| Author | Message | ||
     Java |
Hey, y'all. I've been lurking around here since I saw my first Cyclone back in '99. Then I rode one of the first Firebolts. Man, I had to have one of those. But first, my kids have to stop outgrowing all of thier clothes every two weeks. Anyway, I finally did get a Buell. I just picked up a Blast from a riding school. At first, I thoght the headlight brackets were bent. Then I noticed the gauge and bars lined-up with the headlight, so I thought "shoot, twisted forks". Then I noticed the fender ALSO points left, and lines-up with all of the above. So everything else doesn't point left, the wheel points right. Everything down there seems tight, so before I start taking my daily transportation apart, is there any sort of adjustment available down there? The axle seems pretty stout to be bent when nothing else seems to be. Have Fun, Tom | ||
| Ezblast |
Howdy Tom and welcome to the BADWEB! I've noticed when I dropped my bikes that the fairing and fender both got the same angular tweek - I flexed the fender and it went back to its origional shape, and the fairing I could line back up with plyers - straightening the bend. If with the forks straight your wheel looks like its turned than yea its probably time to get a new axle, bearings, and spacers. Damn - thats the first time I'd heard of that one, perhaps the student failed to turn, hitting a wall or something with the front wheel at an odd angle affecting the axle somehow, or perhaps the wheel itself may be bent. Have you ridden the bike long - how does it feel handling at speeds? Do you have any of the warrenty that goes with the bike? Welcome bro! I'm sure others may have some ideas as well - Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ  | ||
| Java |
She rides fine. Steady as a rock, as fast as I've cared to go,(maybe, 70ish) so I don't think the wheel is bent. Other than the fact that it makes you crazy to look down and see stuff slightly off-center, the only REAL symptom is the headlight shines off to the left at night. I should just bend the brackets and forget it, but if I know somethings not right, I gotta mess with it...... Have Fun, Tom | ||
| Ezblast |
Yeah sounds like the fender and and fairing tweeking in the same direction - no problem - to 'fix' - lol - welcome again - you'll still be posting over at BB though, but it's great to have you here now as well - welcome to the Blast's little corner of the BADWEB and enjoy! Got Thump?! Just Blasting on the Dark side! EZ | ||
| Evaddave |
about the headlight--I noticed that mine pointed slightly left when I first got it. I tried to adjust it straight, but then the Hi beam pointed too far right. I guess it's where the filaments are. I have it set up now so that the Low beam points as far left as the Hi beam points right. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Against my better judgement,I checked mine! Actually I know my fairing is tweaked, but plastic parts can tend to do this. The real problem is ignoring it.I have a friend who spent at least $1000 trying to untweak his nighthawk-to no avail. Chances are if you can't find any signs of abuse/accident learn to live with it-its probably okay-and you wont notice it after awhile anyway.Therapy may help. But,really,forks can be twisted without any visible signs of accident, but my guess is if there are no signs (scratches, bad handling,etc.) and the bike had low mileage you're okay. Lastly,(and if your into symmetry like me) there are a few other things on the bike which dont match up left to right and can drive you crazy! PS to Java. My parents lived in Snellville & my 'wife' works 30 seconds from the Ortega hwy! | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Pull the axle and roll it across a sheet of glass. If it rolls smooth its not bent but the forks themselves might have twisted slightly in the yokes. | ||
| Fssnoc2501 |
Tom, I've experienced slightly tweaked forks on many occasions. This is extremely common on dirt bikes, and as yours was used for training it was most likely dropped once or twice. No big deal, In my experience if roll the bike up to a garage door opening, good fence post or nice solid tree place the opposite side of the front tire against the object then bump the handlebars you can usually straighten things right out. Occasionally you have to loosen the tripple clamps, but most times this is unnecessary. Hope this helps, it's pretty tough to bend a front axle so you would probably note other serious damage. It's most likely just tweeked forks that need a gentle nudge. Ray | ||
| Swampy |
I AGREE. SQUARE UP THE BARS AND THE FRONT TIRE. THE METAL HOLDING THE FLY SCREEN ALSO HOLDS THE HEADLIGHT AND THAT COULD BE BENT CAUSING THINGS TO SHINE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. WHEN THE BLAST IS DROPPED THE HEADLIGHT CAN EASILY CONTACT THE GROUND BENDING THE BRACKET. JUST GET THE BIG PLIERS OUT AND BEND IT BACK INTO SYMETRY WITH THE OPPOSIT SIDE. | ||
| Buellkat |
Hi, I need to replace the front tire, I just had the quick question of the wear pattern. It is the original Dunlap and it has over 13/k on it.  It is worn smooth just on the right of center, if facing the bike. Does this seem normal? I thought maybe direct center it would wear. Some idiot did knock my bike over earlier this summer, smashed in both footpeg braces and other minor stuff. READ:Hit and Run....do you think anything might of gotten out of whack on the front end to cause this wear on the tire or is it all a coincidence?? Thanks. | ||
| Light_keeper |
Around here due to the road surface generally most of the back roads have a crown in them. My dunlaps wore very heavy on the left side of the tire. ( the side towards the center of the road. ) The Avons do not seem to have done that but then again Once the better tires went on my riding became more agressive in that I tend to work my corners alot more and I am more consious of the the road conditions (pitch etc). Just my two cents worth.  | ||
| Jprovo |
It sounds like normal wear to me too. I usually replace my front tire every other rear just to keep fresh rubber on the bike. Wearing a bike tire bals is a scary thing to me. James | ||
| Xgecko |
13K miles on a Dunflop???? Damn my front was GONE in less than half that...I would be scared to have a motorcycle tire for that long. That said I plan on putting Avons on both my Blast and the wife's Ninja 250 this spring. | ||
| Buellkat |
Thank you everyone for your ideas. Lightkeeper that makes sense to me. I have a Pirelli on the rear, 1st replacement of the original Dun"flop". I am not a very aggressive driver on the corners....keyword very....LOL |
