I purchased this bike brand new from Superstition Harley Davidson in 2021. I noticed early on when riding on a straight freeway that the front end seemed to lean right. At first, I thought this was an optical allusion. Upon close inspection, I noticed that the fairing was tweaked to the left and actually rubbed on the clutch hydraulic line. (almost like someone from the factory or the dealer tried compensating for the front end "twist"). I took the bike in under warranty and requested that they properly align every thing up. They aligned the fairing of equal distance on both sides of the handlebars and is no longer rubbing on the clutch hydraulic clutch line. This exasperated the problem as now it REALLY appears that everything leans to the right. The bike does seem to go straight down the road. Harley Davidson Factory Tech told me that sometimes when the forks are "torqued down" at the factory that they will sometimes "twist" and that there was no adjustment available. That this issue is NOT a defect and that that's just "how it is" with some of these bikes. Now I can't seem to "un see" this while riding. Has anyone ever heard of this ? Any constructive input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Mike
2020 Street Glide Special Fairing & Handlebar Alignment Issues
Michael Walters
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I watched this YT video again, and once again paying close attention. Now I'm a bit confused as to why the Rep told you the SGS cannot be aligned like that??? The SGS has the same front end as does the Ultra. My Ultra mounts up the same as the Heritage, shown in the video... Unless some major change was done between the Rushmore and the M8 that i don't know about. The internals or guts of the forks differ, but how they mount.... IDK..
Edit: I agree with the guy in the video: Pumping the forks up and down is just furbulous exercise. I align the forks by loosening what he did, but with the wheel just elevated, then go nuts with a rubber mallet. Then drop the front back to earth while keeping everything upright with the jack. Then torque in sequence... Never had a problem with it. This is how i have aligned every set of forks i ever touched. I think it was called "Knocking the spring out of it" or something like that. One difference: I always keep both upper and lower Triple Tree pinch bolts tight on one side, while loosening the lower on one side, then reverse sides... So only one lower is loose at a time. I never loosen the upper unless making a height adjustment or removing the forks.
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If I bought this bike used, I would probably consider performing some type of alignment procedure, but this is a brand new bike with a factory warranty. I shouldn't have to put a wrench on it for stuff like this nor should I. The Harley Factory Rep indicated to me that he would NOT authorize or suggest that a Harley Tech attempt this type of alignment procedure like the guy in the video performed (Yes, I told them about this video at the time of my service as well) because then the bike would "NOT track down the road straight anymore." I don't know if that is true or that I agree with that. That's what he said.
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Wow, if it won't track right with the front end being straight... That only leave the back end being out of track.. Back to a crooked rear axle... Geez!
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There is definitely a "crooked" something but whenever I would use that word with the Service Manager or the Harley Davidson Factory Rep, (But NOT with the Service Writers) I got a LOT of push back. They both contend that they "don't see what I'm seeing" and that "most of their other Streetglides" are just like this anyway".....And when they say that, it seems to me that they DO see what I'm seeing...I really appreciate your time and effort in replying to this.
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I don't know about these latest generation of Harleys but i had a fork alignment issue with my '06 Nightrain. It was after i had the inverted forks replaced after minor mishap. I rode from California to Louisiana round trip and i had noticed my bike was leaning s bit to the right side. I thought maybe load distribution may have played as part or maybe the way i sat in the saddle. Nothing i did got rid of the lean. When i got back home in Cali , the tread was worn down on the right side of the front tire. Almost perfectly from the center of the tire all the way to the side wall. I was told at first that it was the fork oil level on the right fork was probably low meaning the seal was probably bad. Well that wasn't it. It turns out they had installed the forks without checking the alignment. The tubes we slightly askew in the triple trees. They fixed the alignment but never did replace my tire.
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Did you ever get this resolved?? If so, what was the resolution?
This is an older thread. But I always thought that the forks and fairing were misaligned on my 18' SGS. Turns out that it was my new glasses. My left eye has a bad stigmatism, so the lens in my glasses are different.
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