Off just slightly...

[GvCIA]

Bike went down a while ago (MAY) and only now have I gotten the money to finally finish the repairs up. Anyway...

1.) There are BRAND NEW forks on there
2.) NO damage to tire or rim [noticeable]
3.) Brand new handle bars (aligned by a shop)
4.) When replacing the forks I noticed the steering bearings were fine

However, the steering is still off slightly to the left (i.e. I have to compensate by turning the handlebars to the right to go "straight").

I tried loosening the 4 bolts that hold the forks in place, loosening the axle pinch bolt, and held the wheel in place with my knees while my brother held the handlebars straight. After all that, it' still off slightly (if 10 is perfectly straight, its about an 8).

Any ideas??

 

[abacall]

Alignment?

 

[RJ2112]

It's tough to 'eyeball' forks.... and it's not necessary.

Instead of loosening ALL pinch bolts that hold the legs parallel, leave the lower tripple clamp bolts tight, and loosen everything else. Axle, fender, upper clamp.

Once that's all loose, sit on the bike and grab a fistfull of front brake, and romp on the handle bars to compress the fork. Do this a half dozen times. Then tighten everything back up to torqued values.

When you romp on the bars, the legs will align with each other.... they have to have enough freedom of movement to do that, and still hold some sort of relationship to each other. The lower triple clamp allows the legs to pivot with respect to each other, without sliding up and down in the clamps.

Give it a try.