Lazer Adjustment - What exactly are we aligning

[Fjrwillie]

I have meaning to ask this for 3 years and always forget to post the question

Willie

[Peter Aawen]

Wheels.

[PMK]

Yes wheels...

Actually, first the belt is aligned if needed. Then the front wheel toe in is set or aligned as it is often called.

Spyders are pretty primitive in the front suspension / steering design. No adjustments to correct caster or camber angles, only true adjustment is toe in. However, altering front ride height does alter camber slightly, but technically is not adjustable.

[Freddy]

Wheels.

HOLY SMOKE - that's the shortest answer you ever posted. Keep up the good work.

[Peter Aawen]

Yes!

[PinkRosePetal]

I have meaning to ask this for 3 years and always forget to post the question

Willie

If you were looking from above your Spyder, the adjustment is how much the front of the wheels angle in or out from being parallel. If they're closer together at the front that is referred to as toe-in and if they're further apart at the front it's referred to as toe-out. Toe-in is considered negative and toe-out is positive. It's often set as a distance, say 3mm toe-in but it can also be given as an angle, say -0.1 degrees. In this example the 3mm refers to the distance between the wheels being 3mm closer together at the front than at the rear of the wheel. The exact point of measurement at the wheel is normally given in the service manual, but not in BRP's case (Why am I not surprised!?) I use the edge of the wheel rim as a datum distance and 3mm toe-in is what I set.

For info, I use two lasers to set the toe-in, one on each side, rather than move the Spyder, which is prone to serious error, I move the target.

I hope this was useful to you Fjrwillie.

[Lew L]

Ann and Joe will also center the handlebars if necessary.

Lew L

[Eckhard]

Wheels.

HOLY SMOKE - that's the shortest answer you ever posted. Keep up the good work.

Less is more. 7 keystrokes less to arrive at perfection.

[Chupaca]

As stated above.... you are aligning, rear wheel, the toe in/out along with setting the handlebars to center and re-setting the steering sensor with the buds program. Seems prior systems used the frame as the alignment point but this does not take into consideration the difference in the rear wheel...

[Jeriatric]

As stated above.... you are aligning, rear wheel, the toe in/out along with setting the handlebars to center and re-setting the steering sensor with the buds program. Seems prior systems used the frame as the alignment point but this does not take into consideration the difference in the rear wheel...

We've come a long way from the days when we would sprinkle a little flour on the garage floor, spread it around with a broom, before rolling the front wheels through it to take our measurements from.

[SpyderAnn01]

We've come a long way from the days when we would sprinkle a little flour on the garage floor, spread it around with a broom, before rolling the front wheels through it to take our measurements from.

I think there are still some dealers using that method!

[Jeriatric]

I think there are still some dealers using that method!

Little doubt. Or at least some antiquated form. But hey, that's not bad for business

[Grandpot]

Are we also aligning the tracking of the rear wheel to the toe in of the front wheels? What I mean is, if the rear wheel must point slightly to to left or right for a proper belt alignment, do the front wheels and handlebar compensate for that?

[Spyderlass]

Are we also aligning the tracking of the rear wheel to the toe in of the front wheels? What I mean is, if the rear wheel must point slightly to to left or right for a proper belt alignment, do the front wheels and handlebar compensate for that?

I don't think that's possible. The bike can be set up to feel correct, bars central etc, but if the rear wheel is not parallel to the frame, the bike will travel slightly sideways though the wheels will be parallel. It's just a function of the design and an out of alignment rear steers the bike, the bars are turned to compensate until the front wheels are parallel with the rear wheel then the bike follows a straight course but is slightly sideways.

A better design would have the wheels properly aligned and the engine adjusted for correct belt tracking. IMHO, of course.

[Jeriatric]

I don't think that's possible. The bike can be set up to feel correct, bars central etc, but if the rear wheel is not parallel to the frame, the bike will travel slightly sideways though the wheels will be parallel. It's just a function of the design and an out of alignment rear steers the bike, the bars are turned to compensate until the front wheels are parallel with the rear wheel then the bike follows a straight course but is slightly sideways.

A better design would have the wheels properly aligned and the engine adjusted for correct belt tracking. IMHO, of course.

Excellent point, and it wouldn't be as difficult to engineer as it may sound. imo

[Grandpot]

I don't think that's possible. The bike can be set up to feel correct, bars central etc, but if the rear wheel is not parallel to the frame, the bike will travel slightly sideways though the wheels will be parallel. It's just a function of the design and an out of alignment rear steers the bike, the bars are turned to compensate until the front wheels are parallel with the rear wheel then the bike follows a straight course but is slightly sideways.

A better design would have the wheels properly aligned and the engine adjusted for correct belt tracking. IMHO, of course.

If the rear wheel was not on centerline and front wheels were aligned straight ahead the handlebars would need to be turned in order to go straight as you said. This would effect the yaw compensation. Oh, this gets deep.

[Jeriatric]

If the rear wheel was not on centerline and front wheels were aligned straight ahead the handlebars would need to be turned in order to go straight as you said. This would effect the yaw compensation. Oh, this gets deep.

The rider is doing the compensating. Sometimes knowingly - if it's out a lot, and unknowingly if it's just slightly out of align.

[PinkRosePetal]

The rider is doing the compensating. Sometimes knowingly - if it's out a lot, and unknowingly if it's just slightly out of align.

Yes I think that's right and it's probably happening all the time we ride on a cambered road whether the bike is set straight or not.

[Eckhard]

Are we also aligning the tracking of the rear wheel to the toe in of the front wheels? What I mean is, if the rear wheel must point slightly to to left or right for a proper belt alignment, do the front wheels and handlebar compensate for that?

That's been gnawing at me for awhile that the angle of the rear wheel wasn't taken into account. Looks like it doesn't need to be. Not can it be it seems.

[Docster]

I actually had my lasers aligned. Well, they're really phasers...for those ******* cagers

[Peter Aawen]

I actually had my lasers aligned. Well, they're really phasers...for those ******* cagers

Phasers would sorta work, but a blinding flash of light & no more cage just wouldn't work for me!! I think I'd rather like to SEE a string of holes get punched into the doors and the resulting twisted metal and broken bits flying off the cages as a burst of 50 Cal slugs hit it & plow on thru everything!!


It's such a shame that doing that sorta thing would be frowned upon!

[flea]

after lazer alignment do you have to put it on bubs for any reason

[Highwayman2013]

after lazer alignment do you have to put it on bubs for any reason

If you mean BUDS, yes to reset the steering sensor.

[PinkRosePetal]

after lazer alignment do you have to put it on buds for any reason

Maybe aye maybe no. If the original alignment was central as it should be, then (even though it had toe-in or toe-out) after correct and equal adjustment of the tie-rods on each side the steering sensor will still be correctly aligned. I guess it depends on how much you trust the original set up and how much you trust the person doing the realignment.

[SpyderAnn01]

We put every Spyder on BUDS after we align them. Why would you want to roll the dice and not? Anyone doing alignments should have BUDS.