Best tool I ever bought for my 2015 FJ-09. Had multiple mechanics look at it, and no one could fix the issue; 28k miles into owning the bike, I used this tool, and it rode like it was brand new. No more pulling, and my riding ability, confidence, and enjoyment went way up. Totally worth it.
Just got one today. Luckily it fits right under my chain guard so I dont even have to remove it. Just pop it on for a quick reference. Loving it so far
I think I'm gone blind trying to line up the tool with the chain. How accurate do I need to scrutinize the alignment? Can I replace the rod with a longer rod?
Sick CowPie I don't think it needs to be super accurate. If your eyes says it's aligned then it's fine. Buy a laser unit if you want it to be super accurate. Longer stick will work fine if it's straight and can fit the tool
so if I get the sprocket running centre of chain links or use this chain tool to get it spot on will the rear wheel be aligned too even if marks on swing arm are off or are they two different things , could i have the rear wheel off centre but chain aligned or are they both the same ball park , because i think my rear wheel is spot on straight from taking multiple measurements but sprocket seems to be sitting on right side of chain links , it's a brand new chain and sprockets so I want it right , what's the safest option
This tool will help you get the rear axle aligned properly keeping the rear sprocket in line with the chain. On some bikes the marks on the swingarm are less accurate than others. I have a laser chassis alignment system I use on our race bikes to align the rear axle on our race bikes in place of the marks on the swingarm. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear thanks much appreciated 👍🏼👌🏼, I haven't got the tool yet but I have my rear sprocket running centre of chain with gap either side when spinning the wheel in both directions , I've measure the adjuster bolts to the same length either side so I think I'm fairly close, only issue on the tracer 900 is from the back of blocks to the end of swing arm there's a 2.5mm difference so that's why I made adjuster bolts the same length as at the back it's out massively, I will get a tool soon to confirm the best place to measure from on this bike, thanks again van 👍🏼
Old post by Van but I have a question. I have a 2023 Z900. Bought this alignment tool and slack measuring tool from you. Today I cleaned and lubed my chain. I adjusted the chain using the hash marks on the swing arm. Then I used this tool to check the alignment and the chain was not aligned. So I aligned the chain with this tool and the hash mark readings are off. Left side is just behind a hash mark and right side is just ahead of the hash mark. Could the hash marks be that far off? The tool shows it is perfect. What gives? 🤷🏼♂️
As long as you have this installed on the sprocket correctly I would say the marks are a little off. What I have seen with some models (Ninja 400 is one) the adjuster blocks will move a bit when you tighten the axle due to the tolerances between the parts making the marks look uneven when the axle has been aligned using a laser chassis system. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear I spoke to a service guy and parts guy at my Kawa dealer. They both agreed the marks are enough to get the alignment close, but not exact. The owners manual says to use the hash marks. I measured inside the spacing blocks with a micrometer and got the spacing within .5mm and checked with the alignment tool. It's good, and close enough for my riding skills. Marc Marquez would probably know if it was off by .5mm. :)
Install this on the sprocket and see where the rod sits in relationship to the chain at the back of the tool. In the end you want to see the relationship between the chain and the rod from the tool be the same at the start of the tool and the end of the rod. - Van
At first he didn't install it properly, then he corrected it but never mentioned it, the securing screw on the tool.has to fit between the endentation of the chain link so it sits nice and flush with the sprocket, otherwise it s not giving you and accurate alignment.
Seems like a better design would be to have a magnetic stationary mount that can attach to the sprocket and then have a pivoting fixed mount to hold a rod, like a base mount for a dial indicator....
I cannot get a consistent reading ever with this tool. I align the chain. Take the tool off and put it back on and it isn't aligned. I squared up the rear axle within .05mm with calipers, put the alignment tool back on and the alignment tool shows its way off.
I would think so but do not know enough about that model to say for sure. As long as the bike is a chain drive with a rear sprocket it should work. - Van
I recently bought one of these and i noticed that it reads straight pretty much all the time. You can even be off by one notch on the alignment blocks on the rear and it will still read straight. Your tire has to be really misaligned for this tool to tell you and by then its obvious by just lookin at the blocks. Just playing with the alignment and it was something i noticed. Good tool for new riders tho.
I am going to disagree with you on this one. When the rear axle is misaligned a bit I can see it with this tool. If the alignment rod were to be longer it would be easier to see any misalignment. - Van
It can be hard to see, you really need to focus on the relationship between the rod and the links of the chain.The goal is to have the same gap at both ends of the rod on the tool. - Van
Not even close to a review of the tool itself but an overview. Was really hoping for an actual review of this specific brand of tool, maybe even compared to other's.
