Just bringing an old thread back from the dead.
I too notice that my 1300 likes to pull to the right, even on new tyres, and with the wheel correctly installed. At 26000km I am assuming it is on original factory-installed bearings.
I do understand fully (I think) the axle procedures; effectively, one is tightening the axle to pull the axle, spacers, bearing centres and the distance collar between the bearings hard against the right leg, then tightening the clamps for the right and left leg. I understand John Heath's point about the installation order for the bearings, but if I assume they are correct then the final position of the wheel relative to the right leg is actually governed by the length of the right side spacer. Has anyone considered the option of changing this length a little e.g. by grinding the spacer down a touch? As the bike falls to the right I think the wheel needs to be shifted to the right to counteract that.
A new wheel spacer is pretty cheap so any change would be reversible. I would need to confirm that shifting the wheel sideways relative to the forks won't lead to any unforeseen contact e.g. between the disc and the caliper carrier, and the ABS sensor. I'm only thinking of a small change like 0.5 or 1.0mm. Has anyone else tried this?
I've sort of been here before, my VFR800 used to pull to one side a little, and when I replaced the forks with CBR600F4 items, my initial measurements showed the wheel was likely to be something like 0.8mm off-centre when using the original VFR axle. Being brave/foolish (and lacking a CBR axle) I took a cautious test ride, and funnily enough the bike tracked laser-straight and was better than it had ever been. I'm sure those of us with experience of chain-driven bikes have probably also experienced the effects of a misaligned rear wheel which has a very similar effect.
I too notice that my 1300 likes to pull to the right, even on new tyres, and with the wheel correctly installed. At 26000km I am assuming it is on original factory-installed bearings.
I do understand fully (I think) the axle procedures; effectively, one is tightening the axle to pull the axle, spacers, bearing centres and the distance collar between the bearings hard against the right leg, then tightening the clamps for the right and left leg. I understand John Heath's point about the installation order for the bearings, but if I assume they are correct then the final position of the wheel relative to the right leg is actually governed by the length of the right side spacer. Has anyone considered the option of changing this length a little e.g. by grinding the spacer down a touch? As the bike falls to the right I think the wheel needs to be shifted to the right to counteract that.
A new wheel spacer is pretty cheap so any change would be reversible. I would need to confirm that shifting the wheel sideways relative to the forks won't lead to any unforeseen contact e.g. between the disc and the caliper carrier, and the ABS sensor. I'm only thinking of a small change like 0.5 or 1.0mm. Has anyone else tried this?
I've sort of been here before, my VFR800 used to pull to one side a little, and when I replaced the forks with CBR600F4 items, my initial measurements showed the wheel was likely to be something like 0.8mm off-centre when using the original VFR axle. Being brave/foolish (and lacking a CBR axle) I took a cautious test ride, and funnily enough the bike tracked laser-straight and was better than it had ever been. I'm sure those of us with experience of chain-driven bikes have probably also experienced the effects of a misaligned rear wheel which has a very similar effect.