Mine is a GW18 DCT BD model. Now on 3rd set of tires. The originals were Dunlop D423's. The bike pulled to the right. At 12K+miles they were replaced with Bridgestone 853G's. No more pulling to right. But, there was a pronounced handlebar shake with hands off between 40 to 50 mph, with the worst at 45mph. The Bridgestones lasted about the same as the original Dunlops, just over 12K miles. Now have Dunlop Elite 4's on. Shaking is gone completely but the bike drifts right with hands off.
Great job Max. I trust your word on my 2020 Goldwing tour. I have bought some of your products and always works the way you designed it. Merry Christmas!!!
As always, not only informative…but very understandable for all of us. That Papa Santa beard suits you 👍. I really like your no BS approach to things. Your shop is amazingly spotless! All the best for 2023! Thanks
Merry Merry Christmas. I absolutely learned more than just something. Thanks again. I’m waiting on insurance to help me decide what produce of your I will use on my front end. That’s the best thank you I figure. 🎉
How dare you use your knowledge, experience, part design & engineering to cast dispersion on arm-chair-engineers! 😎 But seriously, thanks for the detailed explanations and the hard work you do to improve the riders experience! Have a Great Christmas!
The way the handlebars work makes me think of a surgeon using a da Vinci surgical machine in the operating room. If it were me I’d sell and buy a new one and send it to you to tune again . I’ll be up there with my bike in September I want to buy that new gangled suspension adjuster for my suspension I bought from you and have that installed along with anything else you think I need . I’m loving my suspension Max . It’s just to good . I’m waiting to wake up with my old sloppy bike. I’ll call to c if I can schedule with u in September on my way to Carolina . Give the misses a hug for me please .
Hi Max, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I thought this was a particularly great video because I have always noticed that my 21 GW tour pulls to the right. I love using the cruise control, but I can't just take both hands off the bars without starting to veer off to the right. If you would not have talked about this, I probably would have been trying to adjust it out with the tie rods. I did get your replacement link, and though that it might cure it too. It drives me nuts, I can keep it going straight down the road, but I have to sit off to the left on my saddle. Back in 2005 I rode a new Goldwing from Florida, to Illinois, and was amazed how you could set the cruise and simply ride straight down the road. Can't wait to see what you are coming up with to cure this issue. Pat Mann, Bloomington IL
Hi Max, I can verify your experience by your work on my race bikes suspensions over 30 years ago. BTY, Just bought a new wing so I'll be in touch son. Best, Allan Schuster
2016 fat boy lo. 10k miles, new to me and me to riding. pulls to the left. Didn't really notice until 2 weeks later, but it's a decent pull. Gonna be tiring on long trips. Dammit.
My '21 Goldwing has a slight pull to right, I figured the rotation direction of the motor was causing it. I can go free handed with my left knee out catching the wind or move body to the left a bit.
Sitting partially off the saddle for long periods of time is not good for your spine. But it only takes a little hand pressure to keep it straight as well. Some people jus like a bike that goes perfectly straight.
2022 Christmas day in the shop? Your gonna be in more trouble for that from the Mrs. than those who want to try and argue against you hahaha. But thank you Max, you laid out the cold hard truth. A very educational video for the masses who just don't understand. My only question would be, what about uneven front tire wear due to the camber of roadway construction? Or is that negligible on a motorcycle vs a car with uneven tire wear and pulling in one direction? A really great video, especially being on Christmas day!! Merry Christmas and a safe Happy new year for you and the family!!
That possibility "exists", although it is very very very small. You would have to ride on extremely highly crowned roads for 10,000+ miles to the get the front tire to exhibit that wear pattern... but bad tires are excluded from this discussion, as we are assuming you don't have a tire that is bald on one side while trying to diagnose a problem like this! HAHA!
