Pull right/wobble

[srq68]

Two problems I can't fix yet on my XS850:
1- at any speed, if I let go of the steering, the bike pull to the right, I have to lean left to keep it straight. What causes this?

2- at 85 mph and above (speedo stops at 85...) the bike has a lateral wobble, kinda like the rear end is making very slight "S" on the road.

Wheels are balanced, fork brace installed, triple tree clamps tight.

Any suggestions?

[strom]

check the frame. Might be bent.
Mine does that too... it was driven on a sidewalk... bent forks and rims (were straightened), a piece of engine block missing and a busted oil pan. All glued/pached up.
Gonna fix all of that, but... when I get another bike. I want to take some time with this one and make it look like NEW!
Till then I'm riding it!

LP

[mitch]

pull

You might also check the swingarm bushings and or the rear wheel bearings....................MITCH

[ratbyk]

Pulling

Definitely sounds like misalignment between front and rear wheels. Suggest "stringing" the front to rear to check.
If out of line check alignment of fork tubes in triple clamps, loose rear swing arm bushings, bent swing arm.
On the speedo you will likely have to replace. There is a "fine" coiled spring (like in a watch) wrapped around the "base" of the speedo needle that is supposed to return it to zero. This gets "bound" up and won't let the needle advance higher. usually happens when some one hooks a drill up to the speedo cable and tries to wind the speedo back-wards to spin miles off the odometer.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"
92 ZX11 Temptress

[srq68]

On the speedo you will likely have to replace

No, the speedo works fine, it's just that the top speed marked on it is 85. Product of the late 70's...
I pegged the needle to 85, after that, anyone's guess...