minig0d
12-28-2007, 09:51 PM
Ok so the story goes that I've been looking into a better/easier rear wheel alignment tool/system for a while now... I've looked into a lot of the laser systems and for $1200 for the one I would buy if I did want to go that route, it just isn't worth it... I looked a lot of the alternatives and decided that the next best thing is the rear axle to swingarm pivot measuring tools. A bunch of companies make these tools and there are a few people who have even rigged themselves up some. I didn't feel like rigging one up so I looked around at the premades. After looking at the alternatives, I decided on the Rhino Moto Axelign tool. The design made sense and it looked a bit more substantial for the money then a lot of the other tools. I was actually able to get it on special for $130 shipped but the price has since went back to $150+shipping ($10 shipping I believe).
The tool came in a nice plastic tube which holds all the parts for storage (a nice touch). Operation is pretty straightforward. You put one of the rods through the swingarm pivot and one through the rear axle and put a cone on each side with a little thumbscrew to lock it into place. This centers the rod in the hole. You hook the long arm onto the rod and adjust the other end til it falls nicely on the other rod. You the detach it from that side and move it to the other. If it lines up perfectly you are in business. If it doesn't you adjust your axle adjusters until it does line up perfectly. Your rear wheel and chain are now theoretically perfectly in alignment!
(You should loosen your axle bolt before installing the tool and then after achieving alignment, remove the tool and retorque the axle bolt to spec. You can then check the alignment again after its torqued down to make sure it didn't shift any)
A lot of people may say that it is a lot of money for this purpose but I promise the grin on your face from how smooth and neutral your bike feels after the fact will be worth it! Previously I had used the digital caliper method of measuring the adjusters on the swingarm which gets you in the ballpark. They say this system is good within 0.1 degree which is pretty damn accurate. I would say this method is equally as acurate as the string method (and probably more accurate if you aren't very proficient with the string method (it's more goof-proof)) and start to finish takes 10 minutes at most whereas the last time I tried the string method by myself it took almost an hour and the bike didn't feel as good as this.
Only problem that I've ran into so far is the threaded rod that the adjuster is on is cutting it close on my bike to not being long enough. I just put in an email to them and hopefully they'll send me a longer version. Worst case scenario I should be able to get a longer threaded rod from a hardware store for a couple bucks!
EDIT: I just received an email back from them (within 30 minutes of the original email!!!) saying they would send me a longer rod if I wanted or he suggested that it is 1/4"-20 rod which should be available at Home Depot for around a quarter a foot (meaning it'll cost me maybe 50 cents for a much longer rod!) Very good customer service thus far :)
CLIFFNOTES: good product, I highly recommend it!
PS: I will be happy to bring it to the next tech day so yall can see how much better your bike feels after the fact :)
PPS: It will still not make a Suzuki feel as good as a Honda, sorry!
Here is a link to the manufacturer's store direct:
http://www.e-securedsite.com/rhinomoto/store/myProducts.cfm?parentcategoryid=7%7CTools&productID=24&showDetail=1&categoryID=7|Tools&vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=&collection=
http://www.e-securedsite.com/rhinomoto/store/images%5Clg243629586.jpg
The tool came in a nice plastic tube which holds all the parts for storage (a nice touch). Operation is pretty straightforward. You put one of the rods through the swingarm pivot and one through the rear axle and put a cone on each side with a little thumbscrew to lock it into place. This centers the rod in the hole. You hook the long arm onto the rod and adjust the other end til it falls nicely on the other rod. You the detach it from that side and move it to the other. If it lines up perfectly you are in business. If it doesn't you adjust your axle adjusters until it does line up perfectly. Your rear wheel and chain are now theoretically perfectly in alignment!
(You should loosen your axle bolt before installing the tool and then after achieving alignment, remove the tool and retorque the axle bolt to spec. You can then check the alignment again after its torqued down to make sure it didn't shift any)
A lot of people may say that it is a lot of money for this purpose but I promise the grin on your face from how smooth and neutral your bike feels after the fact will be worth it! Previously I had used the digital caliper method of measuring the adjusters on the swingarm which gets you in the ballpark. They say this system is good within 0.1 degree which is pretty damn accurate. I would say this method is equally as acurate as the string method (and probably more accurate if you aren't very proficient with the string method (it's more goof-proof)) and start to finish takes 10 minutes at most whereas the last time I tried the string method by myself it took almost an hour and the bike didn't feel as good as this.
Only problem that I've ran into so far is the threaded rod that the adjuster is on is cutting it close on my bike to not being long enough. I just put in an email to them and hopefully they'll send me a longer version. Worst case scenario I should be able to get a longer threaded rod from a hardware store for a couple bucks!
EDIT: I just received an email back from them (within 30 minutes of the original email!!!) saying they would send me a longer rod if I wanted or he suggested that it is 1/4"-20 rod which should be available at Home Depot for around a quarter a foot (meaning it'll cost me maybe 50 cents for a much longer rod!) Very good customer service thus far :)
CLIFFNOTES: good product, I highly recommend it!
PS: I will be happy to bring it to the next tech day so yall can see how much better your bike feels after the fact :)
PPS: It will still not make a Suzuki feel as good as a Honda, sorry!
Here is a link to the manufacturer's store direct:
http://www.e-securedsite.com/rhinomoto/store/myProducts.cfm?parentcategoryid=7%7CTools&productID=24&showDetail=1&categoryID=7|Tools&vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=&collection=
http://www.e-securedsite.com/rhinomoto/store/images%5Clg243629586.jpg