Diagnosing Motorcycle Handling Misalignment Issues

[@circuitonotificacao2359]

At 10:20 you should use the back of your caliper ! Is has kind of a sliding needle to do that measurement.

[@steven-vn9ui]

Hey James, the vernier has a "tail" on the opposite end of the readout for measuring depth. I'm not an expert at all btw just thought it might help you instead of holding and eyeballing it to some degree. 3:11

[@TheChemistDIY]

Thanks for the heads up brother.. ya I'm aware but for some reason during recording it just didn't occur to me to use it..lol. guess I was having a Sr. Moment.. appreciate ya tho.. good looking..

[@RockerGuy0001]

Yes, I'm a machinist & we do that all day

[@ill4u2nv]

I was thinking the samething was gonna say the samething but you beat me to it lol.

[@RockerGuy0001]

Keep up the good work on the 2004 gsxr!

[@6Whodini]

music volume is insane compared to speaking...i had a similar problem where the rear tire had an angle to one side and the front to another. First did the rear same as you did. the front i did the pump the fork techniek and it worked very well. Good explanation

[@broderp]

The calipers can measure depth better by using the back end.

[@cagdastopraksk]

I am having a problem with it moving to the right when I release my hands. Could the uneven shock absorber oil levels cause such a problem?

[@TheChemistDIY]

Anything is possible and shouldn't be ruled out. When it comes to forks and proper alignment everything should match identically to the opposite side. If the bike has been ridden with incorrect alignment you will get uneven tire ware and then this becames a factor as well. Make sure you check your rear tire and chain alignment as well.. you could be dog walking in the rear causing that pull..

[@hornet224]

Both forks should be serviced together so they are identical as well as the misalignment issues.

[@PrzemysawLewandowski]

I agree. Having two different oil viscosities in forks is not optimal.

[@storymaker_____]

Is it a correct method to inspect the alignment by looking at front mudguard and tyres because mudguards are attached to forks.

[@TheChemistDIY]

Good question, well it's kinda like this.. ever hear of the mechanics touch.. the method of torquing a bolt by hand and not with the correct tool because you've done procedure so many times that you're body/hands have come in tune that you automatically know what say 16 lbs of torque pressure feels like that you don't actually need the tool anymore to perform the job to the correct specifications. The center of the bike .. well, is the center of the bike.. and all the aerodynamics are based off of that.. could they be off.. Yes, but probably not by much. My recommendation is to find 3 center point of reference.. ie triple tree nut, tip of nose cowle, and point of mud guard.. if all those line up straight.. then you have you center line of your tire.. some will argue differently, but it works for me..

[@storymaker_____]

@@TheChemistDIY Hey man thanks for the reply. I've think it's a bit difficult to find the alignment by looking at the headlight portion in a naked bike like mine because headlamps are attached to triple trees. When we moves handle bars headlamps also moves. But in faired bikes it won't and we can refer the headlights with tyres. I am facing a left lean and some traction issues after changing the head bearings from a service center. I've used the cpr method like u did few days ago and tighten the head bearings now bike is a 70% ok ok. There is only some minute lean and i'm trying to figure it out. Hope i does 😁. I also done a few adjustment an hour ago. Now I looked into the tyre mudguard and front tyre and i draw some lines in the mudguard and found the ceter portion in the mudguard draw a straight line and i've think the front tyre and mudguard are aligned straight because the in the tyre pattern there is a straight line through out the tyre in the middle, like a line which will make it easy. Waiting for some test run tomorrow. I've also has some doubt here in my place the road pattern is like curves on both sides for easy water drainage ie, there is curves on the both left and right like this 👉 /\ Will this results in pulling. Because i tried riding on opposite direction and bike pulls towards right. And riding on normal line bike pulls left.

[@TheChemistDIY]

So crowned streets are not a good road surface to test out the handling of your bike and yes they will make you pull in different directions. You need to get on a flat road surface to insure your realignment is correct. In the future to find center on your tire, yes you can use the half line in the center of the tire that was left by the mold in which it was made from.. if it's still there.. this tends to go away after so many miles.. if it's not there then take a piece of string and wrap from rim edge of the right side, over the tire, to the rim edge of the left side.. fold that in half.. this will give you a center that you can mark on the tire. Other things that can cause pulls is a trailing rear tire.. where your rear tire is slightly off.. make sure that is on point as well. Have you changed or removed the front tire and if so did you replace it back on with the proper technique? If not then your forks could be binding at the spindle.. ie there not flush with rim.. many people don't know about the proper way to put back on a tire.. and think you just slid the spindle through the fork leg, into the rim and bolt everything back up.. you actually have to perform the CPR procedure while lose before tightening everything up.. crooked forks give you a crooked ride ...

