Suspension front fork alignment
From Hot Poop The following method of checking your fork alignment (i.e. "are they twisted?")
A simple way to check your fork alignment:-
Get two STRAIGHT lengths of tube or rod 12mm to 19mm dia. about a Metre long Then with the bike on the centre stand turn the ignition switch to "unlock" and remove the key and straighten the steering.
Place one tube horizontal and centralized on top the black fork protectors that are fitted to the fork sliders, making sure it is contacting both fork stanchions. Work the other tube between the control cables on the top yoke and then sit the tube on the top yoke in front of the fork legs and in contact with the ROUND part of both fork top caps (on later models you could sit the tube on the fork top nuts and back against the preload adjusters).
Then get on the bike standing on the foot rests and look down at the tubes they should be parallel if not the forks are twisted in the yokes or bent, the length of the tube exaggerates the error and make it easy to see.
What you do If the forks are only twisted and NOT bent
With the bike still on the centre stand place a scissor-jack and a piece of wood under the exhaust pipes and just support the weight of the bike. Slack of the four cap-screws (Allen screws) of the top and bottom yokes, the jack will stop the forks just sliding through the yokes. Determine which way the forks are twisted in the yokes, then stand in front of the bike and grip the front wheel with your knees and pull and push the handlebars, until the tubes are parallel to each other, then re-torque the four top & bottom yoke cap-head screws. Finally recheck the long tubes are still parallel to each other, Job done.
ATB YFM
Thanks yamfazman, i hadnt looked in hot poop.
I am a bit confused by twisting though, if the forks arent bent then can someone explain twisting please?
For example i loosened off both yolks & i twisted the forks & pushed them through the yolks, even if i had twisted the fork with my hand & rotated it say 180 degrees in the process then what difference would that make as it is just a steel tube & there isnt a "face this way forward" on it or anything????
Or is it the yokes that get twisted & if so would that not mostly always end with some damage to the fork also???
Ive gotta say that my glass is half full on this one, considering that i went down to the side with no direct impact or head on with anything,at 40mph, if the handlebars did bend then it wasnt by much & my hope is that they were much weaker than the forks & therefore absorbed the force.i do hope anyway