STOP! Check Your Motorcycles Fork Alignment

[@BipedBD]

2:11 Please don't loosen bolts with a torque wrench. Depending on the design, it may negatively affect calibration.

[@Hakiri27]

Unless you have just retired the torque wrench and use it as a breaker bar XD

[@MasterNick7412]

I sold my friend a motorcycle we both loved. Good condition. A year later I borrow it from him to ride and I notice that the cornering is super uncomfortable like the steering bearing is sheered. Turns out it was and he didn't even notice until he had it fixed and saw the improvement. It's always important to do these checks like bike alignment, performance, electronics and get second opinions from friends just in case what you perceived as normal is in fact broken!

[@motojoe1405]

I noticed this on my bike literally 2 hours ago. Your timing with this video is immaculate.

[@spartanx169x]

If the rear axle is out of alignment it will feel like the bike's front is messed up when its not. Also bad tires will do the same thing. IMO, these should be checked first. The rear can get out of alignment when adjusting the chain.

[@jimsnow8004]

A couple of supporting details: Accelerated Technologies, Ontario, Canada showed me a trick for checking fork alignment. You place a rectangular piece of 1/4+" plate glass across the fork tubes, just above the fender and below the lower fork clamp. If it lays flat, your forks are good, look to the handlebars. If there's any rocking action at all, the forks need to be aligned. My bike has a front axle that threads into the right fork and slides through the wheel and the left fork with a pinch bolt. (Like yours) I did an alignment and still got rocking action on the forks. Then Scott Szollos, professor at the motorcycle tech course, Centennial College, Toronto Canada told me this one: Leave the one fork leg with the axle and the upper clamp torqued in normally, at the marker ring on the fork tube, lower clamp loose. Have the pinch bolt leg loose top to bottom, including the top clamp. Plunge the front end, which aligns the loose fork tube with the stabilized one vertically through the upper clamp as well. Snug up the upper clamp FIRST, then snug up everything else as you described, top to bottom, alternating side to side. Bingo. Like you said with the steering head nut, just gently snug everything up first, to prevent movement. If you torque anything while other parts are loose, the extra pressure will throw it all off. After everything is snug stabilized, torque everything to spec, top to bottom, alternating side to side, then check with the glass plate. Delboy's Garage (YT) says loosen off the front fender and brake calipers as well. Keep continuous light pressure on the front brake lever, then snug up all the mounting bolts, which aligns the calipers + pads with the rotor. I do the calipers second last and the fender last. Never plunge the front end on a center stand, only on the rear wheel, or rear maintenance stand. I had a buddy spot me, and had a cooler next to the bike to gently step off without shifting anything. The cooler had parts and shop supplies in it, silly.

[@pruthvikarigiri]

My 390 adventure handlebar is slightly skewed to the right. The guys at the Ktm garage said it is straight and it was driving me crazy. This helped a lot. Thank you!

[@theprodigal7143]

Did it seem like they were trying to avoid doing the work?

[@nilimt.kalita6076]

Dropped my MT a few days ago while riding on slippery hill roads. I got her serviced today and fortunately everything is alright now. I'll remember this video for the next time I drop her again🤣

[@ixx_t3rr0r1st_xxi3]

You're so perfectly on time with this, I bought a bike about a week ago and ran into this problem yesterday I'll definitely give this a go, I'm also from South Africa by the way😉always keeping up with your videos

[@ChaosCauses]

Hope this fixes it!

[@ixx_t3rr0r1st_xxi3]

@@ChaosCauses Bike is away for the week, but will definitely try this over the weekend, thanks!!

[@theprodigal7143]

​@@ixx_t3rr0r1st_xxi3how did it go?

[@sachinparmarr]

Had this issue when my front when was hit by another biker at almost perpendicularly, saw a "Shop Manual" video by Ari Henning, surprisingly similar video. Managed to fix it myself with the same technique. Saved myself a run to the shop.

[@supergalaxy5900]

How much would the shop cost?

[@thanatos5329]

Nothing like a Chaos upload in the morning🫡

[@needsmctherapy1447]

well i know i don't have this problem, which puts me on edge a bit more. often when leaning and turning my bike will start shaking in a "mini tank-slapper" while i'm still leaned into a turn. no one ever brought something like this to my attention so idk if it's mechanical or if im just doing something wrong.

[@MadJackVideos]

Before watching video: " i know they are fine." After: "... I need to check".

[@martyndourneen7402]

Great to see someone putting a video about this out there, I’ve put handle bar conversion kits on several of my bikes over the years and these are the methods I’ve used to get everything aligned, I’m not a KZbinr so never put a video about it. Thanks for putting this out 👍🏻👍🏻

[@borilapostolov7474]

Haha I just love the humor on your vids! Just a quick stupid question ❓ On what stand is the bike when you do the tightening. I understand also that all the things are to be done from top to bottom, right?

