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Are the forks bent?

Evening!

I've picked up a streetfighter CBR600f 1992 to replace my old SV.

When the bike is travelling forward the headstock/triple clamp is pointing slightly to the right.

If the triple clamp is out of alignment then is there no chance that the front wheel is in line with the back wheel?

I bought a 125 before I took my test and I couldn't lean it over with out the rear slipping. The triple clamp on that also didn't align and I think was the cause?

Will I need to replace the forks to fix this or can I have them straightened?

Re: Are the forks bent?

U could have them straightened by professional but tbh i'd just replace them then u know they will be 100% straight

Best place for replacement Honda spares is http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/

Re: Are the forks bent?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpikeTM (Post 2655943)

U could have them straightened by professional but tbh i'd just replace them then u know they will be 100% straight

'Kinell Richie Rich :p The forks might well be bent but he could check a few things first before writing them off.

The post below helped me with a similar problem. Might be worth a go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid Squid (Post 1886377)

Loosen everything on the forks and yokes, except the top yoke clamps.
Bounce the front end without using the brakes, this will mean holding the front wheel against a wall or similar restraint. If necessary hold the front wheel twixt knees and tweak the 'bars. Tighten everything from the bottom upwards, so spindle first, then spindle clamps, then bottom yoke, then steering stem top nut/bolt.
If it's off after that something's pi55ed - remove front wheel and mudguard and loosen clamps on one fork, rotate fork, does the bottom end wander? If yes it's bent, check the other one too.
Even if straight check the surfaces of the fork where they're clamped, is it distorted? USDs clamp on aluminium which is soft, if the surface is damaged they won't clamp straight, if yes to this then move them up until the lower yoke is on an undamaged section and go on the the next step.
Remove top yoke, tighten up bottom yoke clamps evenly and try to refit top yoke, do the three holes align perfectly over stem and forks? If no then bottom yoke bent.
Bent top yoke extremely rare, usually if you can sight across either top or bottom surface flat it's fine. If necessary remove forks and fit into top yoke on a checked undistorted section of fork, tighten clamps, check across forks parallel by eye, and measure between them on a machined section next to and as far from yoke as possible.
Check spindle by eye, although a bent spindle is usually a bitch to fit so you'll probably be sure of that already.
Wheel is unlikely to be the cause - a bent rim won't stop you aligning the front end, although it may handle and steer a bit odd.

Re: Are the forks bent?

Ok if u want a quick test but i aint gonna be held liable if it don't work kk,,

Get 2 long lengths of steel preferably if not wood ,but must be as straight as possible, 2 large G clamps and someone suitable to hold bike upright, clamp steel lengths on either side of rear wheel then with 2 small pieces of wood either side of front wheel inside of steel to ensure the same space at front & rear wheels then loosen the steering bolts slightly ( top yoke nut and top and bottom yoke bolts ) just enought that u could move all by hand DO NOT SIT ON BIKE OR PUT WEIGHT ON IT !!!!

While haveing your assistant hold ing bike upright by tank or grabrail at rear twist handlebars to left then right slightly just enough that they move then centralise the bars so that they look as traight as can be.

When happy nip up the top yoke outer bolts first then bottom yoke bolts secondly and the centre tope yoke nut last , then ensure u can bounce the front end down and it rises back up freely on it's own with no resistance, afterwards ensure bars are still central and all bolts and tighten up respectively, and ensure both forks are at same height at top yoks and keep fingers crossed all is straight.

Also any good motorcycle insurance repaier could check it for you in a jig but i aint sure of how much £ it would cost .

Re: Are the forks bent?

After I binned my sv, the forks just twisted in the yokes, I loosened off top clamps and it straightened up more or less by itself.

Its probably just this tbh.

Can use string line to roughly check the front wheel runs inline with the rear.