How To Straighten A Twisted Motorcycle Fork | The Shop Manual

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  • Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
  • Get 25% off a new pocketknife at kershaw.kaiusa... with code KNIFE25.
    So you had a tip over or a low-speed crash on your motorcycle, and now your bike’s front end is twisted and the bars look bent. Don’t worry, straightening things out is easier than you might think, and we’ll show you how to do it in this episode of The Shop Manual.
    Learn more about straightening your motorcycle’s front end at Common Tread rvz.la/3PT6gbr
    If you’re ready to tackle straightening your forks, you’ll need one of these! rvz.la/3jkTnuy

Комментарии • 235

  • @adammoore9088
    @adammoore9088 Год назад +706

    You mean I'm not supposed to just hold the front wheel between my knees and turn the handlebars as hard as I physically can while trying not to throw out my back? 😮

    • @christopherking2012
      @christopherking2012 Год назад +74

      Worked well enough for me, I'm only gunna drop it again anyway.

    • @AriH211
      @AriH211 Год назад +35

      That's a pretty common method for off-road riders addressing a twisted fork on the trail.

    • @richardahola692
      @richardahola692 Год назад +2

      I use a 2x4

    • @ilham7345
      @ilham7345 Год назад +3

      it works for non long ass fork tube like on a scooter or c-series derivatives

    • @56Spookdog
      @56Spookdog Год назад +17

      That and a wall to bump the wheel against are preferred methods.

  • @daniellandry9366
    @daniellandry9366 Год назад +227

    there isnt enough of this guy on youtube on a regular basis. Ari is one of a kind.

    • @esatd34
      @esatd34 Год назад +1

      he knows his stuff for sure

    • @ironhorsegladiator5034
      @ironhorsegladiator5034 Год назад +3

      Motorcycle Dealers/Stealers are all filling bankruptcy because of his great Shop Manual Videos. 🤣

    • @lathanwalley
      @lathanwalley Год назад

      @@ironhorsegladiator5034 akio wow good night

    • @MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC
      @MikesProjectsandHobbiesMC 9 месяцев назад

      @@ironhorsegladiator5034A dealship would only charge $899.00 to do this. :-)

  • @Timbhu
    @Timbhu Год назад +53

    Always a pleasure to attend Mr.Henning's class

  • @elindenstein
    @elindenstein Год назад +23

    Dropped my bike about 10,000x on the WABDR and IDBDR in August and my handlebars were all jacked. This has to be one of the first times that I've tried to fix something on my bike and it was drama-free and correct the first time. Thank you!

  • @beborodner930
    @beborodner930 Год назад +69

    More Arie and Zack episodes please!!
    Both of these guys are like the Top Gear of Motorcycle reviews!!
    And don't get me wrong.. I absolutely love these shop episodes.. they need to stay too.. :)

    • @mangoslice6319
      @mangoslice6319 Год назад +2

      We should get a top gear like show(the British one) with Zack and Ari 🙌🏽 I’d watch it

    • @coastaku1954
      @coastaku1954 Год назад

      No no no, Zack, Ari and RyanF9 from Fortnine, THEN we will have the Top Gear of Motorcycle reviews! Zack would be James May, Ari would be Richard Hammond and RyanF9 would be Jeremy Clarkson

  • @iam7f
    @iam7f Год назад +20

    I watched all your clips, you are a really lovely person, no one gives a summary of the explanation like you, keep going

    • @ironhorsegladiator5034
      @ironhorsegladiator5034 Год назад

      Dealers/Stealers are all filling bankruptcy because of all his great Shop Manual Videos. 🤣

  • @josephreisinger33
    @josephreisinger33 Год назад +19

    Words to live by. If you want your motorcycle to go do the road straight, make sure everything IS straight!!
    Thank you Sir and have a merry Christmas 🎅

  • @k1llersm0ke32
    @k1llersm0ke32 Год назад +11

    This guy is awesome! He explains things so well, I don’t own a bike or work on one but if I bought one the other day and had this happen to me, without knowing much I am pretty confident I’d be able to fix the problem with his play by play breakdown!
    Finally a person that made a “how to” video that actually makes sense.
    Most are made for people in mind then already know what they’re doing, they do not explain much and skip over important things not everyone knows

  • @countryjoe3551
    @countryjoe3551 Год назад +2

    Ari, I have shared this video twice in the last couple of weeks with 2 riders on FB forums who were asking how to straighten out their tweaked forks. Both of them declared success in getting their stuff straightened back out by following your tutorial. I could tell them how to do the job but you do a superlative job of showing them how to do it. Hopefully these guys will subscribe and continue their moto repair education. Myself, I'm looking forward to the next ASMR rebuild video.

