Motorcycle Repair: Triple clamp set up, fender brackets, wheel spindle

Question
Hi Jim,
I have a ZX6e Kawasaki (1996) and it was knocked over on the street while parked. The steering seems to now be offset (while riding straight, top triple clamp looks turned. The steering lock was not on at the time of impact and I am asuming that the steering went full lock to the steering stop quite harshly and has twisted the lower clamp compared to the top clamp. To remedy this i am unsure how you set up the triple clamps inline? Can i just undo lower centre bolt and align and retighten? Your advise greatly appreciated. Thanks

Answer
I'm not familiar with this bike but I don't understand how your top clamp could be out of alignment, the way you describe. Are you sure its not the bars that got knocked out of place?

For the top clamp to go out like that, the fork tubes would have to bend or get pulled out.

Take a look at:

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/showschematic/m4156sch67429

and

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/showschematic/m4156sch75413

also

http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/showschematic/m4156sch78586

If you do loosen the clamp nut, be careful to get it back to the correct torque. Same for the fork clamps, which you should also loosen.

The correct way to line up the forks is to loosen everything (including the front wheel spindle and any fender brackets or bolts), remove the fork spring caps and compress the forks all the way up (you'll need to jack front end up). With everything compressed, tighten the front wheel, then the clamps and finally the triple clamp nut.