Front-end alignment
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Front-end alignment - 9/23/2008 6:11:33 PM
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Osolage
Posts: 16
Joined: 7/31/2008
From: Appomattox, VA
Status: offline
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Hi, all,
I''ve had my bike (''92 CBR 600 F2) for just round about a month now. I''ve ridden it quite a bit. I even took to riding it to work over the last couple of weeks. So much fun! I''ve been wanting a bike for some years now, always looking longingly towards the direction of any that I hear passing by. Fortunately, through a serious of circumstances, I brought myself to buy one this year.
Anyways, I see lots of good posts on the forum. I haven''t seen a post that does good justice on discussing all the parts of a bike. Like I''m still stuck trying to figure out what the heck a fork is. Fortunately, there''s a Wikipedia page about it. But what I''m wondering is whether it makes sense to create a sticky post in the newbie forum where people can post links to articles/videos discussing bike mechanics in detail. I''d love to see a video discussing all the various parts of a bike, what they do, and how to maintain them. Do such videos exist? And where can I find them?
At this point, I''m really curious about all of this, because, being that I have a ''92, I''m gonna have to have some work done on the bike. Like last week I realized that my front-end is out of line. I''d like to try to fix it myself, but I don''t feel I know enough about the bikes in general to do it justice. And I know I''m gonna need to put coolant into the bike really soon, too. Like that''s gonna be a chore cause it seems like I''m gonna at least to have to take one of the fairings off to get to the coolant reservoir. Anyways, videos of what is what and such would really help me. I''m not a gearhead, but with patience and learning I''d like to be...
Anyways, would love to see some links to great informational articles/videos to be more than just a rider. 
_____________________________
My first bike! ''''''''94 CBR 600 F-2!
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RE: Front-end alignment - 9/23/2008 8:28:57 PM
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chainstretcher
Posts: 4560
Joined: 11/5/2004
Status: online
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A front end alignment on a bike? Never heard of that one before. If your rear end isn''t tracking with the front then you could have a bent frame. But that would not be a simple fix. Dunno what symptoms the bike is displaying but if it''s handling funny check the tires for wear and proper pressure. Also could be a loose steering head or bad steering head bearings.
Most of the info you seek is available here in the bike specific forums ... or in general tech if all else fails. You sound a bit hesitant to remove plastics ... don''t be. Any real work you do to your bike involves taking off lots of plastic. Just make sure you have something soft under the bike and a soft clean place to lay the plastics on while you do your work. Might as well change the oil while you replace coolant.
_____________________________
It's better to burn out ...
Than high side!
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RE: Front-end alignment - 10/9/2008 5:59:29 AM
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Osolage
Posts: 16
Joined: 7/31/2008
From: Appomattox, VA
Status: offline
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Thanks for the advice chainstretcher. I think I might be doing some work this weekend on the bike. I did ride it last week and realized that the front end doesn''t need alignment. The problem appears to be that the handlebars are just a little off-center. When I straighten the wheel, it seems that the thing that the grips are attached to is cocked to the right just enough for me to feel one side of my back turned more than the other.
I don''t know the part names, so I think I might order myself a maintenance manual, since the guy who sold me the bike didn''t have one to give. There''s some bolt that needs to be loosened so that I can reposition the handlebar. I think once I get that aligned, I''ll feel a lot more comfortable riding.
BTW - since front-end alignments on a bike is pretty much unheard of, how can you tell whether the front wheel is positioned in between the forks properly? Or is it all taken care of by making sure the axle is pushed all the way in? Oh god, I''m a newbie, I don''t know these things. :-(
_____________________________
My first bike! ''''''''94 CBR 600 F-2!
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