  • @Jack-ny7kn
    @Jack-ny7kn Год назад +4

    This was extremely well done. I couldn't find any good videos explaining how to align a mtb downhill fork, and I thought okay it's fundamentally the same as a motorcycle fork so why not. And now I'm golden. My bike feels better than it ever has.

  • @dukie1616
    @dukie1616 Год назад +19

    These videos are always helpful and done well too. Really wish they aired weekly though, that would be quite nice. Anyway thank you and keep up the good work👏

  • @RevZilla
    @RevZilla  Год назад +9

    Learn more about straightening your motorcycle’s front end at Common Tread rvz.la/3I70ZeE
    Riding an off-road bike or ADV? RevZilla has a fork-alignment tool to help ensure your fork legs are parallel: rvz.la/3WEtgwZ

    • @xorbe2
      @xorbe2 Год назад

      This doesn't actually redirect back to your on-site article.

    • @justinheard5954
      @justinheard5954 Год назад

      Allie just took my time and took him get me like a block of wood and chain didn't figure out whether damn bottle jack take your bottle jack and straighten pretty good y'all talk a bit like a tobacco card in about 82 bent like Ben like freaking folded up under there looking like a d rate

    • @yurgon
      @yurgon 6 месяцев назад

      @@justinheard5954 voice to text? because your statement doesn't make much sense. Are you saying to use a bottle jack and strapped 2x4's to straighten a bent fork?

  • @bananafoneable
    @bananafoneable Год назад +1

    You saved me a grand by doing this myself.
    I got into a low speed crash and my rotor got bent and the alignment was totally jacked. After replacing the rotor, something wasn't right. I didn't feel like I was going straight. I was able to loosen the bolts and jump on it a few times and now it feels much better.

  • @AxelBergander
    @AxelBergander Год назад +10

    I learned not to trust the markings at the rear wheel axle. Looking at you, KTM!
    I straighten the wheel with a chainlaser (pew! Pew!) and adjust the markings on one side accordingly.

    • @mk11981198
      @mk11981198 Год назад

      Its much easier with ordinary plank.

  • @jhooton75
    @jhooton75 Год назад +10

    As you probably know, at least on the Versys, the hash marks on the rear swing arm aren't exact. For the rear, I really recommend getting an alignment tool to check that the rear wheel is straight. Just one of them that clamps to the sprocket and has a metal rod that points down the chain works well. The hash marks on my Versys are almost one full mark off.

    • @AriH211
      @AriH211 Год назад +4

      Absolutely. Reference lines on the swingarm are just that - references. But it's an easy visual check before you start diving into loosening front-end parts.

    • @alanhardy3374
      @alanhardy3374 Год назад

      I always use kite string to check the alignment

  • @VoLuTheR
    @VoLuTheR Год назад +3

    Right video at the right time, literally yesterday I had my first High-side on the track, and twisted my front forks

  • @hughfranklin5503
    @hughfranklin5503 25 дней назад +1

    Solid answer to a common question! Great vid.

  • @hardcastlemccormic8655
    @hardcastlemccormic8655 2 дня назад

    Thank you for the tips! I've had to do this on dirtbikes previously, but I have to do it on a street bike, and it feels more official.

  • @palonoctisursa
    @palonoctisursa Год назад +10

    I almost cried when I saw this video, I thought I destroyed the front forks of my motorcycle. I thought I would need to shell out hundreds of dollars for replacement parts.

    • @ODDee816
      @ODDee816 2 месяца назад

      Literally yesterday I did what I did smh

    • @speedyboi4623
      @speedyboi4623 18 дней назад

      I know this is an older comment but what caused your forks to go out of alignment? Had a slight fender bender on my bike and it very slightly wants to go to the right when I let go of the bars.

