front end shake/pulling to right

When I let go of the handlebars they start to wobble back and forth and the bikes swerves to the right. I looked at the tire, checked the tire pressure, and give it another try….same result. The fork “screws” on the top of the forks are not aligned. Does this mean that they are at different “tensions”. Forgive my terminology, this is the 1st time I have ever even thought about messing around with suspension parts. If the screws are not aligned would this cause my issue?

 

It likely swerves eventually to the right due to the "crown" of the road. The bars shimmy either because your front tire is worn out (or worn funny), OR your steering head bearings need to be torqued up to proper preload (or both).

The preload adjusters on your fork tubes wouldn't have a very strong effect unless they were way, way off.

What year bike???

 

2000 5th gen

 

what do you have for for a front tire? How many miles on it? These bikes are notorious for "cupping" front tires which will give you a shimmy. Once I switched to tires with sipes that run "in the direction of travel" rather than side-to-side, my tires last a lot longer and don't get that cupping problem. Try a Michelin Pilot.

 

front is a dunlog sportmax. bike has 12K on it, tire looks pretty old

 

I would swap it out for a new one. If you can afford it, swap out the rear too; it'll feel like a new bike. And buy Michelins.

 

sounds like time for new rubber


1 vote for conti road attacks

 

I had a 2001 Bandit with the same problem... New front tire makes the world of difference... It's due to cupping I believe and it started "shaking about 600 miles after I bought it new... Motorcycle manufactures' are bad about putting less than great tires on new bikes in my opinion... my 2 cents...

 

I had actually brought up this same scenario in another thread about a week or so ago. I also have a 2000.

I have Dunlops on mine (for the life of me I cannot remember which model), and they only have 1000 miles on them. But I only get the shaking between the speeds of 45 to 55 - other than that, smooth as buttah. My dealer tells me its all about weight distribution and that VFR's are notorious for a front end shake when there is no pressure on them. It sounds like it is a plausible answer. I know that with just a tiny bit of "down force" on my handlebars, the shake will go away.

I'm no mechanic or genius, but I'd say if tires look old, replace 'em! In my very short tenure with VFRWorld I have heard a lot of good things said about the Michelin Pilots. Sounds like they are the way to go.

Of course, if it only shakes when you let go of the handle bars, don't let go!

 

hard rain all the way in this morning (14 miles of twisties and 10 of open road). Michelin Pilot Power front, Pilot Road rear. These tires work great.