Please Help (Front End/Fork/Tire ?'s) UPDATE

[EM JAY]

I got the qualifiers put on today.  Rode home in the rain.  Even with the rain, these tires feel stuck to the ground A LOT more then the Maxis I was on before.  The bike just seems more solid or connected to the road.  Can't wait to try some curves. 

The wobble is completely gone!!  So I guess there was something wrong with the old front tire.  HOWEVER, the bars are still cocked right just a bit...not as much as before, and maybe now its just an illusion, but it seems like they are right just a hair.  Any ideas what this could be.

BTW, they replaced the steering head bearings, checked the wheel bearings, checked out the rim, replaced the tire, check for the forks being straight...haven't come up with any reason it would seem this way.

Is it JUST the bars that are cocked??   Rim and all look straight cupt for the bars??   Ajust the bars so they are even.  

[PolishPete]

That's the thing.  The bars are straight...rim is straight...frame is straight.  But to go straing the bars are a little right.  Does that mean that my axle or whatever holds the tire to the forks may be crooked?  I just don't get it.

[loc_dogg]

maybe your eyes are crooked! 

[Team_Serpent]

HOWEVER, the bars are still cocked right just a bit...not as much as before, and maybe now its just an illusion, but it seems like they are right just a hair.  Any ideas what this could be.

I'm going to guess that the bike is an older R6 like pictured in your avitar.  If the bikes been down then the lower triples are probably tweaked slightly.  From 99 - 04 the lower triple on the R6 was really weak and would bend easily, even on a simple lowside type crash.

[PolishPete]

maybe your eyes are crooked! 

Funny...I only have one good eye anyway!!  Can't see out of my left all that well.

[PolishPete]

I'm going to guess that the bike is an older R6 like pictured in your avitar.  If the bikes been down then the lower triples are probably tweaked slightly.  From 99 - 04 the lower triple on the R6 was really weak and would bend easily, even on a simple lowside type crash.

Do you think it's dangerous to ride like this?  Again, its only slightly off center.

[Team_Serpent]

Do you think it's dangerous to ride like this?  Again, its only slightly off center.

I don't think it's dangerous but certainly not optimal and it would drive me crazy. Moving parts could be binding slighty and cause premature wear or ultimately damage the parts.

One way to get a quick check on whether or not you have a slight tweak in the front is to remove the front wheel, fender, upper and faring stay.  Place a straight edge across the front of the forks near the axle and another above/near the top triple.  Now stand on the pegs and look down over the front - if the straight edges do not line up you know you have a bend somewhere.

I have straightend lower triples before so if you find this is the problem let me know and I'll give you the details on how to straighten - but the best fix is to replace.

[Team_Serpent]

So....did you check it out yet?

[PolishPete]

I have been looking into it, but have not had the time to take them apart due to work...however, I just ordered some stands for the bike, and Redline sends out an email with how to care for them and other instructions.  One of the items is:

1. 1998-2001 R6's and R1's have uneven front forks causing the handle bars to
sit slightly off center when in use with our front stand, which does NOT hurt
stability.

So maybe everything is ok, and I'm just paranoid?

[Team_Serpent]

1. 1998-2001 R6’s and R1’s have uneven front forks causing the handle bars to
sit slightly off center when in use with our front stand, which does NOT hurt
stability.

So maybe everything is ok, and I'm just paranoid?

What they are refering to there is that the bottom of each fork leg is shaped slighty different and since their stand supports the bike from the bottom of the fork leg - the bike's frontend will not sit evenly without being cocked to one side and that it does not effect the stability of the bike while supported by the stand.  This has nothing to do with your current problem.

I would not recommend this type of stand as your only front stand.  You want one that supports the frontend by a pin that slides into the lower triple/steering stem.  This way you can adjust fork height, check straightness as well as tire changes and ect.  The type of stand you are refering to is simply good for tire changes.

for an example of the type of stand I'm recommending go to http://www.woodcraft-cfm.com/Scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=12767
the front stand pictured at the bottom is what you want.

[loc_dogg]

Be careful of some front stands like that though! Though they are good to hold your bike, some dont allow you to get the axle out!  They are far better than the alternative though! 

[PolishPete]

Thanks for the help.  I chose this stand just for the winter, so my bike can sit up off the tires.  My SV does have the type of stand your are reffering to.  I will get this crooked thing checked out some time.  The weather is turning cold in Chicago.  Not much riding left.  Not to mention school and hockey just started back up.  Busy full time.