Resend my activation email : Register : Log in 
BCF: Bike Chat Forums


Are my bars bent?

Reply to topic
Bike Chat Forums Index -> The Workshop
View previous topic : View next topic  
Author Message

evilzed
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:00 - 09 Dec 2018    Post subject: Are my bars bent? Reply with quote

See pics here https://imgur.com/a/WLvViCA

So I had a low speed drop where my bike fell on the left side, the front didn't hit anything it was just a straight drop to the left side, the handle bars were locked to the left while it was down and the left bar end hit the ground.

So after the drop the bike feels like it steers ever so slightly to the right when going straight. Things I've tried

-Checking the bar risers for straightness with a straight edge installed and took them out to check the bolt sides and they were all straight as can be.

-Reinstalled the handlebars based on manual instructions to risers

-Loosening the entire front end clamp bolts etc including top yoke main nut and reinstalling the forks. The bike felt considerably better after doing this but still has slight off feeling

Looking at the bars sometimes they look bang on then other times they look crooked. I wanna avoid getting new bars if possible as the heated grips were just fitting and removing the clutch side glue and buying new bars etc only to find out they're straight would be annoying. Also getting the bar end thread adapter things out of these bars are almost impossible and cost £40 each from Yamaha

Thanks


Last edited by evilzed on 18:14 - 09 Dec 2018; edited 1 time in total
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Pete.
Super Spammer



Joined: 22 Aug 2006
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:12 - 09 Dec 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

They probably are slightly bent. You would have felt it when you got back on though. Might be the forks are slightly twisted in the yokes too.

Stand the bike up straight and put a straight bit of wood along the wheels so they are in line. Now measure from the bar ends back to a point that's repeated each side, like a fairing bolt etc. If the bars are straight it'll measure the same both sides. Straightening them is easy, just a good tug in the right direction.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good Very Happy
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website You must be logged in to rate posts

jaffa90
World Chat Champion



Joined: 06 Apr 2016
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:16 - 09 Dec 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would say twisted forks.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Riejufixing
World Chat Champion



Joined: 24 Jun 2018
Karma :

PostPosted: 20:18 - 09 Dec 2018    Post subject: Re: Are my bars bent? Reply with quote

evilzed wrote:
So after the drop the bike feels like it steers ever so slightly to the right when going straight.

I am unsure how handlebars that are a tiny bit bent will cause this; after all, most people's arms are not precisely the same length, and one tends to "adjust" on the move.

Perhaps it's something else, e.g. as in the above psots, although the same applies?
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

evilzed
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Karma :

PostPosted: 20:40 - 09 Dec 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

I already loosened both top and bottom yolks and reinstalled the forks to make sure everything lined up. Just wanted to see if anything looks out of line to others via the pictures.

@Pete yep as soon as I rode the bike after picking it up it felt like it was slightly bent. I might just deal with it for now as it's so minor.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

talkToTheHat
World Chat Champion



Joined: 21 Feb 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 11:54 - 10 Dec 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bent bars won't cause the bike to pull to one side. It might already have been pulling though due to tyre wear or a misaligned rear and you're only noticing now becasue you're looking for it.
____________________
Bandit. does. everything.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

evilzed
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Karma :

PostPosted: 12:26 - 10 Dec 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

There's absolutely no pulling the bike rides straight it's just the bars look ever so slightly and feel ever so slightly like they're a bit to the right while going straight that's all.

I just wanted to see if there's a way to diagnose bent bars before buying a new set etc I've loosened and checked over other variables already risers, yolks etc
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Sister Sledge
World Chat Champion



Joined: 17 Aug 2018
Karma :

PostPosted: 13:20 - 10 Dec 2018    Post subject: Reply with quote

Really difficult to explain in words but I'll try..

A fair but not precise way to diagnose bent handlebars is thus (Doesn't work with tapered bars - those with fatter centres where they clamp to the yoke) :

Remove the bars from the bike.
Remove every single fixture and clean them.
Find a perfectly flat surface that's raised off the ground a bit (easier to view).
Test flat surface with a long straight edge - a long spirit level should be good - a way to check straightness of the spirit level is to look along it from one end. By doing that you'll spot dips and uneven parts. Repeat the check at 90 degrees intervals along its length just in case.
OK so you have the flat surface. Place the bars down on it.

The test:

* Clamp section in the middle of the bars should be touching the flat surface its full central length or should be an even distance above that flat surface. If it's not then there's a bend wrong.
* If the central clamp section of the bars is touching its full length, what about both ends of the bars? If one is raised then there's bend wrong.
* If the ends and the central section is touching, measure what the raised 'elbow' parts are above the flat surface - this really is just approximation but it might also show issues.
* Flip the bars so that the ends are in the air and the opposite side of the central clamp section now touches the flat surface - you might have to physically load it down with a weight. Measure and look for irregularities/unevenness in those different locations: ends, elbows and most of all look for symmetry.

Remember to slide the bars around that flat surface and continue to check what touches - it simply confirms problems if seen.

Totally amateur but will give an indication of an obvious problem.
____________________
CCM 404 DS
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts
Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 5 years, 110 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
  Display posts from previous:   
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Bike Chat Forums Index -> The Workshop All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Read the Terms of Use! - Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group
 

Debug Mode: ON - Server: birks (www) - Page Generation Time: 0.08 Sec - Server Load: 0.28 - MySQL Queries: 17 - Page Size: 60.62 Kb