Funny forks, need some advice!

[Jimi_Hendrix]

Hey guys, been a while! :D just picked up a G reg 1990 VFR400 NC30. And so far i've been loving every mile :)

.... However!

Took it out for a proper lengthy ride the other weekend there and i took both hands off the bars for a bit only to find her wandering to the left i cant feel anything through the bars when riding with both hands or even one hand on. Its only a very mild pull.... so back home i took a look at the forks and sure enough the left side preload was a 'line' difference than the right. I evened them up and it helped a little bit bit still this little pull to the left remained. Tonight i thought id try messing with the damping settings on them and to my surprise the left fork only has 8 clicks and the right fork has 15! Im thinking the left one is knackerd

so!....

Can any one advice whether it would be a good idea to rebuild them, buy new ones or good condition second hand ones or swap them out for USD RVF ones if that can be done?

Any help much appreciated, cheers!

[Cammo]

Pulling to the left could be a number of things - it's not usually related to fork settings though.

It's always a good idea to rebuild the forks if they're standard or haven't been refreshed in a while. Rick Oliver and Tyga can both supply aftermarket fork tops, the standard ones often seize.

[trademe900]

Steering head bearings. If the bearings or races have some imperfections in them they won't be totally free and will tend to stick in the worn notches which will cause this. Just a suggestion.

[amorti]

Steering head bearings. If the bearings or races have some imperfections in them they won't be totally free and will tend to stick in the worn notches which will cause this. Just a suggestion.

or, you may have a bent fork. Normally the first check is chain alignment marks but that's not an issue with the SSSA.

[Neosophist]

The first 24 I looked at pulled to the left, it had been in a front ender and had bent the frame.

Any signs of crash damaged to the bike?

If not check the obvious first.

- Bad tyre wear
- Under/over inflated tyre
- wheel straight

- forks set-up properly (oil / height in yokes etc)

[hunter]

It could just be road camber.

[Neosophist]

and of course camber :D

find a straight level road to try the bike in!.

do you have brake calipers draggin?

[Jimi_Hendrix]

Hmm good bit to be going on with there so thanks for the help guys, good shout on the caliper drag, i'll check that out. Dont think its ever been in a crash but honestly couldnt say for sure

[Neosophist]

Checking the frame is straight can be done at home with some string.

http://www.framestraightsystem.com/Moto ... 0Check.htm

Have a read of this :)