Left pull in some K bikes has bee an issue since release in 2011. Do a forum search, “left+pull” and you’ll find hundreds of posts and no resolutions.

Duane

 

Left pull in some K bikes has bee an issue since release in 2011. Do a forum search, “left+pull” and you’ll find hundreds of posts and no resolutions.

Duane

Thanks Duane

 

Common issue. Different solutions for different bikes, and some without solutions. Most seem to only pull left when hands removed from the bars. Yes, as @Gunnert suggests, lots of posts on the subject.

 

Appreciate it!

 

Mine did that when I got it. I changed tires to the Dunlop Road Smart III when the OEM set wore out and it was less noticable (not cured) but a significant improvement. Since I've been riding it over the last three years I no longer notice it. IMO it's inherent to the bike, the stock tires make it worse, and some bikes exhibit the issue worse than others.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

Thanks that’s great news! A glimpse of hope!

 

Read post #20 in this thread, and let us know the result...

Left Pull Problem Solved

Well, since I bought my 2018 GA, it's had the left pull problem that seems to be the norm. While not thrilled with the bike's handling, I just figured I would have to get used to it and I did for 5,500 miles. Well, yesterday I replaced the Bridgestone tire that came on the bike with the Angel...

www.k1600forum.com

 

Thanks for that! Who’d a thunk?

 

Only an issue with hands off as stated. If it bothers u add your gear to the right side case that will help.

ian

 

What I have noticed is that I feel like I sit "to the left" on the bike, i.e., more weight on my left butt cheek. I am not doing this intentionally but if I adjust my weight a hair to the right in the seat I'm straight as an arrow. Maybe there is a slight design difference or maybe I'm just crooked...

 

Yea, perhaps a 20lb weight in the right storage box will cure it lol. Actually, as I stated if I open up my right knee and wing it out it helps a bit. I also noticed I’m not exactly centered with the windshield as I sit on the bike.. it’s like I’m a bit left of center… or I’m imagining things haha

 

I have a 2018 Grand American it was pulling left since then I have made the rear top case removable and I put on road smart IIIs I can ride with the cruise control on at about 60 miles an hour sitting on the backseat and she goes straight now for how long I don’t know. I did this for about 10 miles

 

Someone recently reported a novel solution....loosen the bindings on the cables attached to the bars. They may be under just enough tension to pull the bike left. Should be easy enough to try.

 

May be a weekend project worth trying! Thanks

 

My 2020 GTL goes arrow-straight. Factory Bridgestones and now Dunlop RSIII's, no issues with either. I quit doing, "Look, Ma! No hands!" on bicycles many years ago.

 

My 2020 GTL goes arrow-straight. Factory Bridgestones and now Dunlop RSIII's, no issues with either. I quit doing, "Look, Ma! No hands!" on bicycles many years ago.

When I first read about this left pull, I had to put my GTL on cruise control with no hands to feel a bit of it. The stupidity of what I was doing hit me and that was it.

 

It’s the cables/wire zip ties being installed slightly differently by human hands during manufacturer, pure and simple. That is why the issue is slightly different per bike, from ‘none’ to ‘a lot’, both of which are subjective.
Unfortunately the cure requires time, effort, and experimentation because the “re-zip tying” will again introduce some of these variables.
For those that do not believe, consider how very little counter steer pressure is required on the bars to induce a similar drift; then realize that a zip-tied cable could do the same.

 

It’s the cables/wire zip ties being installed slightly differently by human hands during manufacturer, pure and simple. That is why the issue is slightly different per bike, from ‘none’ to ‘a lot’, both of which are subjective.
Unfortunately the cure requires time, effort, and experimentation because the “re-zip tying” will again introduce some of these variables.
For those that do not believe, consider how very little counter steer pressure is required on the bars to induce a similar drift; then realize that a zip-tied cable could do the same.

How could the cables be that tight with the bike traveling in a straight line? Maybe there is something obvious I'm missing, but it doesn't seem logical.

 

Check the rear tire alignment. The front and rear tire must be perfectly aligned to run a Streight line. If the rear is slightly turned more to the right the bike will turn left. You can check this with a string line running down both sides of the tires with the bike upright. If there is more weight on the left side or if you tend to sit more on the left the bike will also want to go left. Worn tires can also cause this issue.

 

I had the same issue big time. Got new Michelins and problem solved. There was an amazing amount of uneven wear on the old front tire. Now it tracks fairly straight even with no hands. Good luck.

 

Sadly there is only one thing to do. Take the bike back to the dealer as soon as humanly possible. Read my post "Time to fix major issue" which amongst other things deals with the left pull. Sorry to be so direct but most dealers will deflect and stall until you are too frustrated or you are forced into a corner.

The bike was not designed or approved to pull left, also do not accept the BMW HQ BS that says the bike wasn't designed to be ridden hands off which, is a common way of testing the pull and reporting it. Been there and have the badge. Any retort to any excuse is "Was the bike designed to Pull Left and was the design approved to do this". There is no answer other than "No".

Good luck, stand your ground and do not accept anything other than a replacement asap.

Ps I note several here who say change the tyres. Yes I've been there too. It may temporarily fix or temper the issue. However it will NOT correct the cause and as soon as the tyres are worn the Pull will return. Again I have the badge for that one as well.

