Alignment / Rear Brake Issue... NEED HELP!

[dk31285]

Hello everyone.  I bought my first bike about a month ago, a 2004 GS500F.  I've been poking around the forums, as well as watching videos on YouTube.  One major thing that stuck out to me was that my chain seemed pretty dirty and loose.  Since the purchase I have cleaned, lubed, and adjusted the chain.  I have read all of the posts on this forum that I could find about chain adjustment and rear wheel alignment, and was confident that everything went very well.  I have put about 600miles on the bike since the adjustment and have just recently (within the past 3-4 days) been battling an issue.

One day, after a long ride with a buddy of mine, I noticed that it started to feel a bit sloppy when I went to shift gears (up or down, didn't matter) and that the shifts didn't feel as smooth as they had been, in terms of clutch engaging.  I parked the bike and did a walk around checking everything.  What I found was that the adjuster plate on the right side had become loose.  I wasn't too sure what to make of it, so I once again checked and adjusted chain play, and made sure the rear wheel was properly aligned.  I took the bike around the block and when I got back it was loose again.

What I have come to find in the past few days as I try to fix the issue, is that it occurs when I use the rear brake.  Today I was in the driveway and didn't even start the bike.  With everything properly adjusted (to the best of my abilities), I sat on the bike, walked it FORWARD, and stopped with rear brake only.  I did this a few times and then checked the plate.  It had come loose, as if the wheel had come out of alignment.  NOW, I didn't adjust anything...I got back on the bike, walked it BACKWARD, again stopping with rear brake only, a few times, and got off to check.  Now the plate was snug again.

I guess my question(s) would be:

1)  Is it likely that this is a result of an issue with the rear brake?  I will post some pics below of some bolts for a bracket that looks to be a support (maybe) for the rear caliper.  I'm not sure if that bar should be tight and rigid, or should allow some play for the caliper?

2)  Is it possible that I am not actually aligning the rear wheel as well as I think I am, and the fact that the rear brake seems to cause the issue is just a result of improper alignment?  (Initially, the bike feels smooth, shifts smooth, etc.  As I ride and the rear brake is used, the bike gets sloppy.  Shifting becomes "harder" and control of the bike is somewhat, though minimally, reduced).

**Sorry, the last 3 pics are sideways 

Front Bolt of Caliper Support(?)




Rear Bolt of Caliper Support(?)




Adjuster Plate After Rolling Forward and Stopping




Adjuster Plate After Rolling Backward and Stopping

[Suzuki Stevo]

if you get this kind O chit, you are not tightening  anything near spec at all, eat some Wheaties's, come back after your girlfriend has tightened your axle for you.   

[Jimbob]

Lol rough stevo

When you make it snug and the wheel is aligned, if you tighten the axle bolt to spec then it should not move.

[gsJack]

Check for missing spacer #9 and failing rear wheel bearing.

http://www.shspowersports.com/fiche_image_popup.asp?fveh=7247&section=300632&year=2004&make=SUZUKI&category=Motorcycles&dc=3378&name=REAR+WHEEL

[bmf]

Good comment jack, if moving at the right torque then something is amis inside the wheel. How many clicks on the bike?

[dk31285]

Well... it turns out that I hadn't had my Wheaties in quite some time.   

Stevo was right, I just wasn't giving the axle quite enough.  Everything is holding steady now.  Took a ride and it felt great.

Thanks for the input everyone.  Here's to learning from mistakes!   

[007brendan]

Middle range of the torque spec on that bolt is something like 50-60 ft-lbs