Harley Davidson Forums

Loading


Hello

Guest

Welcome to the harley davidson forum. Join our discussion today for FREE!

CREATE ACCOUNT

Membership Benefits

Get your questions answered by harley davidson community gurus and industry experts. Exchange your experience with another members. Access full features forum. Get a members discounts for your harley parts & accessories.

Unequal handle bars turning/steering

Sportster Models

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old Oct 12th, 2012, 10:01 PM     #1
New Family
Ride: 1997 Sportster XL 1200C Custom
 
Join Date: Oct 7th, 2012
Posts: 4
Ken 1965 is an unknown quantity at this point
Bigsmile Unequal handle bars turning/steering

The handle bars on the Sportster I have rotate further (turning) to the left than the right; in fact the left turn light contacts the fuel tank prior to hitting the steering stop. Rotating the handle bars to the right is OK, i.e. contact is made with the steering stop before the right turn light hits the tank. Both steering stops look OK (not damaged). Any ideas? Thanks again for your help.

Ken
Ken 1965 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Oct 13th, 2012, 07:46 AM     #2
Community Guru
Ride: 2007 Dyna Street Bob
 
R_W_B's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 14th, 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 2,475
My Mood: My Mood
R_W_B will become famous soon enoughR_W_B will become famous soon enough
Re: Unequal handle bars turning/steering

Make sure both turn lights are adjusted the same, one might have slipped down more.

Make sure you handlebars are not slightly bent on one side.
__________________
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." ~Martin Luther King Jr.
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."~Einstein
R_W_B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Oct 13th, 2012, 08:03 AM     #3
Start The Engine
Ride: 1997 sportster
 
Join Date: Nov 23rd, 2010
Posts: 10
chappy99 is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Unequal handle bars turning/steering

I seen you post this before,if you cannot see anything wrong yourself.
You should take your bike to someone (indy) or (dealer) and have it checked
out,i know this is not much help but i'am thinking of your safety.
Their is just so many things it could be.
chappy99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Oct 13th, 2012, 08:08 AM     #4
Warming The Wheels
Ride: 09 ultra classic
 
Join Date: Jul 5th, 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 136
My Mood: My Mood
mouthful is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Unequal handle bars turning/steering

Has your bike ever been tipped over on its side? Things tend to get bent.
mouthful is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Oct 13th, 2012, 11:18 AM     #5
Contributor$
Ride: FLHR 09
 
BUBBIE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 15th, 2008
Location: AZ, S.East corner/Western WA.
Posts: 3,987
My Mood: My Mood
BUBBIE will become famous soon enoughBUBBIE will become famous soon enough
Lightbulb Re: Front wheel rotates too far to the left

Quote: Originally Posted by Ken 1965
I have another question. The front wheel on the Sportster I have rotates further (turning) to the left; in fact the left turn light contacts the fuel tank prior to hitting the stop. Rotating the front wheel to the right hits the stop before contact with the turn light. The stops look OK. Any ideas? Thanks again for your help.
Ken
****************************************

Ken,

Measure from the center out... Look for any abnormalities. Not remembering the lighting on your bike...

IF the stop is Not where it should be.... A spot Can be welded on that frame Knob,(IF that is the way it is set up)... I have heard of some drill and tap for a short headed screw there also to take up some space so it doesn't turn as far. I had a 97 FXDS but don't remember it for sight in thinking with out a picture....

I doubt IF the turning geometry is More to one side...

I had a friends bike that did about the same thing,,,,It was in the handle bars and the light not the same as the other side..

MEASURE first...

signed....BUBBIE
__________________
*************************
Quite Often I am Right so Forgive me when I'm WRONG!!!.......

