Alignment after lowside

BlueDragon · August 4th, 2015, 03:20 PM

So, I low sided last week and nothing seemed wrong when I was riding home. It seemed a big difficult to control but I chalked that up to me being shaken up and having hit my head pretty hard. I pulled it out today and realized the front wheel isn't straight. I took the fairing on top of the wheel off and looked at the forks but they didn't look bent. Should I take them out to check? I'm not really sure what to do to fix the alignment.

cadd · August 4th, 2015, 03:29 PM

What do you mean the front wheel isn't straight? In relation to the handlebars? When I do alignments, I use the front wheel as a "given" and adjust the rear wheel to be in line with the front.

BlueDragon · August 4th, 2015, 03:32 PM

I didn't really know how to phrase it. When I rode it to test it, the bike kept pulling to the left. If you stand in front of it it looks like the wheel is crooked. Like if I have the handlebar to make the wheel go straight forward, the wheel is actually pointed to the left instead of forward.

Alex · August 4th, 2015, 05:01 PM

/moved to new-gen tech

InvisiBill · August 4th, 2015, 06:18 PM

The forks could be bent or just twisted in the triples. Loosen up the clamps and "rock" them with something flat (like a piece of glass) to ensure they're straight and square.

verboten1 · August 4th, 2015, 06:33 PM

probably just tweaked the forks in the clamp, loosen bolts a little bit, put wheel between your legs and center the bars.

Sirref · August 4th, 2015, 07:26 PM

you either bent the forks or damaged the triple tree or both

pretty easy to do, can be expensive to fix. I'm worried I may have done the same but won't get a chance to put it on a front/rear stand with some light until thursday

Motofool · August 4th, 2015, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueDragon

So, I low sided last week.........Should I take them out to check? I'm not really sure what to do to fix the alignment.

Take a look at this:
http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/I_need_...nd_front_wheel

Biker's · August 4th, 2015, 10:09 PM

Instead of making wrong assumptions just take it to the local dealer and get yourself satisfy at. As the suggested source also cited more then one scenario just in case.

cbinker · August 4th, 2015, 10:40 PM

picture

VaFish · August 5th, 2015, 08:59 AM

A little bend in the handle bars will make is seem like the front wheel is out of alignment.

BlueDragon · August 6th, 2015, 10:20 AM

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm busy with school and work right now but Saturday I'm going to put it on a stand and try to fix it!

Ghostt · August 6th, 2015, 11:40 AM

Odds are the bars got bent, due to there design, weakness, so check those.

Also check the forks for damage, bent, but most likely they need to be aligned/rocked

BlueDragon · August 8th, 2015, 06:39 AM

This is what it looks like
Except it's not sideways

sorry I don't know how to turn the picture

Ghostt · August 8th, 2015, 06:44 AM

How-to on rocking the forks

Quote:

It often happens that a little bump (or a large one) knocks the front fork out of alignment. This can often be noticed by a off center fender or odd handling. Here's how to straighten them.

Tools required: Wrenches to loosen the triple clamp pinch bolts and the front Axel bolts.
a Flat piece of metal or glass about 3 inches wide and long enough to span the forks.

First check if you need to do this. Lay the metal plate across the bar chrome part of the fork tubes, and rock it across corner like a chair with a short leg. If it rocks your forks are Tweaked. If it lays flat without much movement (less than a 1/16") your done.

OK the forks are Tweaked.

With the bike on the center stand and the front wheel propped off the ground. Loosen all
the Triple clam pinch bolts, the top center cap nut. and the Axel and the Axel pinch bolts. Don't remove any of them just get them loose.

Check if your fork tube are bent by twisting them in the triples. they should turn freely. if they move a little then bind they might be bent.

Now rock the tubes as above, Hold the front wheel with your knees and twist the bars till the plate Don't rock.

Now gradually tighten all the bolts a little at a time as you keep checking the "Rocker" till all are properly torqued.

Your done, your front end will love you for it.

BlueDragon · September 3rd, 2015, 09:16 AM

Update:

Thanks for all the advice guys. I ended up taking it to a mechanic after a lot of frustration. Turns out the handle bars were bent and they're ordering new ones to replace them.

Ghostt · September 3rd, 2015, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghostt

Odds are the bars got bent, due to there design, weakness, so check those.

Also check the forks for damage, bent, but most likely they need to be aligned/rocked

BlueDragon · September 3rd, 2015, 09:33 AM

Yeah I know

I mean they looked pretty straight to me, but then again I guess I don't really know what I'm doing...

Ghostt · September 3rd, 2015, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueDragon

Yeah I know

I mean they looked pretty straight to me, but then again I guess I don't really know what I'm doing...

At least your getting it fixed.

The bars usually bend at the ends that insert into the risers.

The picture below shows is a bar from my EX500, which uses the same set-up as the Ninjette, note the very end of the bar.

August 4th, 2015, 03:20 PM	#1
BlueDragon Certifiably Awkward Name: Ashley Location: Philly Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 58	Alignment after lowside So, I low sided last week and nothing seemed wrong when I was riding home. It seemed a big difficult to control but I chalked that up to me being shaken up and having hit my head pretty hard. I pulled it out today and realized the front wheel isn't straight. I took the fairing on top of the wheel off and looked at the forks but they didn't look bent. Should I take them out to check? I'm not really sure what to do to fix the alignment. __________________________________________________ "Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, love honesty, laugh easy, keep it simple, ride often, ride FREE and never regret anything that makes you smile"

August 4th, 2015, 03:29 PM	#2
cadd cadd cadd cadd Name: Cadd Location: 41°21'13.1"N, 74°41'37.4"W Join Date: Jan 2014 Motorcycle(s): 300 Posts: A lot. MOTM - May '15	What do you mean the front wheel isn't straight? In relation to the handlebars? When I do alignments, I use the front wheel as a "given" and adjust the rear wheel to be in line with the front. __________________________________________________ Riding it like I financed it.

