Hitchcocks Forum

I have a brand new Electra EFI DL and noticed that when the bike is on the stand, the rear wheel leans at an angle to the right. I have taken the bike off the stand and re-checked the wheel but it still seems to be leaning at a slight angle. I have measured the gap between the inside edge of the shock absorber and the outside edge of the tyre; the gap on the right hand side is 4.5cm and the gap on the left hand side is just over 5.5cm. As far as I am aware, it is not possible to adjust the vertical alignment of the rear wheel so this suggests to me that the frame is out of alignment. Am I being paranoid or can someone throw some light on this for me please. The bike is going in for it's first service on Friday so before I start asking for a replacement it would be good to know if anyone else has had a similar problem and whether it can be adjusted or fixed. Thanks in advance, Mick.

Seeing the way some of these bits are made in India, sounds like a good chance the swing arm might have been welded out of square or one of the swing arm bushes has failed. I know there was a problem with the early UCE swing arm bushes, but I thought that had been fixed

Out if curiosity I have just measured my two 500cc (iron) classics.
One is out by about a quarter of an inch, the other by about 1/2".

It's a bit dark outside so these might not be very accurate. But I wonder if the wheel is a bit offset anyway because ofthe chain or something? I do realise that you're talking about lean and not offset, however.

Might be worth a couple more measurements? I'll try mine again in the light!

Anybody else care to try theirs?

Regards, Chris

Check the wheel alignment with a straight edge, this will indicate if the frame or swinging arm is bent except in the very unlikey event that both front and rear ends are bent to the same degree. It is as well to have an idea what is wrong before you approach the dealer for a warranty claim, I have heard some will try to fob you off.

Another thought.......
I've noticed on some bikes I've seen (new!) that the top bracket for the shocker is not welded on quite straight... so we might ought to measure from other points too, to get towards the truth. And certainly not be disappointed when things aren't 100% accurate, as that's partially what we seem to be buying into... charm, quirks etc?

For goodness sake. Mick if it is, as you say brand new, take it straight back to the dealer and get it put right. Do not P**s about with it. You paid good money and you are entitled to get it put right. If it was a £250 washing machine you wouldn't put up with a substandard product and you should not with a new bike, regardless of where it was made. Ignore all comments about "cahrm and Quirks" and get the dealer to earn his money. Sorry rant over.

Even the Chinga stuff is better made, and most of that is junk and I am now trying to organize my life around not buying anything with "Made in China" on it but it is very hard

When a bike is off load the rear shock absorbers are fully extended. If the swingarm is canted over or the two arms are at different angles, then only one shock can be extended fully. An easy test is to remove one shock at a time and attempt the refit. The "higher" side of the swing arm should cause difficlutly in refitting the shock as after removal the "eye" holes will now be out of line as the shock has now fully extended more than the distance of the fixing studs. If both line up and refit accuarately and you are sure the wheel leans over then it is proof that the fixing studs ahve been welded on at different relative positions.

Just take it back to the dealer!.....Let them sort it out, and when they have, ask them what had been wrong, and what they did to fix it.....Then report back to this forum and the collective experience of the members can be brought to bear on the actions taken by the dealer......We really do need to stand-up and shout loudly over examples of what appears to be shoddy workmanship.....(I'll get down of my soap box now!)

Mick, I absolutely have to agree with Mike - as it is a brand new bike (with 2 years warranty) make sure that you clearly show the dealer what you are concerned about and ask that he investigates with Watsonain Squire and gets a reply for you.
Having said that the quality and production techniques of the new framed models is much improved, so it would be a surprise if the problem was found the be significant misalignment.
I do have to agree with Norm on items (not only bike related) made in PRC though - not only is SOME of the quality carp but it is so cheap because it is made in sweat shop factories where workers work long hours for low wages -sometimes child slave labour. The factories have little or no emmisisons controls and so polute the environment. The Chinese government takes the tax and spends it on building its armed forces and repressing those who speak against it. It also artificially devalues its currency in order to keep the costs of their all important exports down.
The good news is that the Chineses workers have started to demand better wages, conditions, shorter hours and the kind of luxury goods (iPads, TV's etc) that they are making for the Western world. This is pushing up their factory gate prices so making their goods less competitive on the world market. People are also starting to realise that there is an environmental cost of shipping goods half way around the world.
The revolution has began - lets all stop buying Chinese goods wherever possible and get UK / European production going again.
It will be a long slow process but from small acorns......
The Euro crisis can be eased, and the world may be a safer, more stable place.
Sorry, I'll take my blood pressure pills and lay down now....