Last edited by The Tank; Oct 17th, 2012 at 01:16 PM.
BUBBIE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Oct 13th, 2012, 12:37 PM     #6
Contributor$
Ride: 2007 Streetbob
 
Jack Klarich's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 25th, 2009
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Posts: 13,591
My Mood: My Mood
Jack Klarich will become famous soon enoughJack Klarich will become famous soon enough
Re: Unequal handle bars turning/steering

Are the steering stops in place and has this bike ever been wrecked or tipped over? Are the handle bars centered in the risers?
__________________
CAPITAL JACK( Nuff Said, We're Burnin Daylight, Let's Ride)
Jack Klarich is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Oct 14th, 2012, 01:23 PM     #7
Retired Moderators
Ride: 2004 Sportster XL1200R
 
NEWHD74FAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 24th, 2008
Location: Camarillo, CA
Posts: 8,270
My Mood: My Mood
NEWHD74FAN is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Front wheel rotates too far to the left

What Bubbie says makes sense for two reasons...many adjust the handlebars to a more comfortable position to fit, the other being the hand control cluster on either side as well as the signal mount angle can usually be adjusted symetrical, so they do not hit anything.

Personally I don't like them mounted there, but it is the widest part of the bike to meet DOT regulations here in the US.
__________________
* Please click "Self Help Tips" tab for service tips, diagnostic codes & such * ;o) * Please click "Search" tab and keywords to find related threads *
NEWHD74FAN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Oct 15th, 2012, 10:14 PM     #8
New Family
Ride: 1997 Sportster XL 1200C Custom
 
Join Date: Oct 7th, 2012
Posts: 4
Ken 1965 is an unknown quantity at this point
Thanks Jack. I suspect the bike may have been 'dumped'.
Ken

I think it may have been tipped over. Thanks,
Ken

Your concern is appreciated. Thanks,
Ken

Last edited by Bodeen; Oct 16th, 2012 at 06:32 AM. Reason: Merge posts
Ken 1965 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Oct 16th, 2012, 10:12 AM     #9
Contributor$
Ride: 2007 Electra Glide Classic
 
Breeze3at's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 18th, 2009
Location: Warner Robins, GA
Posts: 3,517
My Mood: My Mood
Breeze3at will become famous soon enoughBreeze3at will become famous soon enough
Re: Unequal handle bars turning/steering

Ken; When you are driving straight down the road, everything on the front end
should look straight, equal distance from an imaginary line from gas cap to center of front tire. If the front has a slight tweek to the left or right, you can put the tire against a post (don't damage fender) and bump it a few times to get it centered. Any more than slightly tweeked should be checked by a reputable mechanic for safety reasons. Might be a good idea to have it checked by a mechanic anyhow.
__________________
I don't ride fast, but I do ride far.
Breeze3at is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Oct 16th, 2012, 11:38 AM     #10
Contributor$
Ride: FLHR 09
 
BUBBIE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 15th, 2008
Location: AZ, S.East corner/Western WA.
Posts: 3,987
My Mood: My Mood
BUBBIE will become famous soon enoughBUBBIE will become famous soon enough
Devilish Re: Unequal handle bars turning/steering

Quote: Originally Posted by chappy99 View Post
I seen you post this before,if you cannot see anything wrong yourself.
You should take your bike to someone (indy) or (dealer) and have it checked
out,i know this is not much help but i'am thinking of your safety.
Their is just so many things it could be.
This was questioned in another thread Ken started.... It answered there and so maybe the Tank or another moderator will merge the two post mentioning the "Bars question"

I have a link below to it OR they may Not.

Oil light stays on after oil change - Page 2 - Harley Davidson Community (Oil light stays on after oil change)

signed....BUBBIE
__________________
*************************
Quite Often I am Right so Forgive me when I'm WRONG!!!.......
BUBBIE is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Handle bars 67wizard Touring Models 1 Jun 19th, 2012 10:50 PM
Handle Bars little_earl General Harley Davidson Topic 0 Jan 29th, 2010 06:13 PM
09 fat bob handle bars Jeffburke Dyna Models 3 May 31st, 2009 04:48 PM
New handle bars for RG ironmark Touring Models 13 Dec 11th, 2008 11:00 AM
Reverse steering, turning hard on Triumph bikermonkey General OFF TOPIC 10 May 23rd, 2008 12:12 AM