Suggestions on bike slightly drifting to the right?

[caverman]

Again, new with my FJ, I've only ridden it maybe 20 miles total since buying it a couple weeks ago. The tires look to be from 1996 so it's been sitting in the garage until new tires can be put on, hopefully early next week.
As I was riding it home after purchase, the front tire would slightly pull to the right, and I would have to correct it back to the center. So, basically, it's a constant little battle to keep it straight. We checked and set the tires to 37 psi before I drove off so I wouldn't think it would have been a tire pressure issue.

I'm thinking or, hoping, it's all related to old hard rubber and once I get the new tires put on it will be fixed. My initially thoughts were that it might have a flat spot on the tire since it sat for so long on a kick stand (center stand was removed).
However, now I'm thinking of what the problem would possibly be if the tires don't fix the issue. Is it possible that a bad will bearing or something long those lines could be a problem? Any other thoughts of what might make a bike slightly drift one way other than tires being the issue?

[Tibsy]

I would be checking the steering head bearings!

[red]

As I was riding it home after purchase, the front tire would slightly pull to the right, and I would have to correct it back to the center. So, basically, it's a constant little battle to keep it straight. We checked and set the tires to 37 psi before I drove off so I wouldn't think it would have been a tire pressure issue.

Caverman,

Was that a flat road?  Road camber can cause a bike to pull to one side, which would be to the right.  If you can find an empty (abandoned) road, try riding on the left side of the road and see if the bike pulls left then.  If so, your bike is not the problem.

If the bike does have a pull to one side, put the bike on the center stand.  Check that both fork tubes are at the same height in the top clamp.  If so, you may have a setup problem.  If you find the fork tubes are not equal in height in the top clamp, correct that issue and you may have no other problem.

If the fork tubes are equal in height, it is still not difficult to correct a setup problem.  Loosen all of the fork tube clamps, but not enough to let them slide on the fork tubes.  Loosen everything about the front axle.  Hold the front wheel between your legs, and twist the handlebars left and right, then "center" the bars between the extremes you found, when twisting the bars.  Be careful not to disturb anything then, and tighten everything you loosened in two passes; make things just snug on the first pass, then set everything to the factory torque specs on the second pass.  If one fork tube is bent slightly, you may need to repeat this process, but then "bias" the setup slightly to one side to correct for the pull.  Then tighten everything in two passes again.  If you can spot a bent fork tube, they can usually be straightened by a good bike shop.

[Pat Conlon]

Good stuff Red! 

I would start simple....Check the index marks on the rear axle and get some fresh tires

[caverman]

I would be checking the steering head bearings!

Steering head bearing is one I'm scared of. Researching looks like it would be a PITA and probably something I would have to pay a bike mechanic to do.

Thanks for the replies. New tires should be on in a few more days and I'm really hoping that is all the issue is. New tires are surely going to make a big difference no matter what.

One of the things on my To Do list is adding a center stand. Already got one off eBay and just waiting for some free time to add some POR15 on it and then install. Hope to have that done by this time next week.

[Motofun]

Don't over think the steering head bearing issue.  The first thing is to simply assure the proper tightness.  This will cure almost all issues as the bearings are pretty stout.  If the bike was pressure washed and any grease removed then it might be a different story requiring an inspection and proper re-greasing.  Some prefer taper roller bearings but that's overkill for the majority of us.