Bent Forks?

[upanddown22]

Got a GPZ500 the other day and manage to get it all restricted and it's running pretty well but will get it set up properly soon.

Anyways...it seems that the handlebars are out of alignment When I turn the bars to the right the end of the bars hit the tank, but when I turn them to the left there is about an inch of clearance between the tank.

When riding it seems the bars are pointing slightly to the right in order to go straight. The bars seem to clamp directly to the fork legs so I can't work out how to straighten them.

Are my forks bent or is there a way to align it all?

Thanks!
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Kawasaki GPZ500S 1995

[Kickstart]

Hi

Possible the bars are bent and also possible the forks are twisted in the yokes.

To try and straighten the forks in the yokes slacken off the pinch bolts on the top yoke and any around the wheel spindle (so the forks are just held in place securely with the bolts in the bottom yoke). The bounce the front suspension up and down hard a fair few times. The forks will try and go parallel again. Then tighten all the bolts back up again.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[upanddown22]

Thanks Keith, looks like there is a slight bend in the bars but not sure if this standard.

Will try the straightening in the yoke, will report back!
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Kawasaki GPZ500S 1995

[robocog]

Edited to remove redundant guff and add , it /could/ be the round clip on part (which does unbolt) is bent
https://images.cmsnl.com/img/partslists/handlebar-1994-d1-ex500-north-america_bigkae0193f2310_3374.gif
part 64003


Regards
Rob
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Needs a bigger garage...

[upanddown22]

46003? ay does look like mine is bent slightly, but not sure if it's bad enough to explain the difference.

Tricky! Might try and get a cheap one off ebay and see what happens.

Thanks
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Kawasaki GPZ500S 1995

[robocog]

LOL yup, my bad for rushing
localised heat and a scaf bar over it (clamped in a vice) to get it straight (er) ?

I suppose if its the right hand one that's gone bent, maybe just replacing it is safer (thinking throttle tube snagging type issues)

Regards
Rob
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Needs a bigger garage...

[weasley]

An additional factor regarding the difference in tank clearance could be that a lock stop one side is bent or damaged.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Fairies attack]

An easy way to check if the bars are straight is, get a tape measure and from the 100 (10cm) measure from the centre nut on the top yoke to the end of the bar on both sides.

It should give a good base for how bent they are.

[Pete.]

My bandit bars were bent about 1.5" up and 2" back one side. It put them in my vice and straightened them using a straight edge, a level a square and some angle iron.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Fairies attack]

I guess a flat surface, straight edge and 2foot would work well too.

[upanddown22]

Thanks everyone, went down to the bike this morning and put a straight edge up against the handlebar, it's bent pretty badly. I think part of the trouble was I wasn't sure if they should be bent or perfectly straight!

Think i'll keep an eye on ebay and get some new ones, very relieved to know the forks are ok!

Thanks
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Kawasaki GPZ500S 1995