I was a little concerned the plastic set screw was cinched down on that sprocket bevel. It clearly showed a little fiddling had to be done because of the bevel issue. The op stated it has to be mounted level on the sprocket and I see in the below post, it did appear to me with that quick look down the chain and the alignment rod were not perfectly in sync, the rod splayed off to the left a little. Why wasn't more video time spent on showing the suspected misalignment? It looked like the people doing the video recognized the error and cut that portion of the video short. If I were doing the video I would have made sure in advance the set screw for the bracket was resting on a level surface, not on a bevel. Or, I would have put a small shim underneath the set screw so the surface contact was flush with the sprocket, done deal. I think that would have given the true reading and likely a correct one and not raise suspicions about this demonstration. If I had that kind of view down the chain line, I wouldn't call it "good enough". I'll give STG the benefit of the doubt here, not a big deal, they are good people. I'm still going ahead and buying this tool from them.
The Driven sprocket has a beveled edge so you are only able to get half of the set screw on the flat surface. IMO not an issue as the aluminum body for the tool sits nicely on the other side and ensures the tool is in alignment. As for the final adjustment the angle at which you are standing (or the camera is held) has an effect on perception. I would say from the angle we show this is super close and could use maybe a minor tweak at most. The main purpose of the video is to give you all a sense of how to use the tool. Feel free to spend as much time as you feel appropriate getting your alignment dialed in. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear Thanks for the response Van, responding at all is a sign of a good company that cares about customer satisfaction. However, I still think the video could have been tweaked just a little and by doing so we wouldn't have raised a possible issue. BTW, hate to harp on the negative. I tried to order the part right after the video, I knew the part had a solid concept, but when I got to check out my shipping charge was almost as much as the part itself. Is there a workaround on what pops up initially on shipping charges? The part was $15 and change, so was the shipping. That led me to buy it elsewhere and the video did serve another purpose, I checked out my sprocket to see if the mounting point was flush and level, it was. I'll be looking into other chain related parts and lubricants, the videos are very helpful.
I purchased that unit, but was not really happy with how finicky it was in use, and having to remove my chain-guard made it that much more cumbersome, but beyond that, I didn't find it to really work all that well. I've since purchased a laser unit, and this is so much much easier to use, and so much more accurate overall. I'd suggest you guys offer a laser unit as well.
PLEASE HELP! I used the tool to align my chain and the tool is straight all the way through. Great. But my tire is turned to the left which is not good to ride. How do I fix my tire to be straight with the alignment tool still being straight?
To be fair this is not something I would be able to help with via TH-cam comments. If you want to snap a pic and email it to service@sportbiketrackgear.com I will try to help you get this sorted out. - Van
A laser tool is more accurate for sure as it will project up to the counter shaft sprocket. That said the alignment rod on this tool is long enough to get you very, very close to perfect and will be more than accurate enough. - Van
To be honest with you the rod is not long enough. If you take your chain off and put a straight edge from your rear gear to your front gear that's the only way to do it properly. I bought that tool tried straining my chain. Took my chain off and then use a straight edge from the rear gear to the front gear and it was off
This is a good idea in theory but would be near impossible to apply to a sportbike that uses a chain with a rivet style master link. Even if you could get the chain off it would be very difficult to get the master link back on with proper chain tension. I use this tool along with the alignment marks on the chain adjusters and get a result I am happy with. When you use the tool make sure you have it installed on the rear sprocket so it is flush with the sprocket (some brands are more difficult than others) to get it as accurate as possible. This is not an exact science, there will almost always be a little misalignment in the drive train. The chain fits loose enough on the sprockets that this is a non issue. - Brian Van
Yeah, that chain isn't straight. This is the third video of this tool where the dude talks and talks, shows a misaligned wheel and says "good to go!". Even the official Motion Pro video is less than instructional.
Best tool I ever bought for my 2015 FJ-09. Had multiple mechanics look at it, and no one could fix the issue; 28k miles into owning the bike, I used this tool, and it rode like it was brand new. No more pulling, and my riding ability, confidence, and enjoyment went way up. Totally worth it.
based on how you look at it, the rod can be going left, straight or right. For example, in the video it looked like the rod was drifting left.
Is it me or the chain in the video is not aligned properly?
Chain alignment is good to go.
