Design Problem, Rear Wheel shifting to left

[rbike_imp]

I have not looked at my 2013 yet, but bottom line, I get this all the time in my business where customers don't always know what goes into the design specifications and question items at times. When I provide what is involved it makes sense to them.

I suggest you go to your local dealer and measure the same year & model yourself. If all the same models are identical and the bike rides correctly without a pull, the engineers must of had a reason for that design.

Getting deeper, you could do as one suggested, but I would use a rigid metallic straight edge (vs flexible string,...) and see if the front and rear tires are in alignment. You would need to adjust for center line because they are different sizes. Without me being that engineer with the associated education, there could even be a reason for that not to line up and still be correct.

Paraphrased: When you are up to your _____ in alligators, it is hard to remember the original task was to go for a ride.

[dave]

A simple inspection would be to inspect the alignment of the sprockets by looking at the chain. I know the chain guard covers the top of the chain, but I think (I haven't checked) you should be able to inspect the chain alignment by looking at the bottom side.

[LikeAfox_imp]

Please don't use photos for anything but reference, camera lenses, especially those on cell phones, have a very measurable distortion.

[ChipBeck_imp]

Gentlemen,

Here is a clear photo of my '13 CB1100 from the rear. The rear tire is centered and I know the alignment is correct as I checked it myself.

Chip

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Mod%20a3.jpg.html]

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Shift%20CB.jpg.html]

[LongRanger_imp]

Oh heavens, you posted a photo of your license plate on the internet?

Now someone's going to track you down and steal your bike.

Just teasing, of course. I've never understood why some folks mask their license plate on the internet. Do they believe it's possible to identify a vehicle's owner or address from the license plate number? How? Is this information even publicly available?

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Oh heavens, you posted a photo of your license plate on the internet?

Now someone's going to track you down and steal your bike.

Just teasing, of course. I've never understood why some folks mask their license plate on the internet. Do they believe it's possible to identify a vehicle's owner or address from the license plate number? How? Is this information even publicly available?

It is available, if not exactly publicly. But hiding the plate on photos? It is futile unless you can be sure you never have the bike near a CCTV, someone else's GoPro or handheld camera. On the other hand I've seen some personalised plates that, if they were on my bike, I would definitely have hidden. .

Cheers

[ChipBeck_imp]

Oh heavens, you posted a photo of your license plate on the internet?

Now someone's going to track you down and steal your bike.

Just teasing, of course. I've never understood why some folks mask their license plate on the internet. Do they believe it's possible to identify a vehicle's owner or address from the license plate number? How? Is this information even publicly available?

LongRanger (are you a helicopter pilot?),

A thousand people that live in my area see my plate every time I go for a ride. So a few more see it on the internet. I agree with you, doesn't seem like a problem to me.

Chip

[kvdv_imp]

Gentlemen,

Here is a clear photo of my '13 CB1100 from the rear. The rear tire is centered and I know the alignment is correct as I checked it myself.

Chip

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Mod%20a3.jpg.html]

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Shift%20CB.jpg.html]

Guys...this post has been fascinating me. I'm in the camp that believes the answer is 100% an issue of camera angle tricking the eye in the original photo. If you can, try to picture a perfectly plumb line straight down from the center of each rear turn signal, and do the same with a line running upwards from the center of each exhaust outlet. When I do this exercise, my brain tells me that the camera lens was ever so slightly off to starboard, because the distance between those pairs of lines on either side are clearly different, and by no small amount. Doing the same photo over again with an accurately measured lens position precisely on the centerline dead aft of the bike (pardon the sailing stuff, but that's my background) would likely show the tire rubber lined up nicely under the center of the taillight and rear fender. As to another theory proposed: if the rear spacers are different widths and were somehow swapped during assembly or service, I don't believe for a minute that the remaining parts (chain alignment, brake assembly, etc) would go together smoothly or line up at all. It would take a determined and highly negligent mechanic to try and force everything to fit in that scenario. I'm not buying that explanation, personally. I vote for camera angle / optical illusion... - KvdV

[LongRanger_imp]

Oh heavens, you posted a photo of your license plate on the internet?

Now someone's going to track you down and steal your bike.

Just teasing, of course. I've never understood why some folks mask their license plate on the internet. Do they believe it's possible to identify a vehicle's owner or address from the license plate number? How? Is this information even publicly available?

LongRanger (are you a helicopter pilot?),

A thousand people that live in my area see my plate every time I go for a ride. So a few more see it on the internet. I agree with you, doesn't seem like a problem to me.

Chip

I'm not. In fact, I'm a bit fearful of helicopters. The alias was conceived by a riding buddy in the '90's, when I owned a Kawasaki Concours. The bike had a 7.5 gallon gas tank and could be ridden quite a distance before refueling. Today, I organize and participate in IBA long-distance riding events. The alias still seems to fit.

Oh heavens, you posted a photo of your license plate on the internet?

Now someone's going to track you down and steal your bike.

Just teasing, of course. I've never understood why some folks mask their license plate on the internet. Do they believe it's possible to identify a vehicle's owner or address from the license plate number? How? Is this information even publicly available?

LongRanger (are you a helicopter pilot?),

A thousand people that live in my area see my plate every time I go for a ride. So a few more see it on the internet. I agree with you, doesn't seem like a problem to me.

Chip

I'm not. In fact, I'm a bit fearful of helicopters. The alias was conceived by a riding buddy in the '90's, when I owned a Kawasaki Concours. The bike had a 7.5 gallon gas tank and could be ridden quite a distance before refueling. Today, I organize and participate in IBA long-distance riding events. The alias still seems to fit.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

G'day all. Yes, interesting thread. The thing that is really interesting is that if I took a photo of my my bike and achieved that result my first action would be to look at the bike. Shouldn't be any optical illusions there. Not unless I had my beer glasses on. However, I would definitely not take a photo, think that the wheel was off centred, then immediately post that photo on this forum asking for help and then sit down, eating popcorn, and watch the replies come in. Unless, of course, I was pot stirring. And that doesn't happen on this forum. Does it?

On the other hand if I looked at my bike and thought that the rear wheel had mysteriously migrated a little to the left, particularly if it had been in someone else's care, I would have a thorough check of the assembly. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have seen a bloke, "Dinky" by name, when replacing the front wheel, interchange the spacers. The wheel did go back on easily but he was having some difficulty getting the brake calliper back in place. He was grateful for a little advice. Just to set this in context, some years ago I was watching this same bloke change piston rings by clamping the piston skirt, rather than the con rod, in a bench vice so that he could remove and replace the rings. Didn't do much for ensuring that the piston stayed in round. Fortunately I picked him up while he was doing the first of four. He bought me a beer or two for saving him the cost of a set of new pistons. I often wondered if he would have managed to get the pistons back in the bores without using a rubber mallet. Knowing my mate he may have thought a hammer would have been a better tool. So, as my Dad used to say, "If it can be done, it will be done". Sort of like Murphy's Law.

Mockhoff, keep us posted.

Cheers.

And Chip, I keep going back to the photos of your bike, including the one above. Beautiful. Thanks to you, I am going to change the mirrors on my CB. A Christmas gift for Last Blast.

Cheers again.