    • @justcommenting4981
      @justcommenting4981 9 дней назад +1

      ​@@speedyboi4623 I went over a curb at like 12 mph. It doesn't take much. I was actually able to twist it back holding the wheel between my legs and pulling really hard on the bars. I am on the larger side though and I didn't get it perfectly straight I don't think.

  • @laillahilaallah001
    @laillahilaallah001 Год назад +7

    Been waiting for this. Thank you ari for everything you do

  • @richardkenna149
    @richardkenna149 23 дня назад

    This is the clip that first came up when i searched up to do this. Extra stoked that the demo was done on a CRF300 Rally, because that's my bike!

  • @zeljkomadzo614
    @zeljkomadzo614 Год назад +3

    These videos are GOLD! Thank you, have the same problem on a brand new from the dealer... Yeah they missed that and I felt something was odd but didn´t find out before until som days after.

  • @user-en9qd5nx8w
    @user-en9qd5nx8w 2 месяца назад

    Thanks for the reminder on the process. I will say that on some bikes, the forks may actually be fine, it may just be the handle bars are twisted slightly where they mount into the triple clamps. I've dropped my dual sport before and because the handle bar mounts have a rubber "bumper" where they mount into the triple clamp, it could be that they are just twisted at this point. Just loosen the handle bar mounts under the triple clamp and give the bars a tug.

  • @gregshamieh6339
    @gregshamieh6339 10 месяцев назад

    Recently acquired an F800 GSA that the previous owner had dropped -- his assessment of the front end resulted in buying it for an 'I Stole It' price.
    Twenty minutes with tools and your process put everything back as it should be -- the bike went from a tad unpredictable on loose surfaces -- following trail camber, etc -- to railing.
    Can't thank you enough, Ari!

  • @sandersondan
    @sandersondan 6 месяцев назад

    Thanks a million, I love simple straightforward instructions like this without any corny time wasting distractions. Great job

  • @BrickHouseBuilds
    @BrickHouseBuilds Год назад +4

    Great video as always!

  • @tejaspadhye
    @tejaspadhye Год назад +3

    for aligning the rear end of the bike, note that most bikes dont have exact demarcations. You might want to use a measure tool or alignment tool specific for this purpose.

  • @TwoWheeledHepkat
    @TwoWheeledHepkat Год назад +2

    I've tweaked my frontend out on the trail. If you just kick the front wheel hard enough it usually straightens it out. Or at least straight enough to get back to the trailer with all your tools.

  • @JCrozier1
    @JCrozier1 Год назад +2

    Thanks Ari! Have a great holiday.

  • @Jaffa1951
    @Jaffa1951 Год назад +4

    Great video, as always Ari. I have learned lot from watching these.

  • @nazhif1
    @nazhif1 Год назад +2

    what a coincidence. I just had a low side literally yesterday on track. Gonna try this & hope I didn't bent my forks

  • @leslieaustin151
    @leslieaustin151 Год назад +1

    All good stuff and perfect advice. However, when you buy front forks and top and bottom yokes (“triple-trees” to you USA folks) off eBay, and the front spindle will NOT come into line, well, you might, like me, be dealing with a bent bottom yoke (triple-tree [funny name]). It took a powerful gas blow-torch to fix that one! Les in UK

  • @gokulhari9403
    @gokulhari9403 4 месяца назад

    Wow. Nice vedio. Clear explanation.
    My bike was recently crashed and the frok was twisted. I dont know how to solve this my own and dont know what is the procedure. This vedio reallly helped me. Thanks a lot. I thought it was hard to fix. Now my fear was reduced. I will try to fix my bike by myself.

  • @alexgere529
    @alexgere529 Год назад +3

    Ari and Zack the best on YT👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

  • @dubsonthebrain5859
    @dubsonthebrain5859 20 дней назад

    Excellent video and explanation! Thank you, you made my repair as fun as a piece of cake!

  • @Hey_zues420
    @Hey_zues420 Год назад

    Could also be fork oil to low or to old. I reported axles, bearings, steering head bearing, wheels, new tires, spokes. Then i rebuilt my forks with seals and bushings and was still riding like crap. Took the fork tubes completely off and measured how much oil was in each tube and they were not even close to recommended level. Put in more form oil in each tube and back together. Now it rides like a dream

  • @BlockCylinder
    @BlockCylinder Год назад +1

    I really needed this video a year ago, and two years ago, and three years ago, and four years ago.

