2012 Roadster Handling

Thanks, I know about counter-steering, (and torque reaction - 'twas the first thing I noticed when I blipped the throttle when buying this), but the pressure I need to keep on the bars in a turn is much more than that. If I ease off the pressure the bike does straighten up, (or tighten up depending on speed) regardless of throttle. My Harley (heavy, but not in the same league as the R) feels a LOT more stable.

I'll have another look at the fork tops, if the black area I thought was a rubber seal turns out to be the black fork outer tubes then they are a wee bit high, and a wee bit unequal. I'll try dropping them to level and see what happens - shouldn't be too hard..........<space reserved for hindsight comments>. Although I'm reasonable with a spanner, I've never had to remove or work on forks so forgive any seemingly daft questions.

Fork drop isn't the issue based on those photos. The Roadster handles like a smaller bike than it is. If you're accelerating out of a turn the bike will stand up, as @Jhortz described, but you shouldn't have to fight to hold it in a turn. As I and others have suggested, I think you have a bad front tire. Go about 30mph and, OK, don't fully let go, but make your hands a big enough "C" shape around the grips that you are barely touching. Does it shake and shimmy? I have a feeling it might

Journeyman said:

Fork drop isn't the issue based on those photos. The Roadster handles like a smaller bike than it is. If you're accelerating out of a turn the bike will stand up, as @Jhortz described, but you shouldn't have to fight to hold it in a turn. As I and others have suggested, I think you have a bad front tire. Go about 30mph and, OK, don't fully let go, but make your hands a big enough "C" shape around the grips that you are barely touching. Does it shake and shimmy? I have a feeling it might

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Tried that, but it's stable in a straight line. I hope you're not (but have a horrible feeling you may be) right, let me try all the other options before spending wads-a-dosh on a tyre.

All - mucho thanks for all the input. I dropped the fork tubes to where the manual shows, pics attached. Oddly, when I loosened the pinch bolts at the bottom of the fork, the fork sprung out 1-2mm, so something was definitely misaligned. The odd steering is still there but MUCH reduced based on a quick test ride, I could actually start enjoying what few bends we have round here again!

I have a need for further advice though, 2 things:

The manual shows the fork bottom pinch bolts on the left fork, whereas on mine they're on the right. I know the Touring is different.... any clues here? Do I have a bodged up bitsa on my hands?

I was going to take the 3" risers back to stock, but couldn't figure out how to get at the mounting bolt underneath the top yoke. Has anybody done this, and does it mean I have to remove the yoke (which I'd REALLY rather avoid).

Heidhurtin said:

All - mucho thanks for all the input. I dropped the fork tubes to where the manual shows, pics attached. Oddly, when I loosened the pinch bolts at the bottom of the fork, the fork sprung out 1-2mm, so something was definitely misaligned. The odd steering is still there but MUCH reduced based on a quick test ride, I could actually start enjoying what few bends we have round here again!

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Sounds like the forks were twisted. Any sign that the bike has gone down before? Anyway, assuming you've got the twist out it could now be that that relatively new tire is worn unevenly due to riding with the forks out of alignment. P.s. Be sure to bounce the front end up and down to reset the forks before tightening the pinch bolts. You can do by yourself by holding and releasing the front brake while on the bike and rocking it up and down.

On the Roadster and my 3R the pinch bolts are on the right side of the bike (rider's position).

Journeyman said:

Sounds like the forks were twisted. Any sign that the bike has gone down before? Anyway, assuming you've got the twist out it could now be that that relatively new tire is worn unevenly due to riding with the forks out of alignment. P.s. Be sure to bounce the front end up and down to reset the forks before tightening the pinch bolts. You can do by yourself by holding and releasing the front brake while on the bike and rocking it up and down.

On the Roadster and my 3R the pinch bolts are on the right side of the bike (rider's position).

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Thanks Journeyman. This is the manual pic which created my WTF moment. Odd, it also shows 2 mounting holes for the bar mounts, whereas on mine there's a single hole in the top yoke. Could the manual be..... <shock, horror> inaccurate?

I suspect you're right, the bike's been dropped previously, there are some marks on the engine guards, and the right hand muffler shows some tarmac induced modification. Do you think there's a need for the fork bouncing thing after having all pinch bolts loosened with the front jacked up, forks moved, then tightened again before lowering the wheel to the ground? I could do it the way you describe but would I need to engage a buddy to tighten the pinch bolts while I held the bike upright, or can I drop it onto the side stand then tighten?

(These questions may seem stupid, but I've never fiddled with the front of a bike).

Heidhurtin said:

Thanks Journeyman. This is the manual pic which created my WTF moment. Odd, it also shows 2 mounting holes for the bar mounts, whereas on mine there's a single hole in the top yoke. Could the manual be..... <shock, horror> inaccurate?

I suspect you're right, the bike's been dropped previously, there are some marks on the engine guards, and the right hand muffler shows some tarmac induced modification. Do you think there's a need for the fork bouncing thing after having all pinch bolts loosened with the front jacked up, forks moved, then tightened again before lowering the wheel to the ground? I could do it the way you describe but would I need to engage a buddy to tighten the pinch bolts while I held the bike upright, or can I drop it onto the side stand then tighten?

(These questions may seem stupid, but I've never fiddled with the front of a bike).

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I was going by memory about my '11 Roadster, but found a photo to confirm and it does, like yours, have the pinch bolts on the right. When I had that bike I started a thread here (somewhere) that included errors in the manual, but don't remember me or anyone catching that one. You may want to include that here...

I went down on my 3R a while back and it twisted the forks. I took the steps you did and it handles like new, so I think you've identified the problem. I just think the tire is bad now.
A friend of mine works for Cogent Suspensions and he told me about bouncing the front end. I do it upright and then place a block of 2 X 6 under the kickstand- might be more for the older Rockets to keep it *almost* upright. Then, carefully tighten those pinch bolts. A jack stand under the base of the right foot peg isn't a bad idea for a backup.

The manual I have is listed as "Part Number 3851160 Issue 1, 09 2007". The title says "Triumph Rocket III, Rocket III Classic and Rocket III Touring Service Manual". Downloaded from all-guides.com. One of the problems with downloading this stuff is I'm now unsure if it's the correct manual for a 2012 Roadster., there's not even a pic of the bike to give confidence. I'm happy to upload it on this site, but don't want to give duff info.

I uploaded the Roadster Supplement to Resources some time ago (page 1). The full manual used to be there too. If you search on this site you'll find someone who has the link to that. If I remember the manual would specify differences for the models when applicable.

Heidhurtin said:

was going to take the 3" risers back to stock, but couldn't figure out how to get at the mounting bolt underneath the top yoke. Has anybody done this, and does it mean I have to remove the yoke (which I'd REALLY rather avoid).

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Taking the head lights off will give you the room to remove the risers, just happens I have to do the same. Mines previous owner has fitted Tourer risers and I need to source some early risers..