So I had a go at this today So now I'm asking...its 2014...isn't there an easier way to check wheel alignment? The little marks on the swingarm are a load of shit, so I adjusted the bolts both all the way in, and then loosened them off in the exact same amount of turns. That wasn't quite perfect. So I got the measuring tape and measured from the center of the swing-arm pivot to the center of the rear wheel nut on both sides. That got it looking much better and I thought it was perfect. Then I tried the string method and had to adjust it AGAIN. Now I'm pretty certain it is straight but Jesus Christ...isn't there an easier way?! I think I'm going to get two big long metal bars to do it in future.
in the 80s i used a plank of wood !!!! just place it against the front tyre walls....laser beams are the way to ..no idea how they do it though ..beam me up scottie
String method lol. I remember George who I used to work with using this method on a tractor unit :laugh:. Lasalign is the only way imo, I used to refuse to set the tracking on wagons after changing steering components. They had 20 year old cheap tracking gauges made for toy cars, just wrote on the job card " Req's Lasalign". Never bothered on bike, just go off swing arm marks.
cheap one...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycl...69?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3cd6dd0d01 posh one...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Profi-SE-...46?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item20d2e77d62
have a mooch through ebay, they were just the first ones i found. i've got one of the cheap pointer ones and it's nice and easy to use, would say the laser one would be the better of the two though.
The main thing with alignment, if you want to get it right, is you should be aligning from the wheel rim NOT the tyre. This assumes that the wheel is vertical in the swing arm.
