Author Topic: California 1400 pulling to the right (Read 4866 times)

Lcarlson · « **on:** July 01, 2015, 04:25:30 PM »

My new Cali 1400 pulls slightly to the right if I take my hands off the bars. Other than the obvious advice, is this a common phenomenon? I will have my dealer check the rear wheel alignment during the break-in service, but wonder how many people have experienced this.

El Pescador · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2015, 04:27:37 PM »

Mine does too.

rocker59 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2015, 04:38:45 PM »

It's common for Guzzis to pull right when you let your hands off the bars.

Engine rotation, engine offset in the chassis, blah, blah, blah.

"They all do that".

Triple Jim · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2015, 04:52:17 PM »

Not disagreeing with Rocker, but my Mille pulled to the right a lot less after I aligned the fork tubes carefully. Road crown is a factor, of course.

double.d · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2015, 05:47:45 PM »

Is this with cruise control engaged ?

Or just off throttle rolling along ?

Lcarlson · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2015, 06:24:26 PM »

The latter -- I haven't even tried the cruise yet

Wayne Orwig · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2015, 07:18:34 PM »

Assuming that you are keeping the throttle constant, like on cruise control, then check to see if any cables are 'tugging' on the handlebar. Try to jack it up so the front end flops back and forth and check it.

Lcarlson · « **Reply #7 on:** July 01, 2015, 08:51:01 PM »

I don't believe this has anything to do with the throttle/cruise. It's just what happens on hands-off deceleration.

father guzzi obrian · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2015, 09:05:43 PM »

When decelerating which you would be doing, you pull that way. Pete's Cali 1400 did the same, with cruise control on it went straight as an arrow. I think you find most bikes with any compression do the same when letting off the throttle and letting go of the bars.

Lcarlson · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2015, 09:16:33 PM »

Could be -- that's why I'm asking. FWIW, my R1150R tracks straight and true under the same conditions.

rodekyll · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2015, 09:38:34 PM »

Does the beemer maybe have some counter-rotating mass of some sort to negate that p-factor thing?

Since the rotating mass of the guzzi engine is in line with the direction of travel, it wants to rotate the bike around the crankshaft. This works good to hold you in a line -- as long as you keep the revs constant. As soon as the revs change the line you've got changes as well. In a curve that means your angle rises or drops. On a straight it means you yaw (pull left or right). P-factor. A joy reserved for the few, the proud, the shafted.

Lcarlson · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2015, 09:46:41 PM »

p-factor is a new concept for me :). But the Beemer is also a longitudinal engine, in my case with no counterbalancing.

Kent in Upstate NY · « **Reply #12 on:** July 01, 2015, 09:51:59 PM »

Handle bars are called that for a reason. Don't go looking for things to worry about.

Moto · « **Reply #13 on:** July 01, 2015, 10:04:33 PM »

My Griso pulls slightly to the right with the cruise control on. I just lean slightly to the left to counteract it. I suppose it could be the crown of the road causing it, but it doesn't bother me.

Lcarlson · « **Reply #14 on:** July 01, 2015, 10:05:41 PM »

True that.

frans belgium · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2015, 01:50:53 AM »

Different reaction according to direction in which you're heading?
Might have something to do with the curve of the earth

rodekyll · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2015, 02:18:59 AM »

Quote from: Lcarlson on July 01, 2015, 09:46:41 PM

p-factor is a new concept for me :). But the Beemer is also a longitudinal engine, in my case with no counterbalancing.

"P" for propeller. It's the tendency for an airplane to want to spin while the propeller stays put. Ever noticed those wwII films where the carrier planes always tip a wing as they leave the deck?

mtiberio · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2015, 06:42:10 AM »

lean off the bike to the left?
load the left saddle bag with tools?
move swingarm on the frame to the right?

Penderic · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2015, 07:35:26 AM »

My Goldwing would always pull to the right too. I loaded the saddlebags differently to compensate and forgot about it.
My Honda ST1100 didnt track properly either - I tried re- aligning, re-tightening, and experimenting, and got the tracking a little better. It was a powerful but bland riding experience on that one.

They both had counter-rotating alternators, so blipping the throttle did not cause the bike to react. The ST1100 exhaust was so embarrassing awful the manly act of blipping was pointless.

Back to the present. I like the Guzzis reaction much better.... its kinda like I am tickling something alive.

And the lusty sound of my V7C Mistrals .......

rboe · « **Reply #19 on:** July 02, 2015, 11:07:59 AM »

Quote from: Triple Jim on July 01, 2015, 04:52:17 PM

Not disagreeing with Rocker, but my Mille pulled to the right a lot less after I aligned the fork tubes carefully. Road crown is a factor, of course.

My money is on road crown.

LowRyter · « **Reply #20 on:** July 02, 2015, 11:14:02 AM »

Sounds like the bike is truly defective.

I'll take it off your hands for $5k. I should be able to fix it for the difference and you can put the $5k on a new Beemer.

win-win

I am just here to help.

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Author Topic: California 1400 pulling to the right (Read 4866 times)

Lcarlson

Lcarlson

Lcarlson

father guzzi obrian

Lcarlson

Lcarlson

Moto

Lcarlson

Penderic