How to Check Motorcycle Wheel alignment

With this easy process, you will be able to confirm the wheel alignment of your motorcycle.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rear Wheel Motorcycle Stand
• An eight-foot or longer length of thin string or fishing line.
• A good eye!

1. First, acquire an 8’ or longer length of string, which is easily visible against your motorcycle. Find the mid-point of your string and place it thru the rear wheel. Wrap it around the outside edge of the tire and feed both ends back to the front of the motorcycle.

2. Make sure the string is steady against the rear tire (you may want to tape it down). Then make sure that both string ends are parallel to the ground at the front tire.

3. With the motorcycle on its rear stand, turn the handlebars so that the front tire aims straight ahead

4. From here, get low and try to picture a straight line from the front to the rear of the bike. Grab the two sting ends and pull them tight.

5. Start pulling the tire towards the front tire and notice when either string end touches the sidewall of the rear tire. You want the string to touch the front side of the rear wheel’s sidewall. Do this by testing one side of the string first. Once you have established where the left string touches the sidewall hold your left arm steady and then do the same on the right.

6. Once you have established where either side touches the rear sidewall check to see that the strings align with the front wheel. Now compare the distance of the string on either side to the front wheel. If properly aligned, each string will be an equal distance from the front wheel. If not, the distances will differ, and you will need to make adjustments. (If the string is closer to the right side of the front tire [looking back], your bike’s rear wheel is running cocked leading edge right, and the opposite is true if the string is closer to the left.)

7. If your bike is running leading edge right or left, make adjustments at the rear swing arm. This is possible by utilizing the swing arm nut adjusters (make sure to adjust them evenly).Once all is completed, make sure to repeat the process and confirm your motorcycle’s alignment.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't tell, ask for a friend to look at your alignment.
• In the situation you need major adjustments consult your local motorcycle dealer/repairshop for professional care.
• If you do not have proper alignment your tires will wear out quicker, as will your chain and sprockets.
• Another risk involves leaning your motorcycle with un-aligned wheels. You may feel shaky taking hard corners with less with the tread misaligned.

Resources

• MotorCyclist.com