Newbie fork question

[Catworst]

I have an 89 UK exup and I was told the forks were bent as the right fork seems to sit slightly further forward (the headstock is asymmetrical), so I bought another set and they are exactly the same... Is this some weird design? Apologies if the answer is obvious, I am a cretin

[rotortech]

I have an 89 UK exup and I was told the forks were bent as the right fork seems to sit slightly further forward (the headstock is asymmetrical), so I bought another set and they are exactly the same... Is this some weird design? Apologies if the answer is obvious, I am a cretin

Forks should be straight. And what do you mean by: (the headstock is asymmetrical) ?

When you say that the replacement fork is bent are you judging by the forward position or have you checked it against a straight edge? It sounds like you have a bent frame or bent triple upper or lower clamp.

[_Will_]

I think he may be referring to the fact that one fork is a hair longer than the other where the pinch bolt is

[Stig]

could be twisted bottom yolk

[Catworst]

I've had 2 different front ends (different yolks, forks, wheel etc) and both are like this. The headstock kind of kicks up to the right (looking at it top down) on both, so the appearace is that the right fork sits slightly forward. The forks appear straight and undamaged.

[rotortech]

By your description I believe your frame is bent. Everything should be centered and symmetrical.

[DonTZ125]

The problem may be the front end itself. Checking this is the work of a short afternoon, aided by good friends and good beer.

Strip the front end - pull the wheel, forks and triples. Check the sliders (shiny parts on the forks) with a straight edge. Are they straight?

Install the legs into the triples, snug but not torqued. Do the legs still look crooked, compared to each other? A bent triple CAN be straightened, carefully, by hand, using the legs as levers - just don't bend the legs while doing it!

Re-install the front end complete, with everything finger-snug. Torque the lower triple bolts, then grab the brakes and bounce the front end a few times. Torque the axle, bounce. Torque the axle pinch bolts and the head bearings, bounce. Torque the upper triple clamp. (It almost takes longer to describe than to do)

How does it look now? There are so many parts in the front end, each with its own running and manufacturing clearances, that it isn't that hard to assemble it crooked.

If it STILL looks crooked, then your frame is bent. It is possible to straighten your frame at home using a utility trailer, some pipe and a couple of come-alongs, but it really isn't for the faint of heart. (Now WHERE did I put those DIY straightening articles... )

[DonTZ125]

I've had 2 different front ends (different yolks, forks, wheel etc) and both are like this. The headstock kind of kicks up to the right (looking at it top down) on both, so the appearace is that the right fork sits slightly forward. The forks appear straight and undamaged.

... and I need to clean my reading glasses ...