TOPIC:

Hi all, my kz650 had an alignment problem. From the rear of the bike, the tire sits off to the left. It is aligned between the front of the swingarm centered, but at the shocks it is out over 1/4". My left shock measures 12" center to center and the right measures 11 3/4", which is where I am assuming my problem lies.

My question is how can I even out the shocks, or are they compressed diffferently due to some other alignment problem?

The bike seems to ride fine, but gets a bit funny on corners, and the wear pattern is offset to the left side of the tire, so I am sure it is just tilted. Front to back seems fine.

Any ideas?

bent swingarm?

How can I tell if its that? Let me guess...remove it and lay it on a flat surface?

I was hoping not to have to tear the bike down...Anything else it could be?

put a jack under frame of bike to level it,remove rear shocks and wheel put level across both sides of swingarm to see what you have,you might be able to leave wheel on if the level will clear the chain but take the shocks off so they arent twisting swingarm. goodluck,happy wrenching!

Hmmm...swinger bushings?
When was the last time You had a look at them?
Lift the rear of the bike,take a prybar and give the pivot area a tweak,and look CLOSELY for any movement.Check right where the swinger mounts to the frame,at each end(side).
Pulling the shocks off will help,but if the swingarm bushing/bearings ARE shot,You should be able to see movement with the shocks on.

Could you maybe have different pre-loads on your shocks? I dont know if that'd make it go out of whack that much, but its something you might look at before tearing down your bike.

I have checked the shocks and set each one both full hard and full soft, then set the longer one soft and the other one hard, no adjustment makes any difference with the center to center dimention...Unless I am not adjusting them right.

There are 4 places when the spring snaps into position by turning the bottom metal ring, so I assume thoes are the only 4 settings. Is there some other adjustment I am not aware of? There is a plastic ring under the metal one that spins as well...

The arrow is pointing to what I adjusted...

Is that whole spot down there by the adjuster threaded?. All i Mean by the preload is are all the adjusters in the same spot? Mine have 4 settings i think, and the difference between the hardest and softest is about half an inch. I was just thinkin that might cause it. But if both your shocks look to be in the same spot, it wouldn't be it.

The bottoms of those shocks are threaded...check each to see that you have the same amount of thread showing on both...then go from there...

I guess I should remove the shocks, that would tell me instantly if it is them or not, then go from there. The only problem is there is no center stand for the bike, and I dont have a lift. Any ideas?

Blocking, beer, and buddies works most times.

A floor jack works perfectly when You put it under where the centerstand used to be...if You have a floor jack?...