Precision Alignment.

[ride4now_imp]

On pg. 8 of the December 2014 Motorcycle Consumer News, in the letters section, there's a letter under the headline 'Precision Alignment' about a problem with the writers new Honda CTX700 where he states that the handlebars 'weren't straight when the bike was going straight'. Stu Olman responds that this is more common than you might think and that the 'fix' is simply done by placing the front wheel near a curb and turning it hard into the curb. In a direction of course that is opposite of the problem. I have this problem with my CB and have had it since day 1. My 13 was fine...but my 14 has the issue. All this time I just thought it was me. Has anyone else had this problem and was the fix that easy?

[ClassicVW_imp]

I'd bang a bicycle wheel into the curb for an adjustment, but not a motorcycle that I may choose to do 100MPH on.....

[Lord Popgun]

Isn't the advice usually to loosen up everything--all fork bolts, etc, and let everything go back to normal, then re-torque?

[Randy B]

If you can "bang" your bars into alignment, then I don't want to be anywhere near you on the road.

[Deanohh_imp]

Isn't the advice usually to loosen up everything--all fork bolts, etc, and let everything go back to normal, then re-torque?

You would loosen top fork clamps(not the bottom at the same time or the bike will fall down on the tubes and youll have to jack it up to pull the fork tubes back down). Loosen the top crown nut in the center of the top yoke, and the front fork axle clamp side at the bottom of the fork that is the clamp side of the axle. No need to unscrew the axle. Then you can turn the front wheel against a wall or post to get it all straight. Sometimes you have to push it really hard. Then torque the crown nut and the upper fork clamps properly, bounce the forks up and down a couple times and reclamp the end of the axle.

[furious_blue_imp]

My Harley has aftermarket extended risers. Despite being torqued to the upper triple clamp to spec, they are long enough (and rubber mounted) so that they can twist a little, independent of the fork alignment. After pushing the bike up slight inclines, sometimes I have to 'twist' the bars back to being straight, it's annoying to ride with bars that aren't facing straight ahead :-) . Probably not the same situation as with the CB, but just another data point.

[ride4now_imp]

Thanks guys... I might give Deanohs try a shot or I may actually try the fix mentioned in the magazine. Or I may leave it alone... Will let you know how it works out.

[echanos_imp]

I did this procedure on a '94 VFR750 I had and it worked well:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSunBRB6-r8

Dellboy's Garage has a lot of good how to videos and other cool stuff.

[SUPERCRUZ_imp]

The handle bar risers have bolts that extend through the triple tree top clamp and then through rubber bushings held by a washer and nut. Early in the run of 13s, some complained about excessive handle bar vibration. I solved my issue by re torquing the bolts to 20 ft/lbs. You might try loosening those bar riser bolts up first and see if there is any play or wiggle room to reposition the bars on top of the upper triple tree clamp. Then re-tighten. Look up under the upper triple tree bracket and you will see what I am talking about.