Motorcycle alignment via string method

A friend of mine who has been riding for longer than I have been alive showed me this cheap method of verifying your motorcycle wheel alignment. All you need is a either a center or paddock stand, a long piece of string (I used dental floss), and a measuring device.

[@yamahamt-0116]

Very good video. I like how you put tape on fixed point to make sure handle bars square. Guess you have to make sure front forks are aligned before doing this? Cheers

[@sandysanderson8588]

Great video, my dad showed my about this way over 40 yrs ago. its really accurate last years if you remember the equal adjustments on your chain tension.

[@zoebettina]

Despite not professional camera works still best video on alligning ur motorcycle. Covered all important parts.

[@RideWithRen]

Thank you 👍

[@toddlang3336]

Still got a little seasick, ha! But i also thank you for taking the time to show this technique.

[@NeoPreload]

The string method is very good way of alignment. However never use handlebars to check if front wheel is straight. The best way of check if the front wheel is straight is to measure from the string on one side of the front and back of front tyre and move the wheel until the measurement is the same this assures it correct. Then you see if the front to rear wheel alignment is correct and adjust to suit.

[@KTMSAS-Duc1200S]

Awesome idea. I tried it and it worked great! Thank you. You need a tripod…..or another arm and hand

[@tossin6338]

Great video. Appreciate the time taken to share. I've used a similar method but only check one side of the tires. Using one half of the difference in front to back tire width gives you the distance both the front and rear edge of the front tire should be from the string that's been aligned with the rear. You just align the front tire evenly with the string and measure. Adjust rear alignment as necessary. No worries about handlebar alignment as that's another issue. Keep up the good work.

[@kevinschilling709]

Including the handle bars adds another variable which is unnecessary. (Whether the handle bars and the front wheel are aligned is another issue, and really doesn't matter unless the rider is super sensitive.) Since the strings are parallel, you just need to make sure four measurements are the same: the distance from the 2 strings to the front and rear of the front tire on both sides.

[@RideWithRen]

Kevin Schilling You are absolutely correct.

[@TYMWLTL]

OK: The theory is good if everything is perfect but I can try to explain it from the front to rear method. We all know that that the distance between two points is a straight line. Given that now understand that three collinear points are also a straight line. If you have someone to help you do it like this it will be as close to perfect as things can be provided your wheels are not all bent up. Put one person up front have him hold the string around the front of the tire which is most always a slimmer tire than the back tire. The other person is at the back with the string wrapped around the back of the rear tire. The string is held taut and the guy in the front carefully turns the wheel from left or right to just make it touch the back edge of the front tire. (as this gentleman said the string has to be on the tire in two places that are the same tread width) Now is the moment the guy in the back moves the string away from the tire and very carefully observes when the string just becomes tangent to the front of the rear tire. At this moment the three collinear points produce a perfectly straight line and there will be a dimension of the string at the rear of the back tire that is observed. Then you simply do the same thing on the other side of the bike. If the observed dimension at the back tire is not equal on both sides that is when you adjust the rear tire. Another way is to use a straight edge on both sides if you are lucky enough to own a long straight edge and nothing is in the way under the bike. I can show this method a lot easier than I can write it, but it is a very good way to get both wheels tracking in the same plane. I have raced professionally in my younger years and owned many many motorcycles. I have built the from scratch and I have bought them new. I don' trust any factory wheel adjustment markings until I prove them to be right with this method. Harley will tell you to measure from two points on the frame but how do you know the frame is perfect ?The two wheel"s center lines have to bein the exact same plane if you expect them to track perfectly. Be safe everyone.

[@hornet224]

I would call this a "modified eyeball method". At 5:23 "it looks pretty straight". This video does not address misaligned fork geometry. Helpful, but definitive.

[@RideWithRen]

I should have mentioned that this method isn't the most accurate, only the most field expedient. You can literally do this on the side of the road after a minor spill to verify that your bike will ride straight.

