that a new bike ought to go back to the dealer and say WTH?
Seriously, how could any person here know?????????
Could be 100 different things, anything imaginable...
Are we supposed to make a.list?
-
I'm thinking tire issues at the moment, but I'm tired and could be wrong.
-
Might be helpful. He obviously doesn't know what it might be.
-
Here's what the problem WAS concerning my original post here:
I only have about 650 miles so far and am LOVING this bike (other than the annoying drifting off the road). I recently installed the 2" bar risers and looked closely at where each fork passes thru the triple tree and noticed that the left fork was almost 1/8" proud of the triple tree, whereas the right side was less than 1/32" proud of it. Again... The bike had been pulling to the right... (you'd be in the ditch after about 100 feet). So I adjusted right side (triple tree and fork mounts) to match left side.
GTR now tracks straight as an arrow ---------> :)
-
Here's what the problem WAS concerning my original post here:
I only have about 650 miles so far and am LOVING this bike (other than the annoying drifting off the road). I recently installed the 2" bar risers and looked closely at where each fork passes thru the triple tree and noticed that the left fork was about +3/32" proud of the triple tree, whereas the right side was only - 1/32" proud of it. Again... the bike had been pulling to the right... (you'd be in the ditch after about 100 feet). So I adjusted right side (fork mounts) to match left side.
GTR now pulls straight as an arror ---------> :)
WTHeck is that again?? :o
-
Yep, I could instantly tell as soon as I got on a nice straight, flat road (some of which it is crowned and some flat) I road no hands (which i could never do b4) for at least 2 miles as I engaged my newly installed Vista Cruise and sat perfectly upright on the seat (which is getting swapped with Sargent Low next week).
-
Cool! Glad you figured it out and it was super simple!
-
Here's what the problem WAS concerning my original post here:
I only have about 650 miles so far and am LOVING this bike (other than the annoying drifting off the road). I recently installed the 2" bar risers and looked closely at where each fork passes thru the triple tree and noticed that the left fork was almost 1/8" proud of the triple tree, whereas the right side was less than 1/32" proud of it. Again... The bike had been pulling to the right... (you'd be in the ditch after about 100 feet). So I adjusted right side (triple tree and fork mounts) to match left side.
GTR now tracks straight as an arrow ---------> :)
Good info. If I ever have such a problem this will be one of the first things I look for.
-
Here's what the problem WAS concerning my original post here:
I only have about 650 miles so far and am LOVING this bike (other than the annoying drifting off the road). I recently installed the 2" bar risers and looked closely at where each fork passes thru the triple tree and noticed that the left fork was almost 1/8" proud of the triple tree, whereas the right side was less than 1/32" proud of it. Again... The bike had been pulling to the right... (you'd be in the ditch after about 100 feet). So I adjusted right side (triple tree and fork mounts) to match left side.
GTR now tracks straight as an arrow ---------> :)
So it came from the dealer like that? Pretty sloppy on their part.
-
Yes it came from the dealer like that. Fortunately or unfortunately, I am never surprised to see things like that anymore from anyone these days. :'(
-
Yes it came from the dealer like that. Fortunately or unfortunately, I am never surprised to see things like that anymore from anyone these days. :'(
Yeah, it is typically the headlights pointed into the ground, battery installed in holder backwards, loose battery connections, lost passive fob, grossly over and/or under-inflated tires, fluids not at correct levels, something pre-scratched.... All that stuff we pay gobs of money for "dealer prep" or "dealer setup".
-
Here's what the problem WAS concerning my original post here:
I only have about 650 miles so far and am LOVING this bike (other than the annoying drifting off the road). I recently installed the 2" bar risers and looked closely at where each fork passes thru the triple tree and noticed that the left fork was almost 1/8" proud of the triple tree, whereas the right side was less than 1/32" proud of it. Again... The bike had been pulling to the right... (you'd be in the ditch after about 100 feet). So I adjusted right side (triple tree and fork mounts) to match left side.
GTR now tracks straight as an arrow ---------> :)
What does "proud" mean?
-
Just a guess, mind you, but I believe that it was 1/8th inch higher than where the triple tree sits. I've heard of different things causing a pull but this is new.
Thanks for letting us know what you found. :thumbs: :goodpost:
-
What does "proud" mean?
A pop-rivet sits approx. 1/16" "proud" of the sheet metal it is riveted to.
It's about the dictionary's fifth definition down when looking up PROUD.
-
Interesting. Thanks.