New 1200se wheel alignment??

Hi guys, newbie here. Just took delivery a couple of months ago on a brand new 1200se, just clocked up 3500 kms. Just out of interest I decided to check the wheel alignment with a new Sealey laser system we have here and it's out by 8mm. I'm a tad concerned and will talk to the dealers on Monday but wondered if anybody would/could cast any light on this.


Cheers in advance

I'm pretty sure it's the Fetzer valve...

Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads. And you're gonna need 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State.

Awww, come on guys, it's so simple. Maybe you need a refresher course. Hey! It's all ball bearings nowadays.

I wouldn't be concerned. It's a mass produced vehicle with mass produced tyres. Is it handling weirdly?

Sounds indeed like a non-issue. Never heard of checking wheel alignment on a moped.

I used to use a laser on my chain drive bikes, but its easy to misalign them when you can move the rear wheel in the swing arm. A CARC bike? Not so much. Something would need to bent or improperly installed. What are we taking here? Tracking?

The Sealey laser system has twin lasers and dead accurate. One side showing 8mm difference. I read an old thread some time back with the same issue so just wondered if anyone else would have come across this

So can we clarify? Are you saying that the centreline of the rear wheel is 8mm to the left or right of the front or is it that in the wheelbase of the bike there is an 8mm divergence from parallel?

To be honest though unless the tyre's are wearing oddly or its handling strangely, as long as everything is tight and assembled correctly I wouldn't worry unduly. As stated, it's a mass produced vehicle, there are tolerances in its manufacture.

Pete

Pete Roper wrote:

So can we clarify? Are you saying that the centreline of the rear wheel is 8mm to the left or right of the front or is it that in the wheelbase of the bike there is an 8mm divergence from parallel?

Yeah. This?

To clarify the point, many bikes are designed/produced with wheels out of alignment, on purpose.
1974 Honda GL1000. Front wheel is offset in the forks. Why? Dunno.
1980 BMW R80GS. Front wheel offset to accommodate single disc/caliper on 21" spoked wheel.
BMW R1100R. (pre para-lever) Rear wheel offset to accommodate wider 180 rear tyre.

I assumed the CARC system was designed to incorporate the wider 180 rear tyre, maybe not.
Regardless of all that, about the only way you may notice anything different is, by doing a slalom between the broken centre lines on a straight road at about 60kph. It may turn quicker and easier one way, than the other, but with a total difference of 8mm (meaning only 4mm off centre) I doubt you will ever feel it.

With regard to your chain driven bike, I would rather align my wheels than the sprockets, as a chain has a lot of lateral free play.

Interesting. I know that some of the Spineframes and I think later 1100 Calis have offset rear wheels for tyre clearance too.

I can remember reading about some home built POS in a magazine way back in the early seventies in the UK that had its rear wheel offset by some absurd amount, (I can't remember exactly what?) and the owner swore blind it didn't effect the handling but there again it was the early seventies so it probably handled like a bathtub full of custard anyway! I can remember thinking back then it couldn't of been good but 8mm really isn't a lot, I'm sure that many if not all tyre's will have at least that as allowable deviance tolerance in their construction.

Pete

Cheers, reassuring for sure, having a melt down almost. I'll still give the dealer a call and update what they say.

ghezzi wrote:

With regard to your chain driven bike, I would rather align my wheels than the sprockets, as a chain has a lot of lateral free play.

That's what I was talking about, you dipshit.

I fart in your general direction.


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Mark, that wasn't a shot at you, I wrote it thinking Storm had made the statement.
I have friends who use lasers to align their chain & sprockets, not the wheels.

Pete, didn't know Guzzi had done the misalignment thing previously, anybody else string lined a CARC?

Storm, another point to consider, try rotating both wheels slowly, either or both of them could have slight run out which could alter the measurements greatly.

ghezzi wrote:

Mark, that wasn't a shot at you, I wrote it thinking Storm had made the statement.

Well, alright then, I re-direct the fart.

Quote :

I have friends who use lasers to align their chain & sprockets, not the wheels.

Nongs!

Jees Beetle you must have a high fibre diet, you always seem to be passing wind

On the 1100 sporti the complete engine/gearbox is off set to the right in the frame to accomodate a larger rear tyre