tread wear, uneven front forks.

2981 Views 17 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Donut, Jun 17, 2011

Traylor49

Discussion Starter · Jun 12, 2011

I am about due for new tires. I was looking at the front tire today and noticed the tread wear was definitely uneven with noticeably more wear on the left side of the tire (left if sitting on bike). Then I noticed that the forks were not quite parallel with each other. I suppose they have been like that since the tires were replaced, probably about 8000 miles ago. I never noticed this before. I assume that those forks can be adjusted so that they are parallel and even again. I have never been in an accident or done anything to cause trauma to the front end. On my previous tires have never noticed uneven tread wear like this.

Do any of you guys or gals have any experience with uneven forks, and can they be adjusted? I am going to take it in soon for tires, valve adjustment, oil change, etc.

Thanks!

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Charlie D

· #2 · Jun 12, 2011

You can loosen the trees and set the fork tubes even.

front tire on most of the VTX have more left side wear and many theories on how it happens.
I feel that most of the wear is due to not installing the front tire per the manual since I started following it to the letter my tires have 60% less wear on the left side.
You should learn how to do your own maint it will save you a whole lot of $$$

BigJon

· #3 · Jun 13, 2011

Like Charlie said, loosen the pinch bolts and set the top of the fork tube, not the end cap, even with the top of the top tree. Run 38-40 PSI, replace the steering stem bearings with roller bearings (All Balls mod) and add Progressive springs. Cured it for me. I already had roller bearings on the 18, but serviced them. They were bone dry.

DuaneS

· #4 · Jun 16, 2011

Charlie D said:
You can loosen the trees and set the fork tubes even.

front tire on most of the VTX have more left side wear and many theories on how it happens.
I feel that most of the wear is due to not installing the front tire per the manual since I started following it to the letter my tires have 60% less wear on the left side.
You should learn how to do your own maint it will save you a whole lot of $$$

There's the answer, don't just slap it back together - follow the procedure and you'll get much better results, AND longer tire life!

wayne

· #5 · Jun 16, 2011

What you guys talking about,, its the crown in the road.

:stirpot:

thundrhd

· #6 · Jun 16, 2011

wayne said:
What you guys talking about,, its the crown in the road. :stirpot:

That and the longer left turn radius......:icon_bs:

wayne

· #7 · Jun 16, 2011

Got some Ocean front property in AZ. cheap and I will toss in the bridge.

thundrhd

· #8 · Jun 16, 2011

wayne said:
Got some Ocean front property in AZ. cheap and I will toss in the bridge.

WOW!! HOW MUCH???

wayne

· #9 · Jun 16, 2011

What ever you send.

thundrhd

· #10 · Jun 16, 2011

Well, lets see:hmm2:, I prefer bartering as opposed to a capitalist monetary system, so...... How about a half pack of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum, a couple of White Owl cherry plastic tipped cigars(circa 1986), a solar-powered apple peeler, and a few "slightly" used Trojanenz(ribbed for HER pleasure) condoms, and an official $10.00 voucher from the ACORN elect Obama 2008 campaign? Sounds fair, right?

unclebrad

· #11 · Jun 16, 2011

mine also wears on the left side.......... was told due to the crown in road whether thats true or not, who knows

00 Doc

· #12 · Jun 16, 2011

Y'all forgot how much the bike leans to the left when on the kickstand...

A service manual is the most useful tool you can buy!

boondoxliver

· #13 · Jun 16, 2011

Another thing to check if you have spoked wheels, sometimes when the rim is trued over time they can actually shift. I had this problem with my 2nd bike and I first thought the forks were uneven, but in fact it just happened to be that the rim needed to be retrued.

pme5280

· #14 · Jun 16, 2011

tire wear

Due to knowledge gleaned from this site, I've benn running 50/50 in both tires instead of the receommended tire pressure, since my bike was new. Also replaced the front bearing with tapered roller bearing from All Balls the first season.(stock bearing is close to bicyle bearing). Both of these have gotten me 14,000 miles on the stock Dunnys and can probably make it through the summer. The bike also doesn't feel as 'floaty' over bumps.
I did the same to my wife's bike, and she instantly knows when she needs to air up to 50.
Paul

wayne

· #15 · Jun 17, 2011

unclebrad said:
mine also wears on the left side.......... was told due to the crown in road whether thats true or not, who knows

If it were true, mine would still be doing it, unless, ODOT took the crown out of the roads in OR.

Charlie D

· #16 · Jun 17, 2011

:stirpot::stirpot::stirpot::stirpot:

wayne

· #17 · Jun 17, 2011

Not me.

Donut

· #18 · Jun 17, 2011

Up the tire pressure - less wear. You should have gotten over 18k out of those tires (I got over 18k out of mine). 38- 40 front 40 rear.

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