How anal are you about rear wheel alignment?

tached1000rr · 08-04-2009, 09:49 PM

Just put on a fresh rear tire today, figured I'd ask this question. So what's your method of assuring your rear is straight, by sight, dial caliper, ruler, string etc...??

derf · 08-04-2009, 09:55 PM

best guess available. I back the tightening screws all the way in then back both sides out equally, its not a perfect alignment but it works.

Now go ask dave about his, and the front alignment too

Dave · 08-04-2009, 09:56 PM

i use the rear gauges and eyeball it. Im usually not too anal about it but am rapidly getting there after my recent adventures in crabbing

derf · 08-04-2009, 10:26 PM

Dude you're whole bike was out of alignment, we had to reset your front forks

Amber Lamps · 08-04-2009, 10:27 PM

I spent $200 on Gilles adjusters... nuff said? My shit is perfect at all times.

Hydrant · 08-04-2009, 10:40 PM

I'm pretty crazy with it. I've got a set of a rough set of calipers that I will use to go from the back of the swing arm to the end of the square spacer. Trying to come up with something that I can also go off of the pivot point on the swingarm, but i think the calipers get it pretty damn close.

I'm pretty good with keeping it clean and adjusted, always have been. After the chain snapped and locked the rear tire up @ 60 mph on the TL, I tend to be pretty anal.

Stock chain, with about 10k on it. Cruising at 60 mph.

Hydrant · 08-04-2009, 10:42 PM

When it let go it got caught up in the bolts holding the rear sprocket to the cush drive and the swingarm, therefore locking the rear tire. I kept it up, don't ask how, to this day I still don't know. But it left a skidmark about 100' long on the road and another skidmark somewhere else.

derf · 08-04-2009, 10:54 PM

I did something similar on my ninja a few years ago, somehow my plate got cought in the chain (from almost 2 foot away and behind it), locked the rear wheel, and destroyed/disintegrated the adjuster plate letting the wheel move freely (still not spinning though). Anyway I slid close to 60 feet through a corner. I wasn't quite able to hold my lane, but I did keep it up

Hydrant · 08-04-2009, 11:12 PM

I think it let go and as it was coming back around got caught up in the bolts of the cush drive. The engine free spun for a split second I noticed just before it locked up.

Thankfully, it never damaged anything near the engine case, other than a deep scuff which I epoxied over.

As I was trying to muscle the bike off the side of the road (rear tire still locked up) a guy on a Fatboy came over and helped. I was pushing/ pulling the bike, and he was down trying to tug the chain loose. After we got it loose his hands were covered in chain lube he said he had to take off. I asked for his name or number so I could do something for him, and he never said a word. He said something about just trying to keep bikers safe and took off. I later saw him and his wife at a bike night and bought them dinner. Figured it was worth it, helping me with the chain and using his cell phone so I could get a truck to pick me up.

Dave · 08-04-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derf

Dude you're whole bike was out of alignment, we had to reset your front forks

i know, we gotta do it again. they are still slightly out

08-04-2009, 09:49 PM	#1
tached1000rr WERA White Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NC Moto: 2009 GSXR 1300 Posts: 2,448	How anal are you about rear wheel alignment? Just put on a fresh rear tire today, figured I'd ask this question. So what's your method of assuring your rear is straight, by sight, dial caliper, ruler, string etc...??

08-04-2009, 09:55 PM	#2
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	best guess available. I back the tightening screws all the way in then back both sides out equally, its not a perfect alignment but it works. Now go ask dave about his, and the front alignment too __________________

08-04-2009, 10:26 PM	#4
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	Dude you're whole bike was out of alignment, we had to reset your front forks __________________

08-04-2009, 10:54 PM	#8
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	I did something similar on my ninja a few years ago, somehow my plate got cought in the chain (from almost 2 foot away and behind it), locked the rear wheel, and destroyed/disintegrated the adjuster plate letting the wheel move freely (still not spinning though). Anyway I slid close to 60 feet through a corner. I wasn't quite able to hold my lane, but I did keep it up __________________

08-04-2009, 11:12 PM	#9
Hydrant WERA Yellow Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Moto: 2003 Suzuki TL1000R, 2002 Honda CBR 600 F4i Posts: 660	I think it let go and as it was coming back around got caught up in the bolts of the cush drive. The engine free spun for a split second I noticed just before it locked up. Thankfully, it never damaged anything near the engine case, other than a deep scuff which I epoxied over. As I was trying to muscle the bike off the side of the road (rear tire still locked up) a guy on a Fatboy came over and helped. I was pushing/ pulling the bike, and he was down trying to tug the chain loose. After we got it loose his hands were covered in chain lube he said he had to take off. I asked for his name or number so I could do something for him, and he never said a word. He said something about just trying to keep bikers safe and took off. I later saw him and his wife at a bike night and bought them dinner. Figured it was worth it, helping me with the chain and using his cell phone so I could get a truck to pick me up. Last edited by Hydrant; 08-04-2009 at 11:19 PM..

08-04-2009, 09:56 PM	#3
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	i use the rear gauges and eyeball it. Im usually not too anal about it but am rapidly getting there after my recent adventures in crabbing

08-04-2009, 10:27 PM	#5
Amber Lamps Moto GP Star Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14,556	I spent $200 on Gilles adjusters... nuff said? My shit is perfect at all times.

08-04-2009, 10:40 PM	#6
Hydrant WERA Yellow Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Moto: 2003 Suzuki TL1000R, 2002 Honda CBR 600 F4i Posts: 660	I'm pretty crazy with it. I've got a set of a rough set of calipers that I will use to go from the back of the swing arm to the end of the square spacer. Trying to come up with something that I can also go off of the pivot point on the swingarm, but i think the calipers get it pretty damn close. I'm pretty good with keeping it clean and adjusted, always have been. After the chain snapped and locked the rear tire up @ 60 mph on the TL, I tend to be pretty anal. Stock chain, with about 10k on it. Cruising at 60 mph.

08-04-2009, 10:42 PM	#7
Hydrant WERA Yellow Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Moto: 2003 Suzuki TL1000R, 2002 Honda CBR 600 F4i Posts: 660	When it let go it got caught up in the bolts holding the rear sprocket to the cush drive and the swingarm, therefore locking the rear tire. I kept it up, don't ask how, to this day I still don't know. But it left a skidmark about 100' long on the road and another skidmark somewhere else.