new gen swingarm

[backinthesaddleagain]

In a quest to solve some headshake and perfect rear wheel alignment I pulled off my chain guard. Based on my chain alignment notches (and the number of exposed threads) being the same I believe my rear wheel is aligned nice and straight. However it appears the front of the wheel is about a 1/2" closer to the right side of the swingarm than the left is. Eyeballing the swingarm it appears symetrical to me and therefore the wheel should be equidistant to both sides of the swingarm, barring the hub being offset? Has anyone else noticed this? Maybe someone whose put a bigger tire on the bike of the bike.

[bob706]

For perfect wheel alignment you need to measure from the center of the swing arm pivot to the center of the rear axle. Those alignment notches are pretty useless and counting threads is ballparking it at best.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Agreed on the swingarm pivot to axle. Always did it on my dirtbikes and paid no attention to adjustment marks. Just to lazy I guess to pull the exhaust to do it. Maybe try a tailors tape measure to check it while leaving the pipe on.

[bob706]

Dam, I never thought of getting a tailors tape measure. Not gonna be pulling that friggin heavy can off anymore. Thanks for the tip!

[backinthesaddleagain]

Well i haven't tried it yet, but i think it will be easier to get in there than a regular metal tape measure and make a straight line between both points. eyeballing your wheel, does it appear to be in the middle of both sides of the swingarm?

[g21-30]

Check out http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=13833 post #23

[backinthesaddleagain]

Thanks Sam. I was checking that post out just last night. My main question is after everyone adjusts their chain, does the tire seem closer to the right side of the swingarm than the left? I think I will pull the muffler and the chain guide and measure axle to swingarm pivot to be 100% sure, and then see how the wheel looks in the swingarm.

[g21-30]

I haven't used the string method, as I just count the number of threads showing on the adjusting rods. Also, I have never been concerned with the 2 swingarm (R + L) measurements. You need to satisfy your curiosity!

[backinthesaddleagain]

yeah my curiosity (OCD perhaps) is killing me. I probably wouldn't even be thinking of that if not for the slight deceleration wobble in the front end from 50 down to 40. Along with the counting threads, FWIW the measurement from the center of the axle to the back of the swingarm is the same on both sides, assuming the swingarm is the same length on both sides, and the bike hasnt been crashed, I should be good.

[g21-30]

Just to add to your frustration, you still need to check that the rear tire is aligned with the front. The rear tire could be the same distance (as you measured) and still be misaligned with the front! Correct? In this case, it would mean the tire doesn't have to be equidistant within the swingarm. I don't know the answer to that, just feeding your OCD. Probably reasonable to check.

[backinthesaddleagain]

yeah thats true, the wheels should be in line, then in a perfect world the front and rear sprockets will be in line. once the temp comes back up here i will check it all out.

[g21-30]

Here's a pic of the '08+ swingarm I found on ebay:



See how it is offset?

[HKr1]

Originally Posted by g21-30

See how it is offset?

Looks kinda even to me
Will have to look at our tire, I never really paid any attention to it.

[g21-30]

The straight piece on the lower right creates the deception. Probably is symetrical. If we could flip the image and overlay the two.....

[backinthesaddleagain]

i hadn't heard of anyone who mounted a bigger rear tire mention tire rubbing up against one side of swingarm. it is hard to tell with my eyes if it is offset or not, but i am leaning towards symmetrical.

[backinthesaddleagain]

I will confess that i just googled the right side clearance issue when fitting a larger tire and posters on other sites noted less clearance on the right. anyone else take a look at where their tire sits between the swingarm once its aligned? KKim?

[g21-30]

Rotated and enlarged, the blue arrow points to the rubber chain guard. Turns out the swingarm is a bottom view. I approximated the center line via the old "eyeball and ruler" on the monitor, also shown with a blue line. It appears the right side does have less clearance!

[backinthesaddleagain]

i was going to mention it was upside down, unless British versions have the chain on the right (joking). maybe that gusseting on the right (left if upside down) does protrude more.

[g21-30]

Some of those who put on larger tires (160/60X17) have mentioned the tire rubs the chain guard/shield. Not sure which.

[HKr1]

Took a quick look on ours. 2" from the tire, to the outside edge of swingarm. < both sides.

[backinthesaddleagain]

bet i should measure from the outside edge ike you did Kerry. Might be more accurate than inside edge.

[backinthesaddleagain]

a couple mechanic friends at the dealer looked at it today. they think the sprocket side does splay out a bit.

[kkim]

Mine measures from the outside edge of the tire to the outside edge of the swing arm... right side- 1 3/4", left side- 2"

[g21-30]

kkim, you have a 140/70X17 rear tire, correct? My left side is 2", but without a flashlight last night, I couldn't see the right side.

[kkim]

Originally Posted by g21-30

kkim, you have a 140/70X17 rear tire, correct?

correct

[backinthesaddleagain]

Thanks guys for checking. I was hoping to use that as 1 more ref point but apparantly as my friends told me today its asymmetrical and I am only .6mm off so must be front wheel balance causing my headshake.
Posted via Mobile Device