If your bike’s wheels aren’t properly aligned you might experience handling issues, uneven tire and drivetrain wear, and other problems. In this video from the MC Garage we'll show you several ways to verify that your wheels are tracking true, plus check to see if those reference marks on your swingarm are accurate or not.
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Is your bike handling strangely? Tires wearing out asymmetrically? Chain making funny sounds? Believe it or not, a serious misalignment of the front and rear wheels can be the cause of all these maladies.
When we talk about wheel alignment, we're referring to the rear wheel's position in the swingarm, and thus its alignment with the frame and the front wheel. The front wheel isn't adjustable, but the rear wheel can shift in the dropouts. That's key for chain-slack adjustment, but it also means the wheel can be out of whack.
Now, you’re probably thinking that you’ve already checked the alignment marks on the swingarm so the wheels must be aligned. Not so fast. While these alignment marks are better than they used to be, there’s no guarantee they’re right, considering the inherent variations in manufacturing and the often prodigious amount of slop in the axle blocks.
But there is an easy way to check alignment that needs no special tools beyond a rear stand-assuming your bike doesn’t have a center stand-a wrench, and a length of lightweight rope.
Gather Necessary Items And Place Your Bike On A Stand
To adjust your wheel alignment, you’re first going to need to get your bike vertical. You can either accomplish this with a wheel chock, center stand, or a rear stand, as long as your bike stays straight. No, your buddy sitting on the bike won’t work. You’ll also need some lightweight rope and a wrench to adjust your axle blocks.
Wrap The Rope Around The Front Tire
Start by wrapping the center of the length of rope around the front of the tire as shown. You want it placed so the lengths of rope heading rearward are as high as they can be without hitting the brake discs or bodywork.
Pull The String Taut
Pull the loose ends of the rope toward the rear wheel, trying to keep the line taut enough that it won't slip down the front tire. A piece of duct tape will hold the string onto the front tire if you're having trouble.
Align The Front Wheel
Draw the free ends of the string back until they just touch the tread at the front of the rear wheel. From this angle, look at the front wheel again. There should be a small gap between the rope and the trailing edge of the front tire; that gap should be equal on both sides. Sight down the bike from one side then the other. It will be obvious when the front tire is not pointing straight. Turn the handlebars until it is.
Check The Alignment Of The Rear Wheel
With the front wheel aligned, once again bring the rope to the leading edge of the rear tire. Draw the ends inward until the rope just touches the leading edge. Be careful that you don't pull it so far that the rope bends. Again, if you look at a low angle, it's very obvious.
Measure The Gap At The Rear Wheel
Now look at the gap from the rope to the trailing-edge tread. It should be the same left and right. If the gaps are different, the rear wheel is not tracking the front. If the rope touches the rear of the tire before the front, it's way out of whack.
Determine Which Side Needs Adjusting
If the wheel is perfectly aligned, this gap will be the same on both sides. If the gap is larger on the left and smaller on the right, the rear wheel is cocked in the swingarm with the front of the tire to the left of center. If the larger gap is on the right, the tire is "facing" slightly right.
Adjust The Rear Wheel In The Axle Block
If you’re smart, you’ll mark the axle blocks when the wheel is properly aligned for quick reference later. Or you can maintain alignment by turning the adjusters the exact same amount each time you set the chain.
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