GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => Meet and Greet => Australian Meet & Greet Area => Topic started by: smeggles on January 30, 2012, 06:53:19 PM

Title: Wheel Alignment
Post by: smeggles on January 30, 2012, 06:53:19 PM
 :icon_lol: Hey guys can anyone tell me the symptoms of incorrect wheel alignment  and what i should be looking for also is it corrected by the rear wheel chain tensioners ??? :icon_lol: hope this makes sense  Smeggles.
Title: Re: Wheel Alignment
Post by: BaltimoreGS on January 30, 2012, 07:10:43 PM
The rear wheel normally determines your alignment but the front wheel can get out of whack in the triples if a bike has been wrecked/dropped.  The bike will ride crooked and wear the chain/sprockets if the rear wheel is not straight.  If you let go of the bars and the bike pulls to one side it can be a sign of poor wheel alignment.  If it is really off you can visually see it when you are looking at the rear of the bike.  Do a forum search and you will probably find threads on aligning with boards, string and other various methods.  You can get it in the ball park using the notches on the adjusters on the swing arm. I have a little tool that lines the sprocket up with the chain.

-Jessie

(http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/dir/large_img.php?id=22959)
Title: Re: Wheel Alignment
Post by: mister on January 30, 2012, 08:02:11 PM
Also you may find the bike easier to lean on one side compared to the other when riding. This is independent of any lean preferences you may have.

Michael
Title: Re: Wheel Alignment
Post by: smeggles on January 31, 2012, 01:42:53 AM
 :icon_lol: Thanks guys everything seems to line up ok and left and right turns seem to be the same but the top triple tree appears to be ever so closer to the tank on the right hand side 2 - 3 mm than the left hand side .. i have spun the top of the forks around within the triple tree and there are no wobbles which suggests they are straight ... the graduations on the swing arm and axle seem to be at the same point ... i was thinking that maybe the lower triple tree may be bent slightly ??? and i know i need a new front axle as when i loosen it slightly and rotate it the wheel  oscillates slightly from centre .. i used a square to locate it before tightening the bolts..  :icon_lol: Smeggles