[@nathanielluke2084]

Timing couldnt be better, as a new rider myself, i happen to drop my bike a few times in slow turns. It bent my handlebar and im going to try this tip. Thanks for showing

[@speedyboi4623]

Had a fender bender on my mt10 with a car on a trip to New Jersey. Bike sustained a good bit of cosmetic damage but all fixable. My biggest concern is afterwards my steering was off. Gonna give this a try and see if it fixes it. Hopefully my forks or yolks are not bent.🤞

[@MotoDash1100]

Don't forget that by hitting the notification bar you too can be early to watch the video!

[@Raguvian]

I do this on a weekly basis on my Grom due to all the wheelie practice and hard landings and crashes I have.

[@davidfischer7528]

Wow i really learned something today. Great video.

[@Jagknorr]

Dumped my dual sport in a field and had to do roughly do this. Was riding home and always drifting left haha

[@CasualRiders]

thanks for another great video Justin. Super informative!

[@andrewboschmann9880]

I've mostly used the buschman approach on my dualsport. May have to do with my name😂

[@paulroberts3639]

That is a lovely bike. And great advice.

[@deant6627]

Also after doing this you may need to reset the pistons in the front brake callipers if you notice your getting more break drag than normal

[@camdencrotwell349]

I did this after noticing my top triple tree was uneven but didn’t seem to want to go back this was right after I replaced the fork seals possible uneven fork oil? Any help would be sick 2003 Honda shadow 750 spirit

[@copperaudio9664]

This is also a cure for tank slapping death wobble. Great info, thanks.

[@thepennydreadful95]

Yes they are properly aligned

[@jordanbarthelemy6094]

Thanks man. I found my MT10 drifting to the right whenever I try to ride with no hands. Leaning to the left wouldn’t help. I have to give this a try!

[@irf888]

Hi. My MT10 does too, did this technique fix it for you? Regards.

[@kbearpro]

Again, another great video.

[@claudiofrancalanci8692]

thanks man🤙🏻

[@OutrunRewind]

i remember one time i saw a dude on a bike which was like, it had a whole ass twisted frame to the point where the front and rear wheels were running in different lines...how tf does someone ride that

[@ChaosCauses]

Haha, I bet it corners brilliantly in one direction. But not so much the other way...

[@OutrunRewind]

@@ChaosCauses nah, i doubt it would even want to corner at all given how scuffed that thing was 💀

[@andrewboschmann9880]

Just get the rear axle out of alignment (happened to me on an to quickly done DIY maintenance) and you'll know exactly how it feels.

[@petersymons7817]

Thank you

[@Puma_4]

You can also spin the front wheel and break. Then the fork should snap back in

[@r0binx]

You can't do this on an MT07 ! Now trying to figure out how to compress the front suspension to get the centre clamp back on

[@r0binx]

Needed to stick a jack under the oil pan to lift the front wheel off the ground then push the wheel towards the ground with someone holding the bike steady. This got the centre clamp back on

[@lui505]

How much torque is necessary to tighten each of those screws?

[@sooyster4033]

Literally have this problem right now

[@Dellvmnyam]

Misaligned handlebar doesn't make cornering difficult. And regarding effects on the suspension - I don't even notice a difference when there are different adjustments on each of the fork legs.

[@sccitizen]

Any possibility of a similar video on how to straighten the handlebars on a BMW R1200RT (2019 or similar)? The dealership told me my front wheel is straight but my handlebars are slightly off to the right.

[@MotoDash1100]

0:09 And here I thought that was because of the sheer muscle mass on my left side from carrying heavy trays. #RestaurantLife

[@KAYTONE1]

They were working on the road around where I live, and I rolled over a bump coming back from the gas station, and I noticed my string started drifting on its own my bike is brand new four months old I drive a ninja 300 Kawasaki

[@daniyalkhan3889]

Finally

[@skay3264]

I drove my bike to service before I sold it so that the guy who was buying it wouldn't have any work to do to it, just to fill up and ride. It was still under warranty. After I took my bike from service, this is exactly what happend, my wheel was going straight but the handlebars were crooked. Returned the bike, they stratend them and everything was fine. :) but it is a wierd feeling driving like that.

[@leanspo]

I've had this issue several times before. I had to change my handlebar after a crash and I'm about to change the whole suspension forks because they're worn out and don't even hold the oil retainers. My cousin rides daily with a handle bar that's like 15 degrees offset and I feel it sooo uncomfortable, but it's ok to him 🤷🏻

[@duckieduck3287]

i have an uncle that has handlebars that are slightly sideways and to him it's straight

[@gianvito1738]

new fear unlocked

[@natanmortenfeld5813]

question: if i fuxxked up the allingment when changing the clipons, by screwing the top nut when bike is on side stand instead of it totaly horizontal, do i need to go through loosening all the bolts mentioned? or will it be enough to unscrew top nut of upper yoke and its pinch bolts, and straighten it with my knees and the, and re screw it again when bike is of course totally horizontal ?