Is it my shit eyes or is that chain out.was waiting for it to be straightened out
Yeah it didn't look straight.. Or is it a case of close enough ..Asking cause my partner is meant to be picking one up for me ,that's all..Thanks.
Paul Horvath it looks off, Rod was going left, I have this tool and I’ll stare at it until I know it’s dead on
Probably close enough, when you torque axle back it will always be little bit off than how you set it when it was loose.
Just got one today. Luckily it fits right under my chain guard so I dont even have to remove it. Just pop it on for a quick reference. Loving it so far
I used my chain alignment tool. I'm glad I did. My right side was too far back and I thought it was good.
The marks on the swingarms are not always reliable. - Van
I think I'm gone blind trying to line up the tool with the chain. How accurate do I need to scrutinize the alignment? Can I replace the rod with a longer rod?
Sick CowPie I don't think it needs to be super accurate. If your eyes says it's aligned then it's fine.
Buy a laser unit if you want it to be super accurate.
Longer stick will work fine if it's straight and can fit the tool
so if I get the sprocket running centre of chain links or use this chain tool to get it spot on will the rear wheel be aligned too even if marks on swing arm are off or are they two different things , could i have the rear wheel off centre but chain aligned or are they both the same ball park , because i think my rear wheel is spot on straight from taking multiple measurements but sprocket seems to be sitting on right side of chain links , it's a brand new chain and sprockets so I want it right , what's the safest option
This tool will help you get the rear axle aligned properly keeping the rear sprocket in line with the chain. On some bikes the marks on the swingarm are less accurate than others. I have a laser chassis alignment system I use on our race bikes to align the rear axle on our race bikes in place of the marks on the swingarm. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear thanks much appreciated 👍🏼👌🏼, I haven't got the tool yet but I have my rear sprocket running centre of chain with gap either side when spinning the wheel in both directions , I've measure the adjuster bolts to the same length either side so I think I'm fairly close, only issue on the tracer 900 is from the back of blocks to the end of swing arm there's a 2.5mm difference so that's why I made adjuster bolts the same length as at the back it's out massively, I will get a tool soon to confirm the best place to measure from on this bike, thanks again van 👍🏼
Old post by Van but I have a question. I have a 2023 Z900. Bought this alignment tool and slack measuring tool from you. Today I cleaned and lubed my chain. I adjusted the chain using the hash marks on the swing arm. Then I used this tool to check the alignment and the chain was not aligned. So I aligned the chain with this tool and the hash mark readings are off. Left side is just behind a hash mark and right side is just ahead of the hash mark. Could the hash marks be that far off? The tool shows it is perfect. What gives? 🤷🏼♂️
As long as you have this installed on the sprocket correctly I would say the marks are a little off. What I have seen with some models (Ninja 400 is one) the adjuster blocks will move a bit when you tighten the axle due to the tolerances between the parts making the marks look uneven when the axle has been aligned using a laser chassis system. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear I spoke to a service guy and parts guy at my Kawa dealer. They both agreed the marks are enough to get the alignment close, but not exact. The owners manual says to use the hash marks. I measured inside the spacing blocks with a micrometer and got the spacing within .5mm and checked with the alignment tool. It's good, and close enough for my riding skills. Marc Marquez would probably know if it was off by .5mm. :)
Is this tool become helpful for one side tyre wearing issue?
Your axle would have to be way off to cause that. - Van
Do u line the rod with the center of the inside of the chain
Install this on the sprocket and see where the rod sits in relationship to the chain at the back of the tool. In the end you want to see the relationship between the chain and the rod from the tool be the same at the start of the tool and the end of the rod. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear thank u
I watched many of these reviews and no one mentions the benefit of less tire wear when aligned correctly...
At first he didn't install it properly, then he corrected it but never mentioned it, the securing screw on the tool.has to fit between the endentation of the chain link so it sits nice and flush with the sprocket, otherwise it s not giving you and accurate alignment.
The base of the tool and the mounting screw both need to sit on a flat spot of the rear sprocket to get you an accurate reading. - Van
Seems like a better design would be to have a magnetic stationary mount that can attach to the sprocket and then have a pivoting fixed mount to hold a rod, like a base mount for a dial indicator....
Most riders will install aluminum rear sprockets on their sportbikes. All of our track bikes have aluminum rear sprockets on them. - Van
I cannot get a consistent reading ever with this tool. I align the chain. Take the tool off and put it back on and it isn't aligned. I squared up the rear axle within .05mm with calipers, put the alignment tool back on and the alignment tool shows its way off.
