rear wheel offset...63.5mm?

[552255]

After chewing up a PR2 left side pretty fast, and noticing a 'lean' or pull to the left as i'm riding, was curious about the front to rear wheel alignment...measured using the string method of extending both edges of rear wheel/tire forward, and measuring to front wheel/tire edge.   What i got was 63.5mm on the right side and 0.0mm on the left.  The front and rear left side wheels are 'flush' with eachother, the rightside was the 63.5mm distance. 

Bike has the RS or R bike 4.5"wide rear rim installed...vs. 3.5" OEM--its an LT.

The rear wheel is offset to right...the bike steers ok but has a lean/pull left and i think a tilt when riding, thus wearing the left sides of both tires fast...got a new rear tire mounted.  Just wondering if i should try and space the rear rim over to left 2 or 4mm, the bolts will not be long enough with any more i'm afraid.

The tire has little clearance with swingarm on right, and lots on left side...any thought apprecieated!

[johnny]

greetings 552255...

no experience with the lt here butts i thinks mystic red has the same offset with no unusual tire wear on his lt...

part number 36311451791 called shim is the spacer that goes between the wheel and the final drive... it is 2mm thick... i have tried as many as 4 with no noticeable effect on a 1994 k1100rs...

i had a f ed avon tire rubbing right so i pushed it to the left as far as i could go... didnt change tire wear or handling... thats oem 2mm plus 6mm more using the same oem wheel bolts...

j o

[552255]

three additional spacers...and no side effects, hmmpf....were the stock bolts long enough to use?   found the manual spec of 12mm permissable for a LT, but none given for the RS.   I'm way 'right' so i may try and add the spacers if the bolts will still work.    Anyone got spacers?   i see em at maxbmw.

thanks for the input, wish the addt'l 3 spacers would've  worked better.

Eric 

[Rick G]

Have you checked the frame alignment, it sounds to me that there is a problem somewhere. With the bike on the center stand check the rear wheel is vertical using a bubble level and also for the front wheel and forks with the wheel at center also check the castor at full lock each way. Get the front wheel at the position where the wheel is vertical and if it appears to be off the center position then there is a problem, get a professional to check it out
I have a 4.5 in RS wheel on my K1100LT and it is dead center as was the 3in standard wheel.
The K frames are strong but they can and do bend.

[552255]

Yes, the bike frame is probably skewed...it's a wrecked bike that i have done much re-hab (mostly maintenance) too.  But i had to shim out one of the front brake rotors to spin evenly, as it was slighly bent at the wheel attaching point , it now spins good, the rotor carrier was apparently bent in the wreck(got a new one).  Other than that it's been good..except for the bad tire wear now, leading me to figure somethings out of whack.

Frame straightening?  may be too much for this shadetree mechanic...and not worth the dollars.   My fix may be to shim the rear over as much as practible and run.

Will check the camber of wheels etc. and look at frame to see if 'bend' is apparent.

Thanks guys-

[wvoutpost]

If you have a GMD Computrac facility anywhere near you they could measure the frame and straighten it pretty easily.  Just a thought.

[Rick G]

Would be easy to get a used frame there is usually 2 or 3 on ebay at any given time and for about $50. Its a fair bit of work to change over but by the time you are finished you will know the bike inside out.
It's not a tech difficult job but just take heaps of photos and take your time.

[Scott_]

Just make sure that if you buy a frame, that it comes with a clean title, since that's where the VIN #'s come from.....
Otherwise you may have trouble if your state has annual inspections that look for things like that.

[552255]

Leveled the bike on ctr. stand (across frame bars under seat) to acct. for floor slope...and the rear wheel was vertical/plumb.  Extended a string from rear wheel forwards, right side, and then 'plumbed' the front wheel (lifted off ground) to center...its definately a bent frame/fork situation...plainly visible without the string etc.

Will look into GMD straightening (what do they do bend the neck area back?) and I see the used frames for sale.  Looks like a swap out is pretty straightforward, the engine/trans/drive/rear wheel become the "base"...and the frame will lift off...removing forks and fairing first.

Concerns would be that i didn't buy another bent frame off a wrecked bike....and the fork tubes and 'tree' would be bent as well....well, looks like a winter project anyway..

thanks will take some photos..
Eric