[svfiat]

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.

I'm the guy that redid my cables and wiring and the bike goes dead straight now and it used to have a nasty pull to the left.

 

[JohnS1955]

I'm the guy that redid my cables and wiring and the bike goes dead straight now and it used to have a nasty pull to the left.

I knew it was you. But that doesn’t answer the question I asked.

 

[Rundover]

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.

 

[assinine1]

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.

 

[afhorsley]

Hi Guys! I just took my 2021 K1600 GTL from Ohio to Louisiana and back. Zero rain on the way there, 100% rain on the way back. I did about 2500 miles on it in 12 days...

No matter what the road conditions... I noticed the bike wants to constantly gravitate to the left and I find myself continually adjusting my trajectory which becomes tiring after a while. As odd as it sounds when I take my right knee off the tank and kind of wing it out I get a slight less left pull.

I really dig this bike but the left pull takes some of the enjoyment away from the experience...

Any work around? Thanks for reading....

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.

 

[mayojuaf]

I'm the guy that redid my cables and wiring and the bike goes dead straight now and it used to have a nasty pull to the left.

I am lost. If cables were the issue, could you turn right? When turning right all cables should have enough "room" to have the handlebar turn? what am I missing?

 

[mayojuaf]

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?

 

[1004ron]

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?

 

[mayojuaf]

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?

 

[coyotek]

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.

 

[1004ron]

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

 

[coyotek]

I am lost.

 

[RedCard]

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.

 

[1004ron]

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

 

[mayojuaf]

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

 

[mayojuaf]

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.

 

[ickyoldman]

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

 

[1004ron]

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.

 

[Arizona Jim]

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.

 

[1004ron]

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.