What did you buy today ???

[Tony Nitrous]

if you measure from the end of the swingarm to the centre of the spindle you can get it lined up but ive seen on some bikes where the swingarm legs are different lengths !!!!!  so it puts the wheel out. an alignment jig is the best way as it gets both wheels bang on in line, but most people don't have one.  so another way is to measure from the centre of the wheel spindle to the centre of the swingarm pivot bolt. can be awkward with exhausts in the way but you do get an accurate measurement     

When I bought my new 1200 Bandit someone local had a Motoliner jig (I think that was the name). On went the new 1200. Cheacked and double checked, removed it, refitted it and checked again, the marks on the adjusters were a fraction under 1 full mark out side to side. I was told that wasn't unusual at all and they'd seen much worse on brand new bikes.

[hard road]

if you measure from the end of the swingarm to the centre of the spindle you can get it lined up but ive seen on some bikes where the swingarm legs are different lengths !!!!!  so it puts the wheel out. an alignment jig is the best way as it gets both wheels bang on in line, but most people don't have one.  so another way is to measure from the centre of the wheel spindle to the centre of the swingarm pivot bolt. can be awkward with exhausts in the way but you do get an accurate measurement     

When I bought my new 1200 Bandit someone local had a Motoliner jig (I think that was the name). On went the new 1200. Cheacked and double checked, removed it, refitted it and checked again, the marks on the adjusters were a fraction under 1 full mark out side to side. I was told that wasn't unusual at all and they'd seen much worse on brand new bikes.

yes its pretty common Tony. i used the alignment jig at the shop I worked at on many new bikes having their first service, and most of them where out    I was told the frames on many bikes where 3mm out at the headstock from new !!!!  but that was an acceptable amount apparently ??  motorliner clamed they could get a frame to 0.5 of a millimetre from true.   

[Tony Nitrous]

if you measure from the end of the swingarm to the centre of the spindle you can get it lined up but ive seen on some bikes where the swingarm legs are different lengths !!!!!  so it puts the wheel out. an alignment jig is the best way as it gets both wheels bang on in line, but most people don't have one.  so another way is to measure from the centre of the wheel spindle to the centre of the swingarm pivot bolt. can be awkward with exhausts in the way but you do get an accurate measurement     

When I bought my new 1200 Bandit someone local had a Motoliner jig (I think that was the name). On went the new 1200. Cheacked and double checked, removed it, refitted it and checked again, the marks on the adjusters were a fraction under 1 full mark out side to side. I was told that wasn't unusual at all and they'd seen much worse on brand new bikes.

yes its pretty common Tony. i used the alignment jig at the shop I worked at on many new bikes having their first service, and most of them where out    I was told the frames on many bikes where 3mm out at the headstock from new !!!!  but that was an acceptable amount apparently ??  motorliner clamed they could get a frame to 0.5 of a millimetre from true.   

Yeah, the guy I knew regular straightened brand new bikes, stuff that most folk (like me) wouldn't notice on the road is seen as a big deal to serious racers / race teams who want stuff spot on. 

[Tony Nitrous]

Bunnings:

Me... "Coffee and Sausage Roll please".
Girl... "No problem, that'll be $9 please".
(Swipes card, pays $9, payment clears)
Girl.... "Errr... We don't have any Sausage Rolls though".

🙄🤐

[Tony Nitrous]

Today:

12 months fully comp insurance on my ute was $600+.

A blood test and 3 injections for the dog got him C7 boosted, C5 renewal and heart worm etc etc for the next 12 months for $300+.

I don't regret either but that's another $1000 out of my "Busa go faster" fund.

My bike insurance is due next month which is my worst annual bill and always a bit painful.

[Irish in Oz]

if you measure from the end of the swingarm to the centre of the spindle you can get it lined up but ive seen on some bikes where the swingarm legs are different lengths !!!!!  so it puts the wheel out. an alignment jig is the best way as it gets both wheels bang on in line, but most people don't have one.  so another way is to measure from the centre of the wheel spindle to the centre of the swingarm pivot bolt. can be awkward with exhausts in the way but you do get an accurate measurement     

When I bought my new 1200 Bandit someone local had a Motoliner jig (I think that was the name). On went the new 1200. Cheacked and double checked, removed it, refitted it and checked again, the marks on the adjusters were a fraction under 1 full mark out side to side. I was told that wasn't unusual at all and they'd seen much worse on brand new bikes.

yes its pretty common Tony. i used the alignment jig at the shop I worked at on many new bikes having their first service, and most of them where out    I was told the frames on many bikes where 3mm out at the headstock from new !!!!  but that was an acceptable amount apparently ??  motorliner clamed they could get a frame to 0.5 of a millimetre from true.   

Yeah, the guy I knew regular straightened brand new bikes, stuff that most folk (like me) wouldn't notice on the road is seen as a big deal to serious racers / race teams who want stuff spot on. 