Hi Max! Marry christmas and happy new year. Great you have an engineers like you. I just got a new bike. I have driven for about 80km. Today 3rd Jan 2023. im at showroom. My newly pruchased bike is pulling to the left side. Could you pls tell me what went wrong. Just purchased on 31Dec 22, im very sad. Cost me around $1900
I am just now seeing this. I watch most of your videos and learn a great deal. There is a very inexpensive solution. Add weight to the opposite side of the pull till it goes away. You know put the heavier stuff opposite of the offending pull. Kinda kidding of course.... but that is an option. However I have a VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION. I know you have the belly pan for the 2018+ GW's to protect the engine block. What is the story on the bikes before 2018? I would like your advice on buying a F6b. The years of 2013 to 2016. Are there any serious worries about these models? Thanks for your sage advice !!
For the 01-17, there are many "belly pans" to choose from. There was no real risk of breaking the engine cases, but the coolant bottle was infamous for being cracked or just worn out from road grime sandblasting it.
Great explanation, thanks. Would you say this is common on Goldwings? I’m thinking about buying one, but I’d rather not go through a 12 step program for bad alignment.
Thanks for the video, been dealing with this for over a year and this helped more than anything. One question then until I can get a new bike, how safe is it to ride in this condition?
No. It’s an Indian FTR. Multiple people, dealerships, and mechanics have ridden it and gave experienced the same thing with no solution. Until we watched this video. Thanks for that. My rear tire is even getting uneven. lol. Love the bike but it’s gotta go.
Hey Max. As you say, the influencing factors are endless. We've all tried it and with cruise control it's a matter of how far can you go? Sometimes mine pulls to right, sometimes to left, sometimes it's arrow straight. And what does arrow straight tell me? Nothing. The wind and/or road camber could be compensating mis-matched luggage distribution. Bottom line is that it's always arrow straight when I'm holding the bar grips. Happy New Year from the UK.
Some people do have a real problem however. They have to hold the bars and push back with enough subtle force all day that they end up with fatigue in their neck, shoulder, and arm. That's who we're going to help.
Sidecar rigs can control steering with toe of the sidecar wheel. At least that’s what I remember having owned one way back when. What about the position of the rider? More weight to one side or the other affecting pull to one side or the other?
I scoot my butt to the left on my seat if my hands are not on the bars, you just have to find the right balanced spot. Also, the same for if you are sitting on the passenger seat with the cruise on, would not recommend for most riders to try, but it is a nice comfy spot, and you'll get lots of strange looks from other people, well maybe not from Tesla people NOT driving their cars as well. LOL
Hello. Is it possible to pulls to the right side because of telescopic forks needs oil ? In my case when i have second passenger (extra weight) the bike pulls right more.
That is completely impossible. The forks do not work separately. They are linked by the axle. Both forks are "one" assembly. It's an old misconception. Also, adding or removing oil (adjusting the height or level of the oil in the forks) only controls bottoming resistance in the lowest 25% of travel. If you bike has very soft springs, and cannot hold up the driver and passenger, then riding on the bottom of the suspension can cause many handling problems.
That is ergonomically terrible unless you just ride your bike to lunch and back each day. Try sitting on one side of the saddle for an hour and your back will be killing you.
Max I bought 2022 Goldwing touring this fall and drove it 100 miles and the handle bars shake or vibrate. I plan on bringing it back to the dealer this spring but I live in southwest Minnesota so the weather is not great for riding right now. Do you have any idea what would cause this. Thanks Del.
@@Traxxion My 18 wing came with the Dunlops. It would shake like a paint mixer if you took your hands off the bars over 40mph. Replaced with Bridgestones and it was fixed. We will see if the issue returns once the stones get some miles on them.
There was 17 years of aftermarket companies making parts for them, so I haven't really gone back to make parts for them, as it seems anything people needed has already been made.
Remember the roads are slanted to let the rain run off and has a hump in the middle of the lane, try moving around the lane for the sweet spot. *BE CAREFUL*
The people who have this problem with a Goldwing, can cross over to the left side of the road, and the bike will pull up the hill and cross the crown. It's not the road.