[@TheGlobglogabgalab]

My brother says my handle bars are skeef, but I don't ever notice it and never have, does it have anything to do with the fact that it is a dirt bike?

[@gremmann1]

I watched the whole video, but not sure I should have after you said, "the forks are clamped in 2 places. I've used this method a few times, and yes you only loosen 2 clamps, they are clamped in 4 places. Picky picky picky

[@jimhendrie3737]

Hey Chaos, just wondering what you’re thoughts are on the CFMoto 800MT? Thanks

[@KokohG4UL]

What should I do if my bike only have a bottom triple clamp, my bike is a moped

[@zedzidane]

Lovely bro!

[@IversonGR]

@chaos causes Do you think that going for s1000rr is a stupid move? Im riding a kawasaki ninja 250r (2009) for the past 1.5 year and i think i've outgrown it.

[@acehandler1530]

Can you say 'Speed Wobble' - scariest experience on a motorcycle for me, slowing down made it worse! I died...

[@ponytrishpip]

I have had the forks on a dirt bike seize after a spill due to them getting misaligned

[@artyom188mph]

I recommend to untight brakes too as well and tighten after all manipulation of forks

[@meoffjack]

1:41 doubt.

[@valinkdevr5520]

don't forget to loosen brake calipers too, mine were rubbing after I aligned the forks

[@DeafAlone32]

Me and my friends ride SurRons, and we just kick the front wheel back into place 😂

[@luisrvf]

which bar end mirrors are you using?

[@deepankar94]

What bike is that? Looks cool

[@paulietv2162]

Is it worth doing this for a misalignment of 2 mm?

[@TwoWheelNinja]

I feel like the FZ09 is prone to fork misalignment. Out of 10+ motorcycles I’ve owned that was the only one that always gave me issues. I was realigning the steering on a monthly basis because my handlebars always seemed off.

[@MotoDash1100]

0:09 I thought that was from the lack of a lower right leg. Any amputee riders here yet?

[@MotoDash1100]

Edit: (if I edit the comment traditional way the little Heart goes away) If you noticed my other comment about this same timestamp but with a restaurant joke, I used to work in restaurants before a pickup truck driver T-boned my right side. The speed difference was maybe 20mph or greater, guy was making a left turn without turn signal or brake, just cruising onto a side street thinking he was only guy on the road. Since he was going below the limit and already was swerving I was planning to pass him as soon as a straight road came up, well, when I was beside him passing him is when he turned left. Be safe out there guys, and a little fun fact: Pickup Trucks are the most commonly driven vehicle (in the U.S. at least) while someone is under the influence, in short.. Save Your Life, Look Twice For Pickup Trucks.

[@bundatmoto7144]

I'm an avid fan here..❤🤘🥰

[@ThunderApache1604V]

You can also provide a prepared checklist for such videos, to premium members.

[@SuzukiRiderlv426]

whats the averague torque for those bolts? between 14 and 16 nm?

[@r0binx]

I have the same question, I've just checked my bike manual and can't find anything

[@-S-A-I-N-T-]

Sir what is the name of your bike

[@Tvotz]

Bruh, i just droppes my bike in the most non binary way ever.. it did however bend my handle bars so there are new, but this vis made the shenanigans forvard easier

[@nathanielluke2084]

1:40 😂😂😂

[@incognito6846]

Revzilla😂😂

[@Sraparker]

I have to check the alignment on my busa….. it keeps pulling into your moms driveway!

[@langhamp8912]

100% of my new and used motorcycles have been misaligned, but don't forget the rear wheel also has to also be aligned.

[@MatthewSmith-zx6uk]

This spying phone thing is getting out of hand... How'd youtube know I dropped my bike!?! 😂

[@Donuts_random_stuff]

Having driven mountain bikes I know it’s kinda annoying when your handlebars aren’t aligned with the wheel. I have however for fun put my bars out of alignment by 90 degrees, that feels weird 😅

[@jimmyrides4U]

🙏🙏👍👍🏍

[@tonioriginal3215]

Alright, I’m speaking for everyone here, GIVE US TRACK FOOTAGE WITH THE APRILIA

[@Gixxer360]

I feel like I'm more misaligned to notice 🙆

[@baja8593]

gays not gonna like this vid

[@user-hf8ie8mf3n]

Crooked life 👍🏳️‍🌈🤪

[@AliNaseem-ib4lc]

I stand with Palistine

[@dunkpayne2166]

Seriously! This is beyond basic!

[@kenbowlus2995]

The whole job is accomplished by simply loosening some nuts and bolts, compressing the front suspension a few times while holding the front brake, and tightening the nuts and bolts back to torque spec. An oil and air filter change is more involved than this.

[@taswr]

Has this dude got any certification in motorcycle engineering or mechanics…..?? Some of his advice is dreadful. I wouldn’t be following his lead….

[@AliNaseem-ib4lc]

I stand with Palistine