  • @RVAMotorsports
    @RVAMotorsports Год назад +4

    Holy cow this was helpful! Maybe now my Dyna won't feel like it's going down the road sideways!

  • @robertemmons2260
    @robertemmons2260 Год назад

    Thanks for the tips, Ari.
    I had searched on here to align motorcycle forks, and your video was the first one suggested. I purchased my 2017 Indian Chieftain used last December, and it seems that it's not tracking properly. It seems just a bit off. I thought that it was my forks, but your tip at 4:35 to check the rear wheel alignment was something that I hadn't considered but made sense. If I remember correctly, I believe that you had posted a video on belt drive tension and alignment. Yes, after a quick search, you did. It was done on that subject five years ago.
    Thanks, Arizona, for another great video.
    Now to go outside and check out that rear wheel alignment.

  • @Tracer9GTRider8
    @Tracer9GTRider8 Год назад

    Great video! Sure beats make a tweak, go for a ride, repeat until it feels right. Use this technique, torque everything, and go for a ride!

  • @mparsons7737
    @mparsons7737 Год назад +3

    Love to see more of these, Prof Henning. Merry Christmas 🎅🏼! Thanks !

  • @ShiningQuasar13
    @ShiningQuasar13 Год назад +1

    Nice.
    My bike was on the front stand only as I couldn't get the tire bead to set. Eventually it tipped onto the stand, so it was only on one fork. So it might be misaligned or bent in the front. But good to know it could be the back. Was going to double check the chain tension as there was no marking to measure from on my R6 so I may as well double check the lines, especially if I end up adjusting it.

  • @andreasbeaufort3594
    @andreasbeaufort3594 Год назад +4

    These videos are SO GOOD I often feel I could become a mechanic just by watching them. Thanks, Ari!

  • @lazartsaprev2580
    @lazartsaprev2580 Год назад +2

    This is a nice Christmas present

  • @thebayleaf221
    @thebayleaf221 Год назад +3

    Badly needed this video. Thanks a lot!

  • @user-vd7ef9vu2j
    @user-vd7ef9vu2j Год назад +2

    perfect timing on this one. Thanks Ari

  • @leftymike8730
    @leftymike8730 Год назад +4

    I noticed the fork stem nut was not torqued, is that typical? Will over or under tightening that affect fall away?

  • @quintontaylor7858
    @quintontaylor7858 Год назад +1

    I respect they have the harbor freight $60 torque wrench

  • @NorthWestMotos
    @NorthWestMotos Год назад +1

    If I am trailside, I use my boot and kick the wheel straight. The tip at the end of the video was solid gold.

  • @enhinyerorider5914
    @enhinyerorider5914 Год назад +1

    Darn it! I really need to start looking for the giant hex axle driver and torque wrench for my bike. Its really the only thing holding me back DIY activities on the front of my bike. Wish it was easy to get proper tools in my country because as they say, “use the right tools for the right job”.

  • @eyemallears2647
    @eyemallears2647 Месяц назад

    Thanks so much! My wife feels like new!

  • @daveyt4802
    @daveyt4802 Год назад +1

    Nice topic! Next go over rear wheel steering and alignment.

  • @jasondunn8894
    @jasondunn8894 11 месяцев назад

    This is just what I needed after coming of my bike of road. Thanks guys

  • @seamonkey2010
    @seamonkey2010 4 месяца назад

    So glad you made this channel, dude!

  • @thinkdunson
    @thinkdunson Год назад +1

    you're the man, Ari.
    oh, hey, since i've got your attention... WE NEED MORE CTXP.
    is there anywhere i can join a subscription or patreon to make that happen? i'm already subbed to RPM... what i mean is something specific to CTXP; not some general RevZilla thing. make it happen, and i'll be on board. you guys are awesome.
    and maybe find a way to bring Spurge and even Lemmy along on one of them. that would be epic.

  • @theEHWAZ
    @theEHWAZ Год назад +1

    Very helpful! I had to recently bump mine up against a tree to straighten it while out on the trail but need to properly align it.