So what is the biggest issue, the wheels not being aligned or the chain running true. If most frames are made from factory not straight surely it has to be one or the other you can only get right.

[hard road]

if you measure from the end of the swingarm to the centre of the spindle you can get it lined up but ive seen on some bikes where the swingarm legs are different lengths !!!!!  so it puts the wheel out. an alignment jig is the best way as it gets both wheels bang on in line, but most people don't have one.  so another way is to measure from the centre of the wheel spindle to the centre of the swingarm pivot bolt. can be awkward with exhausts in the way but you do get an accurate measurement     

When I bought my new 1200 Bandit someone local had a Motoliner jig (I think that was the name). On went the new 1200. Cheacked and double checked, removed it, refitted it and checked again, the marks on the adjusters were a fraction under 1 full mark out side to side. I was told that wasn't unusual at all and they'd seen much worse on brand new bikes.

yes its pretty common Tony. i used the alignment jig at the shop I worked at on many new bikes having their first service, and most of them where out    I was told the frames on many bikes where 3mm out at the headstock from new !!!!  but that was an acceptable amount apparently ??  motorliner clamed they could get a frame to 0.5 of a millimetre from true.   

Yeah, the guy I knew regular straightened brand new bikes, stuff that most folk (like me) wouldn't notice on the road is seen as a big deal to serious racers / race teams who want stuff spot on. 

So what is the biggest issue, the wheels not being aligned or the chain running true. If most frames are made from factory not straight surely it has to be one or the other you can only get right.

getting the wheels in line is the priority, the bike has to handle correctly. once the wheels are in line the chain run is pretty much right anyway. but saying that if the rear sprocket is out it will be hardly noticeable anyway, plus the teeth on the sprocket have a slight taper so no real issues. 

[Irish in Oz]

if you measure from the end of the swingarm to the centre of the spindle you can get it lined up but ive seen on some bikes where the swingarm legs are different lengths !!!!!  so it puts the wheel out. an alignment jig is the best way as it gets both wheels bang on in line, but most people don't have one.  so another way is to measure from the centre of the wheel spindle to the centre of the swingarm pivot bolt. can be awkward with exhausts in the way but you do get an accurate measurement     

Ok this gets your rear wheel in the middle and hopefully aligned well for chain, but if most headstocks are out of alignment from factory the wheels cannot be aligned, or am I missing something. I'm not sure how one could align wheels on a shaft drive.

[hard road]

if you measure from the end of the swingarm to the centre of the spindle you can get it lined up but ive seen on some bikes where the swingarm legs are different lengths !!!!!  so it puts the wheel out. an alignment jig is the best way as it gets both wheels bang on in line, but most people don't have one.  so another way is to measure from the centre of the wheel spindle to the centre of the swingarm pivot bolt. can be awkward with exhausts in the way but you do get an accurate measurement     

Ok this gets your rear wheel in the middle and hopefully aligned well for chain, but if most headstocks are out of alignment from factory the wheels cannot be aligned, or am I missing something. I'm not sure how one could align wheels on a shaft drive.

we are only talking a few mil here so its not gona make much difference to us normal humans    but it might from a race bike. Im not saying every bike has a bent frame, what im saying is 3mm out is the acceptable limit set by the factory's but im sure most modern frames are less than that. when something is mass produced then tolerances can shift form the blueprint, its for this reason why racers blueprint their engines.     

[hard road]

as to shaft drive then you would hope they are bang on !!!!  I might check my old XS1100 and see if thats in line   
their are many cars out their where the rear wheels can not be adjusted in line with the fronts, if they are out then you live with it or start buying suspension arms to see if it can be fixed     I know as I worked on a Hunter alignment system. 

[grog]

Today, new gas bottle, one of those Ryobi 18v air blowers, Queen size mattress. Can a big mattress actually fit in this little box. Ill find out tomorrow.

[Tony Nitrous]

Today, new gas bottle, one of those Ryobi 18v air blowers, Queen size mattress. Can a big mattress actually fit in this little box. Ill find out tomorrow.

We bought a Queen size mattress in a box like that a couple of years back.  I was very doubtful about how it'd turn out, but I was pleasantly surprised. I gave it a while to settle and it's really nice. It's our spare bed now, my Mrs prefers the new one we bought but I honestly can't tell the difference.

[Mick_J]

I was once told that when the MZ factory was building 1000cc bikes they would make the Chromo frame up on jig and weld it up and drill all the necessary holes for engine, rear suspension mount and accessories ect.  Once cool it would be put on another jig to bore the steering head bearing cups and swinging arm holes to ensure 100% accuracy of the frame.

[Irish in Oz]

Doing my bit for the environment, going all electric.

[grog]

Should be good Irish. My Whipper Snipper, pressure cleaner and mower petrol, everything else battery. Blower, hedge trimmer, sabre saw. Theyre just 18v so 40 should kick arse. I reckon my pressure cleaner recoil could almost land me in UK.