1990 pulls to the left and vibrates while leaning right

[lxpeery]

Just picked up a new to me GL1500 with 57,000 miles. The bike runs spectacularly but there's a noticeable pull to the left when letting go of the handlebars at speed and a tangible and almost audible vibration when leaning to the right. Vibration seems to be worse after braking into a turn and seems to vary in intensity, though the vibration doesn't come with a reduction in speed so I don't think it's a brake dragging. I've looked at the tires and there doesn't seem to be any cupping, they're also dated 2019 with reportedly no more than several thousand miles on them. Doesn't seem to be a tire issue unless they're out of balance.

Where should I start looking? I bought the bike specifically for one road trip so my willingness to load the parts cannon is pretty low but I'd also rather not end up street pizza on 95.

Thanks in advance!

[GTBrandon]

I had an old shadow that pulled to the right and vibrated while leaning left, never could figure it out. Ended up just selling the bike and buying a new one, could be your best bet brother

[Rambozo]

What tires are on it?
Put it up on the center stand, check for play in the following: front wheel bearings, steering stem bearings, rear wheel bearings, swingarm bearings.

Very first thing, check tire pressures.

[Sassy]

What an absolute noob. This is a serious forum for real gold wingers. Smh

First post on the forum and its an insult at someone,,, what up??

[GTBrandon]

What tires are on it?
Put it up on the center stand, check for play in the following: front wheel bearings, steering stem bearings, rear wheel bearings, swingarm bearings.

Very first thing, check tire pressures.

Good idea on this, going to do this procedure on mine just as a general check of everything. Honestly should do it on all my bikes more often, but late is better than never!

[gford]

What an absolute noob. This is a serious forum for real gold wingers. Smh

You going to tell us what got you pissed off, I didn't see any comment that would cause an insult like you gave.

[joecoolsuncle]

somebody has too many stickers on his helmet. that sickness is self curing

[gford]

What an absolute noob. This is a serious forum for real gold wingers. Smh

You going to tell us what got you pissed off, I didn't see any comment that would cause an insult like you gave.

Your existence is what’s pissing me off, noob

welcome to the form, lots of help here for members, fortunately you won't be here very long.

[WingAdmin]

Bigdaddygw earns the notoriety of being the first user of this site, with over 94,000 members and 15 years of operation, who I have deleted and banned outright for repeated offensive posts, no warning, just gone.

Unfortunately, he joined and posted while I was on vacation, so I didn't get to blow him away until today. Sorry about that.

[Sassy]

We kinda wondered where you went. I personally thought you were sitting on the crapper,,

[Sadanorakman]

After all the nonsense of the rogue poster, if we get back in track....

I've known a bad tire to pull to one side.

It could similarly be down to much more hideous problems such as:
- a bent fork,
-twisted frame,
-one fork sitting more compressed than the other due to a mismatch in spring tension between the two.
-Worn trailing arm bearings (unlikely)
- trailing arm bearings fitted in wrong sides.

The fact that you get vibration when laying her over to one side only, sounds like a damaged wheel bearing on one side. Can you tell if that vibration eminates from the front or rear of the bike?

[WingAdmin]

We kinda wondered where you went. I personally thought you were sitting on the crapper,,

Not quite.

[Rambozo]

I get the feeling that's not winter in Ohio?

[Sassy]

I get the feeling that's not winter in Ohio?

Sure as H it isnt Canada!

[RIPUneleven]

After all the nonsense of the rogue poster, if we get back in track....

I've known a bad tire to pull to one side.

It could similarly be down to much more hideous problems such as:
- a bent fork,
-twisted frame,
-one fork sitting more compressed than the other due to a mismatch in spring tension between the two.
-Worn trailing arm bearings (unlikely)
- trailing arm bearings fitted in wrong sides.

The fact that you get vibration when laying her over to one side only, sounds like a damaged wheel bearing on one side. Can you tell if that vibration eminates from the front or rear of the bike?

