Fork alignment

[Speedy1959]

Hi all,
In view of my recent post Re excessive front tyre wear on one side, I thought I would freshen up my knowlege about front fork alignment..
I watched half a dozen videos in order to get a "flavour" of the procedure..
It pretty much makes sense to me BUT most of the videos say NOT to put the bike on the centre stand!!
Why on earth not?
I dont own a paddock stand (because I have a centre stand)..
Can anyone explain how it would adversely affect front fork alignment by using the centre stand?

S.

[Hooli]

I can't imagine how it would, on the centre stand the bike is upright so not pushing the forks to the side.

Ive done fork rebuilds on several different bikes and always used the centre stand if they've got one. All rode right afterwards.

[grog]

Just me Speedy IMO, i wouldnt worry, change the tyre and ride on. If it rides straight with hands off the bars, id be happy. Over reacting just not worth it sometimes. All tyres scallop, as Johno said, road is not flat.

[Speedy1959]

Thanks very much to you both for your responses..

S.

[Phill P]

Shirley if its lining up on the top yolk then it's level, if its not then you have bigger problems

[Mick_J]

I also suffer from uneven wear on my front tyre and I'm convinced I have found the reason, and it's not the bike.
I was finding the right side would wear much more than the lest side so I did all the usual thinks, check forks, wheel alignment, brakes, tyre pressure ETC and could not find anything wrong.  Then I started to analyse my riding and realised that for some reason I am better at left handers than right. I generally power through a left hander but back off in right handers, this puts more weight on the front right side of the tyre and gives more wear.  I now concentrate more on keeping the power on in right handers and this has reduced the problem.

[hard road]

I'd like to know why you can't do wheel alignment while its on the main stand    I've done many customers bikes on the main stand and on a paddock stand, can't see how it makes any difference 

[Tony Nitrous]

BUT most of the videos say...

It's good to do research but take it with a large pinch of salt if they don't back it up with good reasoning.

Internet experts can be a modern version to "bloke down the pub says........."

[hard road]

BUT most of the videos say...

It's good to do research but take it with a large pinch of salt if they don't back it up with good reasoning.

Internet experts can be a modern version to "bloke down the pub says........."

yeah exactly, you can't believe everything you read or see on youtube   

[Mick_J]

The only thing I can think of is that on the main stand the steering geometry is changed so the forks wont work the same when the bike is on both wheels or even on axle stands.  There will also be a change in weight distribution.  I don't see how this will effect alignment but it will change the angle for caster and wheelbase measurements.

[hard road]

The only thing I can think of is that on the main stand the steering geometry is changed so the forks wont work the same when the bike is on both wheels or even on axle stands.  There will also be a change in weight distribution.  I don't see how this will effect alignment but it will change the angle for caster and wheelbase measurements.

has nothing to do with alignment   

[gsxbarmy]

The only reason I can think is that if you are checking the front and rear wheel are aligned is that the main stand gets in the way!

Seriously though, I can't see any reason for not using the mainstand, can't see how that would influence or affect fork alignment in any way at all. To me a simple check of if the forks are aligned is to support the weight of the bike on the centre stand, and loosen the front axle, then try to slide the axle out of the fork. If it comes away with little effort, the forks are in or pretty well in alignment.

[hard road]

The only reason I can think is that if you are checking the front and rear wheel are aligned is that the main stand gets in the way!

Seriously though, I can't see any reason for not using the mainstand, can't see how that would influence or affect fork alignment in any way at all. To me a simple check of if the forks are aligned is to support the weight of the bike on the centre stand, and loosen the front axle, then try to slide the axle out of the fork. If it comes away with little effort, the forks are in or pretty well in alignment.

yeah their where sometimes where the main stand gets in the way, so its up on a paddock stand.

[Speedy1959]

Shirley if its lining up on the top yolk then it's level, if its not then you have bigger problems

Youre probably right BUT DONT call me "Shirley". 

[KiwiCol]

Is Shirley Speed your sister Si?                    or you're alter ego . . .