Well I think this is the bearings at the Triple but not sure.

I have a 2003 Vee with 35K miles and last week I dropped off a curb 2 up and a little while later I noticed the bike wants to go left when I let pressure off of the handle bars. There is also a very slight steering wobble almost not noticeable when not holding firm. Tires are less than a Year old and good tread.

My thoughts are bad bearings in the triple or the front axle but I guess I cant rule out anything. What about triple misalignment from drop. I was turning left off the curb when I dropped.

It's not so bad you cant ride it even 1 handed but I would like to nip it in the bud if I can.

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2003 DL1000, 2005 DRZ-400s, 1984 Trail 110
Everything looks better from inside a motorcycle helmet!

Misalignment is at the top of the list with those symptoms. Here's a quick and dirty possible fix.

Prop the bike up so the front wheel is is slightly off the ground. Loosen the the big nut at the top of the steering stem triple clamp. Then loosen pinch bolts on the top triple clamp. Make sure the pinch bolts on the bottom triple clamp are tight. 16.5lb-ft is the spec. Lightly tap the top triple clamp all around. A rubber mallet is good for that but a hammer with a few layers of thick cloth rubber banded onto the head is fine. That should free any binding and allow the fork tubes to locate the top triple clamp. Tighten the top triple clamp pinch bolts. Then tighten the big nut. It's best to bear against the top triple clamp at the left fork tube when tightening the top nut rather than the steering stop on the lower triple clamp. Finally, loosen and re-tighten the top pinch bolts.

If that doesn't do it, the fork tubes may be bent. Further dis-assembly and checking can be required. A sheet of plate glass is a handy tool to make sure the upper fork tube are on the same plane.

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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A is just getting started.
Nicknames for posting ease on my part, Vee = all DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 DL650s. Glee = 2012+ DL650s

Just to add to what Greywolf said: you might also want to also loosen the bolts that tighten the steering head bearings (under the big nut on the steering stem mentioned above. You may need to purchase or make a special tool for it) and then tighten them and everything else up again. That fixed the pulling to one side issue on my 2006 after a crash.

..Tom

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Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650: 202,000 km 125,500 miles, 2012 DL650 New March 2012 50,000 km


Why Cars don't see bikes (SMIDSY)
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For your safety, consider a preventer strap pulling the center stand forward so it can't collapse while you're working on the bike. Ropes over garage ceiling joists or any way to keep the bike from falling over is smart.

Take a very good look at the front. Remove as much plastic as needed to be able to sight down the fork tubes looking for a bent tube or misaligned forks.

While the front wheel is off the ground, loosen the front axle. If it'll turn easy and is ready to slide out, great. If not, when things are loosened as GW describes, grab the bottom of the forks and push one/pull the other to get them aligned. Bash away with the rubber hammer if needed. When done, a fork brace would be a good addition if you don't already have one.

If the axle can be easily removed and re-inserted, try taking off the fork spring cap, take the brake caliper off, remove the axle, and stroke the fork leg up & down. Does it move smoothly? If not, you have something there to fix. If everything is OK you might change the fork oil--you're halfway into the job.

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2007 DL650A Whee! (SV cam transplant)

Manage the unavoidable.
Avoid the unmanageable.

Thanks for the advice I think I am going to need all I can get.

Given all that I think I am going to go with my gut and ride it (barring any more problems) carefully until mid June when I can tear the whole front down, my son doesn't need to go to school so I can ride my dirt bike to work. I'll replace the wheel and steering bearing change the fork springs and rebuild them.

I guess that's when to man up and buy the fork brace right, don't you have to take the forks off for that?

I'll research it later, but how (generically) do you realign the triple after taking it all apart?

__________________
2003 DL1000, 2005 DRZ-400s, 1984 Trail 110
Everything looks better from inside a motorcycle helmet!

The triple tee pretty much aligns itself when the forks are put in, and if they are already in (as yours are right now) then the loosening will allow the forks to align the triple tee. Really you are just loosening everything and letting it settle to where it naturally wants to go. If you have the tools to do the big bolt Greywolf mentions and the steering head nuts you really are looking at about a 20 minute job to set your steering right. Since you haven’t done it before set aside an hour to be safe. I futzed around with mine for several months before doing what I mentioned above and it fixed it completely. I was surprised how little time it actually took. I don't think I'd want to wait...the steering head bearings are a much more involved procedure and I think it is better to do one fix at a time.

Get the steering sorted out, ride it and later on do the bearings.

..Tom

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Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650: 202,000 km 125,500 miles, 2012 DL650 New March 2012 50,000 km


Why Cars don't see bikes (SMIDSY)
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I doubt you hurt a bearing, or bent a wheel. I imagine that "launching off" a curb, two up, and landing at a slight angle could have tweaked your front tubes enough to make the bike pull a bit to the left. It's all leverage, and on a big heavy two up bike, those fork tubes could easily twist a bit in the clamps.

I can attest from my MX days, from wiping out that the fork tubes can get a little twisted from seemingly minor "events". I usually did a mid race field repair by using my legs to hold the front wheel in place (when you're perpetually doomed to mid-pack or worse, losing a little more time to get your bike feeling happy is of no concern!], then yank the handlebar so the front end straightens out sufficiently - I doubt my 45 year old knees would like that these days, so perhaps you need to do the front end triple clamp loosen/tighten align thingie in your garage.

Try the easiest fix first!

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"Side effects may include: Mild kidney explosions...Testicular cranberrying... And Rectal hallucinations."

I had a lot of advice in the 4 or 5 months I lived with the bike pulling, and one was to loosen the top nut and the forks (a bit) and bang the front tire against a brick wall. It seemed to help a little bit but didn't cure it.

..Tom

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Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650: 202,000 km 125,500 miles, 2012 DL650 New March 2012 50,000 km


Why Cars don't see bikes (SMIDSY)
SMIDSY detailed report