Foolproof way to align handlebars with front tire?

Discussion in 'The Workshop' started by newpos, Oct 10, 2008.

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  1. Danimal

    Danimal Gary the Cat

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    2-3 times a week when coming home from work I see the same lady riding a
    bike.
    the forks are turned backwards. :-k
    This has gotta mess with the geometry.
    I have thought about letting her know, and fixing it, but where's the fun in that. ;)

    think I should print this out and give it to her...
     
    Danimal, Oct 12, 2008
    #21
  2. SAR_boats

    SAR_boats Booze Bikes n Boomsticks

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    Nothing is fool proof. As soon as something is designated as fool proof, the world makes a bigger fool


    That being said, the drop out and wall method is the most accurate.
     
    SAR_boats, Oct 12, 2008
    #22
  3. Kritter

    Kritter Member

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    hang the bike by the front wheel...stand back 10 feet and look at it, adjust till perfect although the front tire removal wall trick sounds good too.

    save the beer drinking for the ride.
     
    Kritter, Oct 12, 2008
    #23
  4. Bryguy17

    Bryguy17 A little Shaggy

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    a few friends and I ran a bike fix as a fundraiser for our club, and there were countless people that came in with backwards forks. the most worrisome were the ones that people had bought from a bike shop and came with a backwards fork :eek:
     
    Bryguy17, Oct 12, 2008
    #24
  5. Abui

    Abui Active Member

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    Hmmm, the brake levers hit first, then the stem face plate.

    --> http://davesbikeblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/aligning-handlebars.html
     
    Abui, Oct 12, 2008
    #25
  6. solo_rider

    solo_rider New Member

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    Darker than Guiness? Hath man invented such evil in this age?

    Maybe the last owner rode the bike backwards? I used to do that as a kid. Sit on the front handle bars and backpedal.
     
    solo_rider, Oct 12, 2008
    #26
  7. newpos

    newpos New Member

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    i like this idea best as well
     
    newpos, Oct 12, 2008
    #27
  8. RacinJason

    RacinJason Banned

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    I set it straight by eye then ride it with the bolt a little loose just in the front yard till I am sure it is correct then tighten it.

    It is not rocket science.

    The answer to the question is give your bike to RacinJason for 2 minutes and don't even bother telling him its crooked he will notice right away. Then fix it. And probably fix other things on your bike you didn't even know where messed up.
     
    RacinJason, Oct 13, 2008
    #28
  9. BrewMaster

    BrewMaster Thirsty

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    Oh yes. Two of my favorites are Darkness and Dark Lord.

    Guinness is child's play.
     
    BrewMaster, Oct 13, 2008
    #29
  10. Abui

    Abui Active Member

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    Try it, then like it. :-k
     
    Abui, Oct 13, 2008
    #30
  11. thephat

    thephat Active Member

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    I find that it is easier to tell if the bars are strait if I get back hehind the saddle and line everything up. This seems to give a better perspective than standing over the top tube, or beside the bike.
     
    thephat, Oct 13, 2008
    #31
  12. strobelite

    strobelite Banned

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    align the tire and stem with the top tube as a point of reference.
     
    strobelite, Oct 13, 2008
    #32
  13. NitrOx

    NitrOx Suspension Junkie

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    NitrOx, Oct 13, 2008
    #33
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