  • @DmitriyAdv
    @DmitriyAdv Год назад +1

    Some bikes (KTM dirt/enduro bikes for example) have the top steering stem nut preload the bearing instead of having a collar under the top triple clamp. So you don’t want to loosen that on those.

  • @yiannishayabusaofficial
    @yiannishayabusaofficial Год назад +2

    AWESOME VIDEO AMAZING FANTASTIC ! ! ! ! !

  • @austinbarrett9613
    @austinbarrett9613 Год назад +4

    Why loosen the fork guards? @1:23

  • @Denvr2
    @Denvr2 Год назад +1

    This helped me out a lot, noticed my wheel off center from my forks last ride and was thinking I bent them!

  • @cpuuk
    @cpuuk Год назад +1

    Nice. Merry Christmas.

  • @murraehaynes3182
    @murraehaynes3182 Год назад +3

    Nicely done…Merry Christmas 👍🏼

  • @SverreValkenburg
    @SverreValkenburg Год назад +1

    I thought for a second it was the motorcycle (Alaska) form itchy boots. Great video.

  • @1993whitenoise
    @1993whitenoise 4 месяца назад

    Ari your the best! Thank you for all the videos you’ve made.

  • @c920mrc
    @c920mrc 2 месяца назад

    Great tutorial, concise and to the point 👏👏👏

  • @dirgharajshrestha
    @dirgharajshrestha Год назад +2

    I just kicked the wheel from side holding the bars, it worked fine. 😂

  • @jaimeromangil7239
    @jaimeromangil7239 Год назад +2

    great video, from SPAIN

  • @KakuiKujira
    @KakuiKujira Год назад

    Great explanations. You know how things got wrong, how to fix it, and why you do things in X manner.

  • @benn2026
    @benn2026 Год назад

    I don’t have a great space to work on my bike at the moment, and recently had to take it to a shop to replace the chain and sprockets (Woulda done it myself, but all I’ve got is a parking space on a hill, and no center stand). When I got the bike back from the shop, I could see that there was something funky going on with the alignment, as when I was going straight, the speedometer was at an angle, and one of my arms was extended just slightly more than the other. I’ve never crashed, and don’t recall hitting anything. At first I thought it was the rear end, since the hash marks on the swingarm weren’t aligned. I readjusted (I found that the shop had over-torqued my axle but as well) but the issue remained. The tires are nearing the end of their usability, but aren’t quite there yet. I’m thinking maybe the shop wasn’t very gentle with the bike, and hit it on something, throwing off the forks?

  • @Dan-56
    @Dan-56 Год назад +1

    I have found with age, arthritis, and carpal tunnel, my “calibrated hands” are nowhere close anymore 😆. The torque wrench is my friend 😉👍.

  • @someguyontheinternet7165
    @someguyontheinternet7165 3 месяца назад

    Very useful information as I may or may not have yeeted my mt09 while doing rolling burn outs in a yard.
    Any chance you guys can bring someone on to demonstrate some paint less dent removal on a gas tank too. 😅

  • @molallamerica896
    @molallamerica896 Год назад +2

    More, please.

  • @HemanAuDesign
    @HemanAuDesign 16 дней назад

    Arie, when you tighten everything back up, you mention not to torque the top triple tree nut (stem nut) to spec as it will twist things out of alignment again. So when do you torque the stem nut to spec? After you torque everything else (lower triple tree pinch bolts, axle, axle pinch bolts, calipers) to spec?

  • @morto6876
    @morto6876 Год назад

    Thanks! Helped with motorized MTB!!!

  • @jamescavanagh9276
    @jamescavanagh9276 Год назад +1

    Great video as always from Ari

  • @duncanrasey5413
    @duncanrasey5413 Год назад +1

    Awesome video! Thanks for the clear and concise information.

  • @Drumm3rboygaming
    @Drumm3rboygaming 4 месяца назад

    This video saved me from a nervous breakdown!