[@kyleharrison6349]

Bro genius I was trying to find some string shit then u said dental floss fucking works wife will be mad but so helpful 😂😂

[@kevinshort5468]

This explains why new houses are so out of square. 9 tenths of an inch . Trying to find tenth markings on my tape measure......

[@RideWithRen]

My tape measure has tenths on one edge, and those stupid fractions on the other edge. I prefer decimals any day of the week. And at least I'm not a house builder!! 🤣🤣

[@bccapone837]

Great method and I need to do this , how do I tell if the front wheel is off or handlebars because when I'm going down the road my bars are very slightly to the left but the look straight across the top triple tree , I've loosened everything up from steering stem nut all the way down apart from the top pinch bolts and I got it closer but I've kind of hit a brick wall in my mind as what to do now , the bike fell over on left side and just want it to be safe to ride but hopefully not spend much money , any advise would be really appreciated 👍🏼

[@RideWithRen]

If your triple tree us straight but your bars are not then most likely you bent the bars. Grab a tape measure and get dimensions to either a central point in your bike (tank bolt hole, for example) or to symmetrical parts on your frame (tank mounts, etc). The dimensions should be identical for left and right.

[@Nisotovski]

perhaps its good method but am afraid that my handlebars are slightly bent so am not gonna get acurate mesurments?! thanks again for sharing ;)

[@RideWithRen]

Ivan Nisotovski Find some other point on your bike that's not bent, perhaps the top of your triple clamp.

[@darthpaul4432]

Personally, I'd be more concerned whether my sprockets are aligned than if my wheels are aligned. Not a criticism. Just something for people to think about before they rush off and do it.

[@RideWithRen]

That's correct too, one would assume that if the sprockets are aligned the wheel will be too.

[@Gurubashy]

my new bike, only 2700 km on it tends to steer to the right when taking my hands off the handles. Also it goes into a death wobble when going more than 140-160 km/h. I'll use this method tomorrow and hopefully that wobble will go away.

[@RideWithRen]

Good luck! Did it help?

[@Gurubashy]

@@RideWithRen it did help a bit yes, now it steers just a bit and the wobble start more towards the 180 km/h. I'll buy one of those rear sprocket laser alignment gadgets and try to align it that way, and I'll buy a steering damper too just so for safety.

[@acraze2129]

Thanks

[@RideWithRen]

You're welcome!

[@serhiymykhaylenko1549]

Good way to align the rear wheel but the front wheel can turn at any moment and move the string.

[@RideWithRen]

When this bike is on the center stand, the front wheel doesn't move.

[@7559kenny1]

I had to stop watching I was getting dizzy from the camera movement hope this comment helps for future vids

[@RideWithRen]

Thanks for the constructive criticism, I'll do better next time 👍

[@todddennehy804]

FYI. Castrol Edge is not recommended for wet clutch applications. I assume that stuff is for your car or truck.

[@RideWithRen]

Todd Dennehy Yes that's for my car, the bike gets Castrol Actevo 4T.

[@todddennehy804]

Whew! Glad to hear that!

[@sumantatewary8505]

The rear wheel is wider than the front wheel...U must keep in mind

[@RideWithRen]

Since it's symmetrical it doesn't matter if the front one is narrower.

[@johnkanigit6261]

Where did you get those blue pegs in your bike stand

[@RideWithRen]

I think I got them from Amazon, just search for "Suzuki DL650 spools" and you can find them.

[@kobiroar4221]

Marks out of 10 4.5

[@chauffeurmarco]

You make my dizzy.

[@RideWithRen]

Marco Polo Sorry, I'm not a pro. Perhaps I should use a tripod in the future.

[@Lgndrop]

are u American?

[@RideWithRen]

Yes I am, but I'm born in Brazil.

[@bobbyjoe3596]

The handlebars were crooked

[@RideWithRen]

🤪🤪 better luck next time!