My RHS fork seal gave out the other day, along with both brake master cylinders LOL the wonders of resting bikes....I noticed the same vibration while turning same as if the tyres were scallopped out. Could be worth a check.

[az1103]

My first thought was RHF shock seal.

[Whystay]

Could it be a worn u joint in the drive shaft? That manifests typically as a low rumble (more felt than heard) when on a neutral throttle and slowing down.
Mine does this.

[phlaug]

Very first thing, check tire pressures.

Are there any balancing weights on the front wheel? If so, I would also remove any and all to get a baseline. If there are none, sounds likes some may be needed.

But tire pressure is indeed first and most important. (For the track I’ve stopped bothering to even balance my rear tires—they aren’t on long enough to matter and it’s not like I’m out there for a smooth ride anyway, but on a street bike you can feel an unbalanced mount…)

[newday777]

Just picked up a new to me GL1500 with 57,000 miles. The bike runs spectacularly but there's a noticeable pull to the left when letting go of the handlebars at speed and a tangible and almost audible vibration when leaning to the right. Vibration seems to be worse after braking into a turn and seems to vary in intensity, though the vibration doesn't come with a reduction in speed so I don't think it's a brake dragging. I've looked at the tires and there doesn't seem to be any cupping, they're also dated 2019 with reportedly no more than several thousand miles on them. Doesn't seem to be a tire issue unless they're out of balance.

Where should I start looking? I bought the bike specifically for one road trip so my willingness to load the parts cannon is pretty low but I'd also rather not end up street pizza on 95.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome aboard the forum lxperry

Have you done anything to rectify this problem since you posted this almost a month ago and there's been no reply from you?
You have already been given some things to inspect on your new to you wing.
(it's not good on your part to leave your thread hanging as it doesn't help others that read through your thread later on using a search looking for answers to their problems of similar kind)

Do you do your own work on your bike(s)?
What are your abilities on working on your bike(s)? You haven't introduced yourself and your bike in the new members section yet, so we don't know anything about you.

When I get a used bike my practice is to go through each maintenance wear item with good inspection to get familiar with a bike and replace any worn parts needing attention. What have you done so far?

[bbrackett]

Hi,

I did a rear end check on mine, found my rear axel nut about 1/2" out.

but this issue, sounds like your the dampeners on the Rear Wheel Flange maybe, a right turn would stress them, though, I would think a left would as well
if the wheel is not centered, that causes pull as well, that was my issue, I had play left to right on the axel about 1/2" .. not good

[JDA2740]

I put a "Super Brace" on my front forks. 2000 GL1500SE

[dj norm]

Hi there

I had one gl1500 who pulled to the left very weird yes , what cured mine is bike on center stand support engine to take all weight from front wheel inspect all components repair if required and if all is in good condition loos all bolt retaining forks and wheel recentre and retighten as per shop manual starting at top to bottom to take the stress off sume time create during assembly of components in the pass . Precial attention to the sequence if tighting of front shaft there is a line on the left side follow shop manual it did cure mine .

Ps mine had new bearing stems and new for seal and oil. I guess Honda had a bad day and stressed the front end .

Good luck and keep us informed ciao

[newday777]

Hi there

I had one gl1500 who pulled to the left very weird yes , what cured mine is bike on center stand support engine to take all weight from front wheel inspect all components repair if required and if all is in good condition loos all bolt retaining forks and wheel recentre and retighten as per shop manual starting at top to bottom to take the stress off sume time create during assembly of components in the pass . Precial attention to the sequence if tighting of front shaft there is a line on the left side follow shop manual it did cure mine .

Ps mine had new bearing stems and new for seal and oil. I guess Honda had a bad day and stressed the front end .

Good luck and keep us informed ciao

Most likely it was the last person to put the wheel on after service.

[Fatboy46]

sounds like a brake dragging on the disc- maybe wheel not centered- or a pure brake issue.

[plain]

Rubber bushing on left shock is gone. Like mine!