August 4th, 2015, 03:32 PM	#3
BlueDragon Certifiably Awkward Name: Ashley Location: Philly Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 58	I didn't really know how to phrase it. When I rode it to test it, the bike kept pulling to the left. If you stand in front of it it looks like the wheel is crooked. Like if I have the handlebar to make the wheel go straight forward, the wheel is actually pointed to the left instead of forward. __________________________________________________ "Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, love honesty, laugh easy, keep it simple, ride often, ride FREE and never regret anything that makes you smile"

August 4th, 2015, 05:01 PM	#4
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	/moved to new-gen tech __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

August 4th, 2015, 06:18 PM	#5
InvisiBill EX500 full of EX250 parts Name: Bill Location: Grand Rapids-ish, MI Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): '18 Ninja 400 • '09 Ninja 500R (selling) • '98 VFR800 (project) • '85 Vulcan VN700 (sold) Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Aug '15	The forks could be bent or just twisted in the triples. Loosen up the clamps and "rock" them with something flat (like a piece of glass) to ensure they're straight and square. __________________________________________________ * Unregistered, I'm not your mom and I'm not paying for your parts, so do whatever you want with your own bike. *

August 4th, 2015, 06:33 PM	#6
verboten1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Monroe, MI Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): '75 CB550:.'82 XV920:.'00 KLR650:.'00 EX250:.'08 Ninja 250 Posts: A lot. MOTM - June '15	probably just tweaked the forks in the clamp, loosen bolts a little bit, put wheel between your legs and center the bars. __________________________________________________ '82 XV920: Soon to be tracker--'00 KLR685:adv --'04 DRZ400E--'12 Super Tenere --'13 Versys Ride more, worry less.

August 4th, 2015, 07:26 PM	#7
Sirref Private Joker Name: Ben Location: Towson, MD Join Date: Nov 2012 Motorcycle(s): '99/'01 Ninja 250 "sketchy", '13 Ninja 300 "yoshi", '03 GSXR 600 "merlin" Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '14	you either bent the forks or damaged the triple tree or both pretty easy to do, can be expensive to fix. I'm worried I may have done the same but won't get a chance to put it on a front/rear stand with some light until thursday __________________________________________________ I see you over there seeing me, do you see the me I think you see?

August 4th, 2015, 10:09 PM	#9
Biker's ninjette.org newbie Name: Johny Location: Fairbanks,Alaska Join Date: Jan 2015 Motorcycle(s): VFR800 Posts: 9	Instead of making wrong assumptions just take it to the local dealer and get yourself satisfy at. As the suggested source also cited more then one scenario just in case.

August 4th, 2015, 10:40 PM	#10
cbinker Track Clown Name: Chris Location: Kingman, AZ Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R, 21 MV F3 800, Kawasaki 400 build Posts: A lot. MOTM - Sep '15	picture __________________________________________________ TEAM ALFALFA www.apexassassins.com

August 5th, 2015, 08:59 AM	#11
VaFish ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Tom Location: Northern Virginia Join Date: Jul 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250, 2019 Harley Ultra Classic, 2001 Suzuki SV650 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Jan '16	A little bend in the handle bars will make is seem like the front wheel is out of alignment.

August 6th, 2015, 10:20 AM	#12
BlueDragon Certifiably Awkward Name: Ashley Location: Philly Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 58	Thanks for the suggestions! I'm busy with school and work right now but Saturday I'm going to put it on a stand and try to fix it! __________________________________________________ "Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, love honesty, laugh easy, keep it simple, ride often, ride FREE and never regret anything that makes you smile"

August 6th, 2015, 11:40 AM	#13
Ghostt in your machine Name: Scott Location: Summer Shade, Ky. Join Date: Oct 2014 Motorcycle(s): 98 Ninja 250/F12 aka ZX-2R "SERENITY", 91 Ninja 500/A5 aka ZX-5R "Phoenix", 84 Honda GL1200A "SIREN" Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 25 MOTM - Jun '17, May '16, Mar '15	Odds are the bars got bent, due to there design, weakness, so check those. Also check the forks for damage, bent, but most likely they need to be aligned/rocked __________________________________________________ *violente et ignorantia* ZX-2R BLOG *Twitter and Instagram = Ghostt_Scott* *I'm not here to change your mind, just to inform.*

September 3rd, 2015, 09:16 AM	#16
BlueDragon Certifiably Awkward Name: Ashley Location: Philly Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 58	Update: Thanks for all the advice guys. I ended up taking it to a mechanic after a lot of frustration. Turns out the handle bars were bent and they're ordering new ones to replace them. __________________________________________________ "Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, love honesty, laugh easy, keep it simple, ride often, ride FREE and never regret anything that makes you smile"

September 3rd, 2015, 09:33 AM	#18
BlueDragon Certifiably Awkward Name: Ashley Location: Philly Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R Posts: 58	Yeah I know I mean they looked pretty straight to me, but then again I guess I don't really know what I'm doing... __________________________________________________ "Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, love honesty, laugh easy, keep it simple, ride often, ride FREE and never regret anything that makes you smile"

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