[kickstarts]

Maybe it's just me, but it seems almost every Sportster I've been on during my riding career wants to fall to the left when it's standing upright.

Does anyone notice the same thing or am I the problem?

This thread is goofy I know but I've noticed this for years.

 

[Motor Mike]

Mine hangs to the left.

 

[kickstarts]

Mine hangs to the left.

But can you use it for a kickstand.

 

[shovithead]

Primary weight, outweighs the cam side. Same with a BT.

 

[thefrenchowl]

shovithead: Primary weight, outweighs the cam side.

Probably more to do with engine being offset about 1" to the left???

Patrick

 

[FlameThrower]

Between the engine offset to the left and the primary side is definitely heavier and "overhangs" more... they seem to always fall to the fell. I have purchased at least a dozen salvage-title Sportys over the years and they LITERALLY tend to fall to the left... almost every salvage Sporty that I've owned which ended up on the ground ended up on its left side!

 

[Loffer]

primary weight, outweighs the cam side. Same with a bt.

. +2. We could say every post 69 american v - twin does too.

 

[chevelle]

Probably more to do with engine being offset about 1" to the left???

Patrick

+1, its even worse with the 82-up rear mount.

 

[Dr. Benway]

almost every salvage Sporty that I've owned which ended up on the ground ended up on its left side!

Think that might have something to do with it leaning on the left side kickstand?

 

[kickstarts]

I've measured the engine offset on a few Sportster models over the years and they're definately to the left of the case centerline but wouldn't you think a motorcycle factory would engineer the bike to "balance" upright?

I've posed this question to a few Sportster owners and they said that they'd never noticed before.

I don't have much experience with any other brand of motorcycle but do other manufacturers have the same weight offset problem?

 

[shovithead]

The factory tried to offset the offcentered motor, by putting the brakes and other parts on the right side. Hell, been riding sportsters since the late 60s, and never worried about it. Anybody want to trash their sportsters, I take all donations. Shipping is on me. lol

 

[kickstarts]

The factory tried to offset the offcentered motor, by putting the brakes and other parts on the right side. Hell, been riding sportsters since the late 60s, and never worried about it. Anybody want to trash their sportsters, I take all donations. Shipping is on me. lol

Oh, I'm not worried about it. I've been riding Sportsters almost exclusively for decades and I absolutely love them. I started a winter project lately and I went to move it and it rekindled my observation.

I guess my question should have been "Why did HD not balance their bikes"?

 

[MeanMike]

Under power it balances itself.

 

[kickstarts]

Under power it balances itself.

I agree with you, but taking off and coming to a stop and just sitting at a light it's still unbalanced. I'm just wondering if this is the norm across the motorcycle world or is the unbalanced bike thing just an HD option.

 

[hogster]

I never noticed,now that you bring it up .I'll probably have a problem ,If I veer into oncoming traffic it's you're fault.there should be a warning about threads of this nature....

 

[thefrenchowl]

Ah... offset Sporty, why oh why!!!

Sporty came from the K, K engine is also offset (but was narrower on the left side, smaller clutch pack...)

After thinking about it long and hard, it comes down to one thing...

K/KH/Sporty have the same rear chain line as the WL, about 94mm from wheel centre... Put another gear in the gear box and keep the same chain offset means offsetting the whole engine to the left.

But why would they want to keep the same chain line as the WL? Probably to do with the WR and KR that shared a lot of the same components, rear wheel, hubs, sprockets... That's the only logical answer I could come up with... Not to forget as well that in flat tracking, where you always turn on the left, it makes the bike easier to steer on that side...

Which brings the next conandrum... In the H-D Engineering Dept, which was 1st on the drawings, the K or the KR!!! (there are other clues in the engine, K and Sporty alike, that point to the KR being the 1st...)

If anyone has a better explanation, I'm all ears!!!

Patrick

 

[Tman]

Thats easy, they were built to turn left, on dirt!

 

[opaka lips]

Below the equator they fall to the right!

 

[Friday]

yea thats a good one.....what about drag bikes ? the torque screws them over when they launch.
Dont know enough about sporties but thought maybe thats it ..right hand chain makes up for it...? belt pri any diff ?
power to weight?
dont shaft drive bikes twist? ...christ what a mystery

 

[kickstarts]

Ah... offset Sporty, why oh why!!!

Sporty came from the K, K engine is also offset (but was narrower on the left side, smaller clutch pack...)

After thinking about it long and hard, it comes down to one thing...

K/KH/Sporty have the same rear chain line as the WL, about 94mm from wheel centre... Put another gear in the gear box and keep the same chain offset means offsetting the whole engine to the left.

But why would they want to keep the same chain line as the WL? Probably to do with the WR and KR that shared a lot of the same components, rear wheel, hubs, sprockets... That's the only logical answer I could come up with... Not to forget as well that in flat tracking, where you always turn on the left, it makes the bike easier to steer on that side...

Which brings the next conandrum... In the H-D Engineering Dept, which was 1st on the drawings, the K or the KR!!! (there are other clues in the engine, K and Sporty alike, that point to the KR being the 1st...)

If anyone has a better explanation, I'm all ears!!!

Patrick

All good points...I'm inclined to see it your way.