 

I tried to Check the rear tire alignment. The front and rear tire must be perfectly aligned to run a Straight line. (as mentioned above)

I used a string and noticed the following

I then looked at the front wheel from front of bike

I looked at the front wheel from the front and noticed that "A" was bigger than "B"

Does that A and B discrepancy mean I could assemble the front tire making A = B and correct the alignments?

Let someone share their wisdom?

 

Try measuring from the fork to rim on each side, rather to the edge of rotors. The rotors are by design not centered, presumably because they figured some idjut would try to mount a wheel backwards.

Edit: the hub is by design not centered. Fork leg to rotor or rim is be the same on both sides.

 

The collar on the left is fully seated, so your wheel is correctly positioned - not a solution to the left pull.

Does it really need another thread on the same topic?

 

The idea the front and rear wheel have to be in a perfect line is nonsense. For years, the front and rear wheel have been offset slightly on certain Harleys. They run, hands free, for miles straight.

Does it really need another thread on the same topic?

Of course not.

 

Thanks for the prompt response. I am sorry I started a new thread but instructions on previous posting said it was an old posting and that we should start a new thread?

Should I presume then that is normal what we see in first picture? Rear tire should be a little to the left than front tire?

 

off-center wheel issue? - Harley Davidson Forums

2018+ Softail Models - off-center wheel issue? - Hi Just curious, are new softails still having off-center wheels from factory? like many twin cams softail models do? thx

www.hdforums.com

 

My brand spanking new 2022 K1600B pulled slightly to the left...

...until I replaced the Bridgestone Battleax T31 with the Dunlop RS4s. No more pull.

 

Measuring Wheel Track Offset - BMW k 1200 rs Repair Manual [Page 370]

BMW k 1200 rs Manual Online: Measuring Wheel Track Offset. 46 51 • Place the motorcycle on its main (centre) stand on a flat, level surface. • Measure wheel rim width at front and rear and make a note of the figures. • Place track alignment gauge, BMW No. 36 3 920, against the left or...

www.manualslib.com

Bike pulls to one side poll

More than a few people have noticed their GT/GTL pulls to one side. It would be informative to find out how many of you have a GT/GTL that exhibits this behavior. To answer the inevitable "don't take your hands of the handlebars" comment, a bike pulling to one side or another can result in more...

www.k1600forum.com

Even modern BMW motorcycles have a 4.5mm offset on the rear wheel from the front and a tolerance of +/- 9mm

 

I had 3 K1200 GT 2002 to 2004. They pulled to one side and the fix was taking out a 2 mm shim from the rear wheel and that that made the front and rear wheel be in perfect line. That is why I thought may be this could be something to look in k1600

 

Ron, thank you so much for the info. Is quite revealing. it would be interesting to know what is the tolerance number on bikes that do not pull and see if different to the bikes that pull. That is quite a big tolerance 9 mm. The k1200 had a big correction when I took the 2mm shim.

 

I don't think it's "pulling" to the left as opposed to rolling to the left because of normal rotational counter forces. That's normal.....I can't take my hands off the bars but I consider it normal for that bike. Gyroscopic effect

 

Call it what you like, and caused by whatever, it shouldn't do that, not all do it, and some have reported that theirs was corrected, so my opinion is that its NOT normal.

 

I've learned to put heavy items i.e.: tool kit and air pump in the right saddle bag. Just this weekend I played with letting go of the handlebars and the bike went straight with very very little, if any, body English. Over the past 10 years of owning 2 GTLs and a variety of tire brands this method has worked for me.

There are times where the road surface has played a part in hands off wandering but for the most part it's manageable for those times when I want to exchange gloves or fool with my jacket zippers.

 

I've learned to put heavy items i.e.: tool kit and air pump in the right saddle bag. Just this weekend I played with letting go of the handlebars and the bike went straight with very very little, if any, body English. Over the past 10 years of owning 2 GTLs and a variety of tire brands this method has worked for me.

There are times where the road surface has played a part in hands off wandering but for the most part it's manageable for those times when I want to exchange gloves or fool with my jacket zippers.

I'd owned my 2013 GTL for a few months and hadn't noticed any issues, then read about it in one of the many threads on here, and tested it with hands off the bars and no drift.

 

I was riding on a brand new set of Michelin Road 6 tires and went over 3,000 miles on this set. They had a horrible pull to the left.

Before I left for a 2,000 mile + trip to Arkansas I put on a new set of Pirelli Angel GT 2 Spec A tires. I have about 2,700 miles on them currently and I have ZERO pull. This is on both super slab riding and good old country back road riding. Road surface on either set made ZERO difference. It appears the tires are the problem. This is the 2nd time I've run Angel GT Spec A with NO PULL at all.

 

My 2020 GTL pulled slightly to the left from day one. Not enough to notice while riding, but after reading this and a few other threads on the topic, I had to do the "Hover the hands 1 inch above the grips" test. Sure enough, pull to the left unless I leaned WAY to the right. A couple months ago, I had her at the dealer for the rear suspension link recall. A few weeks later, I was riding with a very light touch on the grips, and gave the hands-off test another try. Guess what? perfectly straight. Lean left, slow drift to the left. Lean right, slow drift to the right. Sit straight upright, straight track.
I was on the same highway I use to commute every day.
I don't have an explanation, or even a theory - just a data point.