R1100RT fork question

[IKIMURA]

My front tire seems to wear bad on the right side. The bike seems to turn left if I take both hands off the bars. So I am thinking there is different pressure in the forks. Were or how do I check the pressure on this bike forks?

[eddd]

Please tell us the model of your bike.

[IKIMURA]

Sorry its a 2001

[eddd]

I realize you are posting in the oilhead section, but just to confirm, which 2001 model are we talking about?

 

[Mark K]

He/she has filled out the profile now.

 

2001 R1100RT

[IKIMURA]

Yes sir its a 2001 R1100RT.

[eddd]

The forks on your RT are very different from traditional forks found on most motorcycles. There are no springs or cartridges in the forks. The strut above the wheel handles the suspension duties. The forks basically just hold the wheel in place.

 

The turn to the left is common to most of the RTs. There are several theories on why they do that.

 

Try a Google search for an explanation of how the system works. Some get a bit technical, so if you hit on one of those you might look for one that doesn't go into so much detail.

 

Telelever

[dirtrider]

Morning IKIMURA

 

Tire wear on the R/H side of the front tire is a bit unusual for the BMW 1100RT (it's usually on the left side). So first we need to define what is "right side" to you.

 

SO, are you talking about the "shift lever side" or the "foot brake side"? Vehicle side is always in relation to sitting in or on the seat looking forward. This will put us all on the same page.

 

Now on the pressure difference between fork sides. As mentioned above on your BMW 1100RT there is no springs or dampening inside the fork legs so there is an air space in there. That pressure inside the fork legs is very low as it can go no higher than atmospheric pressure at full fork leg extension then expanded by whatever heat is present around the fork legs & fork compression at nominal ride height. (still very low)

 

Due to the very low initial pressure (basically atmospheric) inside the fork tubes & the very slight difference that can occur between sides the pressure differences inside your fork tubes is not nearly enough to bend both that hefty axle & fork bridge & cause the front wheel to lean. (basically your tire wear isn't due to air pressure difference in the front forks)

 

But to answer your question about checking the pressure in the forks you really can't. There are small air bleeder plugs at the very top of the upper fork tubes to allow bleeding after initial assembly but those are only accessible after the top of the fork is loosened from the upper triple tree & lowered down a bit.

 

To find out what is wearing your tire, first get some help then lean your bike over to put the center of the tire wear area flat on the ground. That is the lean angle that the bike was at to wear the tire in that area. Now just figure out what you are doing to lean the bike to that angle while riding. A motorcycle is a single track vehicle so basically steers by leaning so when a tire wears off center that is caused by that leaning.

 

Just so you can understand why you can't wear it off center riding straight down the road try leaning the bike over to that same angle while riding straight down the road (you will quickly get the idea).

 

[Michaelr11]

My front tire seems to wear bad on the right side. The bike seems to turn left if I take both hands off the bars.

Is this the first tire you have worn out on this bike, or has this happened repeatedly? When you install your front tire, make sure you "bounce" the front suspension several times with the wheel installed but before you tighten the axle pinch bolts. No front brake ... hold the bike still with the rear brake. This exercise is supposed to make sure that there is no twist in the fork/axle assembly.

[IKIMURA]

Ding ding! I get the idiot award. The tire wear is on left side and the bike vears right. This is my third set of tires. I have been getting 4000 for front tires. I will try to bounce the bike. Man its kinda heavy though!

[dirtrider]

Morning IKIMURA

 

 

Left side front tire wear on the BMW 1100RT is pretty normal for some riders.

 

You can check a lot of things, & chase a lot of could be's, loosen & shake about anything you want but the bottom line is 'THE PART ON THE TIRE THAT IS WEARING MUST BE TOUCHING THE GROUND TO WEAR'. Is your front tire leaning that far over while riding straight down the road? (I seriously doubt it)

 

So do as I suggested above & get some help to lean the bike over until the center part of the wear is flat on the ground (that will give you the lean of the bike when the tire wear is taking place).

Then just figure out what you are doing to lean the bike to that angle to wear the tire in that area. (want do you want to bet it is L/H turns, left hand curves, & tight left hand parking lot turns.

 

To stop some of that L/H front tire wear-- quit making L/H "U" turns to turn around, make right hand turns into parking spots (not L/H turns), & the biggie- start squaring up your L/H turns at intersections (quit cutting the corner short & ride in farther then make a slower sharper left hand turn more like the slower sharper R/H turns).

 

[OldBMWMaster]

Just ride it; they all do that. I have over 140,000 on a 1996 R1100RT and have gone through every brand/type tire you can imagine and tried all kinds of things to get it to wear evenly;l it is not going to happen. Ride it until you need a new set; then do it all over again.

[David R]

All my bikes wear the left side more than the right. Its ME!

 

On my 2000RT I have no chicken strip on the left and a small one on the right. I have dragged the left peg and never the right.

 

I like it when the sides wear out before the middle.

 

David

[mikeR1100R]

4000 miles doesn't seem like much to get out of a front tire. Do the roads where you ride have steep crowns? Maybe you always have a strong wind blowing from your left