How do you align the front wheel?

When you remove the front wheel, what is the best way to re-align it? It is put on correctly when you feel comfortable letting go of the handlebars at speed. How do you do it?

 

if you just took off the wheel you don't really need to, just put it back on
or
http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/sportrydersw ... thod.shtml

 

That article is somewhat incomplete.

It assumes that having it on the center stand makes the bike level - very unlikely. To get it squared up you need to measure from the swing arm pivot points to ground and shim under the stand until both sides are the same height.

Then you need to measure the distance from ground to both sides of the rear axle - if both aren't the same the swing arm is bent. On a motorcycle with a rear disc brake you can use a level on the disc rather than measuring to the axle.

Then you need to turn the bars until the front wheel is vertical. You can do this by measuring both sides of the axle to ground or using a level on the brake disc.

Now you're ready to run the lines. It's not critical that the distances are the same right and left (some Harleys were deliberately made offset). What is important is that both left measurements are the same and both right measurements are the same. If they aren't the wheels are not running parallel. You want the wheels to be parallel.

My Venture is out by one degree. It is at the swing arm. Of course the big question is whether the swing arm is bent or if Yamaha didn't build them any closer than that. It certainaly isn't an issue for handling or tire wear.

I've only measured one XJ. The wheels were parallel but the rear tracked about 1" to the left of the front. I suspect it was made that way.

At the end of the day though there is no "adjustment" on a shaft drive motorcycle. The motorcycle is bent or it isn't.