Bike pulls to the right

[49Reo]

Hello, I just purchased a 2006 drifter 800. Has about 3000 miles on it. Love the bike, but seems to pull to the right. Arms are getting tired....Rear wheel is straight. I have had many bikes, and currently have three in the garage. This is the first bike with a pulling problem.... Any ideas?

Did you ever get to the bottom of this?

Regards and such,
49Reo

[Troll]

Since it's an 800 with chain drive, the most common cause of this kind of thing is the rear wheel misaligned in the swing arm. The little hash marks on the swing arm by the adjusters mean next to nothing. The best way to be sure you are aligned correctly is to measure from the swing arm pivot to the axle center. Note, if it pulls right, then the tire is probably pointing to the left...remember counter steering effect!

[greenbarn]

what about a bad tire?  On a car, many times a pull is caused by one tire on the front causing a right or left pull, even if the alignment is good.  Switch tires Rt to Lt and the pull goes away.  I'm not a bike mechanic, but could a bad tire on the bike cause it to pull?

[49Reo]

Good luck with it, and let us know what you find.

Regards and such,
49 Reo

[skeeter59]

thanks 49Reo, I will have someone follow me. Like I said, the bike only has 3k miles on it, and everything seems straight and tight.

[49Reo]

Maybe mis-aligned rear wheel, bad front tire, ginked frame; if any of these are present, it will pull. Any play in swing arm bearings will also contribute to that as well as will a bad wheel bearing. Get someone to follow you and see if they can see anything wrong.

Regards and such,
49Reo

[skeeter59]

Hello, I just purchased a 2006 drifter 800. Has about 3000 miles on it. Love the bike, but seems to pull to the right. Arms are getting tired....Rear wheel is straight. I have had many bikes, and currently have three in the garage. This is the first bike with a pulling problem.... Any ideas?