Cannot hands-off!

[Greybeard]

Chaps,

If I try to ride my bike with hands off the bars it tries to steer left. Why?

[lawnmowerman]

Rear wheel alignment?

If not try putting your wallet in the other pocket and see if it steers that way 

Jim

[muskrat]

Yep, pull axle back on the left side, forward on the right. Just a tad.
Cheers

[Greybeard]

Rear wheel alignment?

If not try putting your wallet in the other pocket and see if it steers that way 

Jim

 

[Greybeard]

Yep, pull axle back on the left side, forward on the right. Just a tad.
Cheers

Thanks guys; I thought that must be the reason. I'll have to try and be more accurate when tightening the chain. I know there is a thread here about various methods of aligning the wheels but so far I've just squinted along the side of the tyres, (or in the USA, tires).

[BSA_54A10]

There are other things that can cause it as well like cables too tight.
Even cables bound too tight to the frame can act as a spring
One bike we fixed veered off because the seat was broken on one side so the rider had a lean which caused the bike to run off.
Bike beesa
Trevor

[A10Boy]

Could be a slight twist in the frame. Has it ever pulled a chair? Can you feel it when riding normally as in with hands on the bars? The rear sprocket needs to align with the run of the chain or it will wear on the side.

 

[Jules]

I had this problem years ago on my A7 and it turned out to be the bearings in the steering head, the steering was a bit sticky/notchy with the wheel off the ground, but seemed ok when driving normally, unless I went hands free!.......

[Greybeard]

Could be a slight twist in the frame. Has it ever pulled a chair? Can you feel it when riding normally as in with hands on the bars? The rear sprocket needs to align with the run of the chain or it will wear on the side.

 

I cannot feel any pull when riding normally and can do hand signals with confidence. The bike did come to me with a sidecar chassis so you may have a point there.

[chaterlea25]

Hi All
Tyre wear/type and road camber also have a big effect on hands off

HTH
John