[@storymaker_____]

@@TheChemistDIY Yeah will do sir 😁 Thank you for your time ❤️

[@fanatic632]

Thanks for the video. That was really helpful. Just a question. A fall of bike on dirt street while parking (not riding) can also cause handling issues? I personally don't notice anything visually. So I'm not sure.

[@TheChemistDIY]

It can but you would notice it if it was affected. The bike would have handling issues to where it would pull to one side and you would be fighting it..

[@fanatic632]

@@TheChemistDIY Oh. I didn't notice this kind of difference. Also, today someone experienced also rode it for a few kilometers. I didn't tell them about that incident. And still he didn't comment anything about handling issues.

[@TheChemistDIY]

@@fanatic632 honestly, they probably wouldn't and that's because of the new rider experience. You see no one knows your bike better than you because you have more ride time in the seat. From the twist of the throttle and engagement of traction, to the sound & vibration of the bike I can tell you exactly what's wrong with my bike and that's simply because I have 11+ years of riding Lucy and are now super in tuned with her harmonics. It's the difference between having a new girlfriend and having a wife. You just simply know when something is not quite right because you are in tuned and can read each other. Just like spark plugs tell us how the bike is running when removed and reviewed, so do your tires.. Aside from a pulling feeling (It may not be now) keep an eye on your tire wearing. If you start to feel a lumpiness or experience uneven tire wear such as waves (high/lows) in the rubber then you have an alignment issue.

[@fanatic632]

@@TheChemistDIY Cool. I might be overthinking too. But I'll keep that in mind.

[@BRP-Moto-Tips]

Thanks!!

[@laurensiusnathansuryarachm1946]

what minimal speed to test the pulling issue?

[@TheChemistDIY]

Happens differently for everyone. You'll know it if you have the issue. Mine was only really noticeable when going through a long banking turn.

[@laurensiusnathansuryarachm1946]

if the speed under 60kmh mine has the issue, but it's disappear above 60kmh

[@TheChemistDIY]

@@laurensiusnathansuryarachm1946 could be so, only you know how your bike is suppose to handle. I really didn't notice mine till I rode on a freeway overpass that had a strong lean angle.. it was really hard to keep the bike in straight line and would pull to the left on the bank.. this was at speeds lower than 50 mph.. everything else was fine when riding.. so you could be Right

[@georgiianmafia]

when i am balansing left side and eiggt side marks on same position wheel is touching on chain do you have answer why its happening?

[@TheChemistDIY]

TWC, not sure if I'm understanding your question brother. From what I'm gathering you've set your rear wheel alignment with the position markings on the frame to match on both sides and your chain is touching tire??? Is that Correct??? Is this a new chain or an old one?? How far back is your tire position settings (tick marks) showing from the rear.. very last tick mark??

[@georgiianmafia]

@@TheChemistDIY its is new one and my motocycle has 10 marks on left and 10 on right when i put both sides on 1.5 couse its new rare wheel is touching chain like middle of bike so fromt side of rare wheel some something is rotated and i cant understand what

[@TheChemistDIY]

Do you have the correct spacer's in place?.. the spacer on the rear brake caliper side (right side) is shorter then the one on the sprocket side (right side).. if I'm not mistaken.

[@georgiianmafia]

@@TheChemistDIY spacer is original on support side where is rare brake i think it is all foult front spocket becouse after i changed chain and sport spocket with my self on first time after that started such disbalancenon rare wheel

[@TheChemistDIY]

Sprockets should have a general thickness that's specified by OEM requirements. Additionally some sprockets have to be installed in the correct orientation.. meaning they have a front and back marking to identify which side should be facing you and which side should be facing the engine or hub if we're talking about the rear tire. Could it be possible that you installed them back words and need to flip them around to gain the additional clearance the chain needs to clear your rear tire. Else they may have shipped you the wrong sprocket set.

[@zanathzanath7236]

Suzuki makes amazing bikes, don't you agree? Love suzukis sports tourer❤️ the best bikes ever👍

[@TheChemistDIY]

My opinion may be a bit biased since Suzukis are the only bikes that I have ever owned, lol. But yes you are right

[@robertosmith1]

This can’t be serious

[@TheChemistDIY]

Ummm, why can't it.. I'd like to hear your thoughts.