Bent handlebars

I recently test-drove a Maxim 700, and although it was in pretty good shape I immediately noticed I had to "steer left" to go straight. Not too much, it felt like about 15-20 degrees. Looked like the left handlebar was bent backward (rear left signal was bent too, perhaps like the bike fell over; the muffler wasn't scraped, though).

So here's a question: it felt harder--at very slow speed--to turn the bike to the left, much easier to turn it to the right. Could this be just perception due to the crooked handlebars? They can be replaced or straightened fairly easily, but if there's someone odd in the frame I want to avoid this bike. I didn't see any issues in the fork or frame. Anyone have any experience here?

 

might be worth a look from in front of the bike to see if the front wheel lines up centrally on the bike, even better to get a straight edge either side of the back wheel & compare the gap to the front wheel (remember there will be a gap both sides as it's narrower, you're just looking for an equal gap)

 

15 - 20 degrees is A LOT! The steering stop is at 60 degrees or so - you're talking about 1/4 to 1/3 of a maximum.

If the frame were bent enough to cause that you'd be able to see it from a mile away. I suspect you're having trouble with a tight turn left because the bar gets too close to you. I'd bet money the tree is twisted and maybe fork tubes bent.

Sight across the fork tubes from the side. If they're not parallel it'll be readily apparent.

 

a bent handlebar itself wouldn't cause stiffere steering one way and not the other.

That would be caused by forks that are either bent, or out of alignment.

I have even come across that symptom with a bent axle. What was happening in that case, was that the wheel would ever so slightly shift the thrust angle because of the turn and it would bind on the bearing. Turning the other way would release the binding.

dave F

 

I gotta go with Carl and Dave on this one; bent or twisted forks.

The bent handlebar is just your evidence that the bike has been crashed or at least been down. A tip-over generally won't bend forks but it can tweak the front end (upper/fork tube/lower) out of alignment.

Also, Yamahas of our era incorporate a nice stiff (but stamped) fork brace into the front fender. If this becomes twisted or bent it can affect the fork alignment as well, even though it just looks like a bent fender.

I'd go over this one with a fine toothed comb before considering making a nice, LOW offer; and my advice always is to get a compression test despite how the bike seems to run.

 

If the bike is tracking incorrectly it would have to be the front assembly as the bike is a shaft drive and the rear wheel is fixed. Definitely make sure what your biting into with this one, Since it looks like it "fell over" to cause the damage, I would go with Fitz about the front fender brace.