This is one job I hate doing - I spend ages moving the stem a couple of mil each way, and just when I thought I had it, I go for a ride and spot its miles out!!
So what techniques are employed?
Look down on it from above and see that it lines up with the tyre.
My current grumble on the bike whatever I do it just doesn't seem to be lined up! And relax..... Same technique as above usually works
I find it easier with Thomson stems due to the wide square profile and line it up with the end of the forks or hub axle...irritaing job though.
As Goan said, then go up the road and try and ride no handed. You will find out if it is out of line. But remember, one of your eyes may have a a slightly different angle so doing the looking at it with one eye closed then the other doesnt always work.
Last resort is to make sure the wheel is straig and then hand plumb lines of the bars either side and check the gaps between them SIMPLES!
I'm actually suprised Park don't have a tool for it!!
Maybe I'll suggest it to them - 'coming soon to a bike shop near you, the Park wheel alignment tool, only £99.99'!
I stick the front wheel against a wall and then move myself forward or backwards while straddling the bike until I see the crown just "meet" the bars. Obviously, it should meet equally both sides at the same time. If I've got a really tricky one, I'll get two long bits of wood, one one the bars and one across the fork legs and try the same.
my mate comes round with one of these - Job done 😉
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Turn the wheel off centre and align stem with tyre. Trying to do it straight ahead is harder for some reason.
Always badly! NOne of my bikes have the bars 100% straight.
by eye from above lining up the bars with a feature on the top of the forks ie the diameter of the adjusters
it doesn't need to be that accurate, it's highly unlikely your arms are the same length
Used to be easy with 110mm stems, but since I started using 70mm stems, I have the same chuffing problem as above. Get it nicely lined up, go for a ride and it's waaaay off. WTF!
crispybacon - just so happens I'm a dab hand with a theodolite - work won't notice its missing! Actually they're doing a training course on our new one this week, I'll take the bike in and get them to sort it!!
Crispy Bacon - Funny, very!
Thanks - gizzardman - one of my better efforts 😆
Get a long straight pole, such as a broom handle, place the broom horizontal against the front of the stanchions of your fork whilst standing behind the bars. Move you head up/down until the ends of the handlebar line up with the broom handle.
Job done.
Piece of string with a weight on it, obv weight at the bottom and line it up that way.
doesn't matter, you'll adjust to it wherever it is.
think its michael pascal who rides with his waaaaay out
not worth being anal about it IMHO
Does it even matter within reason? Rode my last hardtail for well over a year knowing it was a few degrees out just never got around to tweaking it
Tap the wheel about till it looks about right, then just ride and forget about it. It's pretty obvious if it's too far out whilst you're riding!
I know it ain't important in the overall scheme of things, and you can get used to it, but it just annoys me 'cos it's not straight! Nice tip with the broom handle, tho', I give that a try.
How do you check that your arms are the same length?
Off the bike, straddling the front wheel - which I have wedged between my legs. Somehow I find that easier than looking at it from about the toptube...
It's really not worth the risk of getting it wrong - support your LBS....
Mine's well out.
It's a simple case of checking the angle of dangle, which is directly proportionate to the heat of the beat, if the urge is constant.
Or use the broom thing as above, sound like a winner.
Take it for a quick ride and take an allen key 😀
There is a DH rider that rides with his bars squint on purpose 😯
Yep.....Maybe this a job for your LBS??
i am with get it roughly right, then ride up and down the road with an allen key, (though usually it is the end of my first ride) ... then all you have to sort out is the angle (rotation) of the bars, brakes, gears....
I just do it quickly by roughly lining it up and I'm quite happy with that.
Got a mate who obsesses over it being perfect.
Get it nearly right by just looking, then ride,adjust,ride,adjust,ride,adjust etc etc. All bikes are spot on. Car steering wheel pulls left though.