  • @andyincalimoto843
    @andyincalimoto843 Год назад

    for a while I thought I had twisted forks, cause my right handle bar appeared more forward than the left. after trying this method I remembered that the previous owner to my bike had dropped it in a low speed fall. in fact probably at a stand still. that fall was strong enough to put a bend on the right handle bar. im happy to know it wasn't my forks. for now I can ride with the handle bar I have but I will want to get that replaced eventually. bend is just visually noticeable but it doesn't affect my ability to push\pull to turn.

  • @jerrybaldwin7543
    @jerrybaldwin7543 Год назад +1

    Wack it up against a tree 😂HELL YEAH BROTHER

  • @Zzzzzzzzz678
    @Zzzzzzzzz678 7 месяцев назад

    I had to drive 3 km to the nearest gas station to fill my tyre which was almost flat and the extra hard stress on the suspension with the uncontrolled side to side motion of the tyre made the bike fell like it got twisted, it heavily lean to the right side now.
    I didn't know that an almost flat front tire would cause that problem.

  • @js3301
    @js3301 3 месяца назад

    Thanks, good video. Helped me!

  • @freaksarena8306
    @freaksarena8306 Год назад

    The last tip helped me with the issue i was having🖤

  • @bradleyhall4637
    @bradleyhall4637 Год назад

    Been thinking my front forks are tweaked lately. Sorta look out or alignment. I might give this a try now that I have a front wheel chock and can easily build a center stand for under the frame

  • @michaelgilliar56
    @michaelgilliar56 6 месяцев назад

    So when do you fully tighten the top triple nut? Before or after everything (forks etc) are tightened.

  • @corso2909
    @corso2909 7 месяцев назад

    Thank you!

  • @cavesuki8510
    @cavesuki8510 Год назад +1

    What about a handlebar that is bent inwards from one side by 3mm?

  • @TheCvac
    @TheCvac 8 месяцев назад

    On my Ducati the "top nut" is also used as a bearing preload adjuster,which is held by a small clamp at the top with an allen key Should i just unscrew the allen bolt in this case or the preload adjuster? The nut I am talking about is full with 8 holes,typical on most ducatis

  • @ironhorsegladiator5034
    @ironhorsegladiator5034 Год назад

    Motorcycle Dealers/Stealers are all filling bankruptcy because of all your great Shop Manual Videos. 🤣

  • @xxshiftlockxx
    @xxshiftlockxx 4 месяца назад

    With the upper triple clamp pinch bolts still tight, how will the forks rotate inside the clamps to straighten everything out?

  • @just_guy4501
    @just_guy4501 Год назад +1

    My bike veers off to the right when I let go of both hands, what could be a reason for it?

  • @enchantingstayskodai
    @enchantingstayskodai Год назад

    Nice info bro I have this problem on my fz25 not even my local mechanic is able to recognise the problem

  • @ridinghightidesindia6847
    @ridinghightidesindia6847 5 месяцев назад

    This method will only work with tripple clamp pinch bolt on top , if it's in side then chassis neck will slid off from tripple tree

  • @timmychen6
    @timmychen6 Год назад

    Useful for enduro ride.
    Just loose axle holding bolt and lower triple clamp. Compress the forks a few times. Lock all bolts back.
    That’s how you do it in the dirt. Coz there’s no way you carry a bike stand and torque wrench out for a ride.

  • @southbayla3137
    @southbayla3137 Год назад

    Thank you for this videos. Hopefully this will help most people with motorcycles and can ams

  • @RAF238thCdr84
    @RAF238thCdr84 Год назад

    If you've tweaked those forks enough so it won't go back straight just by moderately twisting the handlebars with one side of the front axle clamp loose and the front wheel held straight something is most likely bent.

  • @hks6546
    @hks6546 Год назад

    If after this process the wheel is still pointing one side, you can assume a fork leg is bent?

  • @love4boost
    @love4boost Год назад

    This is perfect. My bike has been sitting on the rear stand out of alignment since my accident

  • @HDSME
    @HDSME Год назад

    No gauge? Or bar to align it just push it back I use a string under both wheels I some times use a lasor u der the wheels to make sure they track right

  • @donnie7013
    @donnie7013 4 дня назад

    I can not for the love of everything find the torque specifics for my triple tree. I have scoured the internet and my manual.
    Guess I’m just gonna have to ride with it all jacked

  • @fire.smok3
    @fire.smok3 10 месяцев назад

    Thx for this