Twisted Front Need Help

So I picked up this 1981 KZ550 for fairly cheap and it was in good running order but the handle bars weren't quite lined up right. I thought is was something stupid like the bar was bent but it seems like there is more to the issue.

this is how it sits in my garage right now


What should i check first? I went through and nothing strikes me as being obviously off.
Im trying to figure out which parts are good and which ones are bad, because I dont want to have to by a whole new front end.

Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I ran into this once years ago myself. Before buying any parts, try to make sure the forks are inline. You can't tell my looking most times. Loosen the bolts on the triple trees. Not enough to drop the forks but enough so they can move. Then try to align the front wheel with the forks. Lots of times you can eye it from sitting on the bike or may have to do it from the front. As you can see it's off now, you can see if you can straighten them out by just twisting the front end and letting them re-align themselves by slight adjustments by moving the forks in the trees. Might be an easy fix or you might have to use some force. On a dirt bike I used to put front wheel against a bench or pole, etc. and just put pressure on them to twist or tap them against the pole, etc. for added persuasion. Just don't get too ambitious with the force. Usually they will twist back into place. Keep working at them till the front wheel looks in line with the handlebars. Tighten all the bolts vack up and try it. If that don't work, remove the forks and check to be sure the fork tubes aren't bent. Usually an easy fix. Doesn't take a lot to get front end out of alighment, The bike can be twisted but still track straight down the rode but the bars are jsut pointed off-line. That's usually a sign of the forks just needing some adjustment in the trees. Give it a try and let us know what you find.

Same thing. We bought a beautiful 8,000 mi. 550LTD that the owner had laid down at little more than walking speed. When you rode it you got dizzy it was crabbing so bad. Guy said he took it to a mech and he said the frame was sprung. His father wanted it out of his garage and made the kid sell it to us for $200. Kid wanted $600. Got it home and loosened the trips and you could see it spring back to straight. After replacing the bars she tracked like an arrow. Fantastic bike. Good luck.

I fixed it last nite.

The problem seemed to be misaligned triple trees, because all parts where straight and measured square, so i had a heavy rubbermaid garbage can that i just beat the front wheel against a couple of times and that straightened everything out

thanks for the help

Good! Glad that was the case.