It sounds like the tool is not sitting flush on the sprocket. Make sure there is not a lip on the sprocket or some debris getting in the way. - Van
Can you use this tool on a classic BSA B31 plunger 1953?
I would think so but do not know enough about that model to say for sure. As long as the bike is a chain drive with a rear sprocket it should work. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear thankyou sir
I recently bought one of these and i noticed that it reads straight pretty much all the time. You can even be off by one notch on the alignment blocks on the rear and it will still read straight. Your tire has to be really misaligned for this tool to tell you and by then its obvious by just lookin at the blocks. Just playing with the alignment and it was something i noticed. Good tool for new riders tho.
I am going to disagree with you on this one. When the rear axle is misaligned a bit I can see it with this tool. If the alignment rod were to be longer it would be easier to see any misalignment. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear it just might be hard for me too see. Im gonna use it a bit more and see what i see.
It can be hard to see, you really need to focus on the relationship between the rod and the links of the chain.The goal is to have the same gap at both ends of the rod on the tool. - Van
I thought it would clamp to the sprocket to see if it's pointing at the front one and straight down the chain...shrugs
It does clamp to the rear sprocket and point towards the front sprocket. - Van
Not even close to a review of the tool itself but an overview. Was really hoping for an actual review of this specific brand of tool, maybe even compared to other's.
This is a pretty basic tool, no point in comparing this to other brands. Our intention was to show you how to use it more than review it. - Van
I was a little concerned the plastic set screw was cinched down on that sprocket bevel. It clearly showed a little fiddling had to be done because of the bevel issue. The op stated it has to be mounted level on the sprocket and I see in the below post, it did appear to me with that quick look down the chain and the alignment rod were not perfectly in sync, the rod splayed off to the left a little. Why wasn't more video time spent on showing the suspected misalignment? It looked like the people doing the video recognized the error and cut that portion of the video short. If I were doing the video I would have made sure in advance the set screw for the bracket was resting on a level surface, not on a bevel. Or, I would have put a small shim underneath the set screw so the surface contact was flush with the sprocket, done deal. I think that would have given the true reading and likely a correct one and not raise suspicions about this demonstration. If I had that kind of view down the chain line, I wouldn't call it "good enough". I'll give STG the benefit of the doubt here, not a big deal, they are good people. I'm still going ahead and buying this tool from them.
The Driven sprocket has a beveled edge so you are only able to get half of the set screw on the flat surface. IMO not an issue as the aluminum body for the tool sits nicely on the other side and ensures the tool is in alignment. As for the final adjustment the angle at which you are standing (or the camera is held) has an effect on perception.
I would say from the angle we show this is super close and could use maybe a minor tweak at most. The main purpose of the video is to give you all a sense of how to use the tool. Feel free to spend as much time as you feel appropriate getting your alignment dialed in. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear Thanks for the response Van, responding at all is a sign of a good company that cares about customer satisfaction. However, I still think the video could have been tweaked just a little and by doing so we wouldn't have raised a possible issue. BTW, hate to harp on the negative. I tried to order the part right after the video, I knew the part had a solid concept, but when I got to check out my shipping charge was almost as much as the part itself. Is there a workaround on what pops up initially on shipping charges? The part was $15 and change, so was the shipping. That led me to buy it elsewhere and the video did serve another purpose, I checked out my sprocket to see if the mounting point was flush and level, it was. I'll be looking into other chain related parts and lubricants, the videos are very helpful.
I purchased that unit, but was not really happy with how finicky it was in use, and having to remove my chain-guard made it that much more cumbersome, but beyond that, I didn't find it to really work all that well. I've since purchased a laser unit, and this is so much much easier to use, and so much more accurate overall. I'd suggest you guys offer a laser unit as well.
Laser unit is for sure better, it also sells for much more. This works good IMO, better than the Bikemaster unit I had previously. - Van
Motorcycle Extremist cho xin giá đc ko
@@ucchinhbui8936 trang tiếng Anh m hỏi tiếng Việt.viêtnam nhỏ như cái móng tay..nêu ko co chiên tranh ko ai bit vn là gì lun
Been using this for years.
So why cant I just put any straight edge against my rear sprocket and use the same method?
It would be very difficult to get the straight edge flush with the sprocket with the chain installed. - Van
Piece of key stock against the sprocket worked perfectly fine as far as I can tell.
This can also help to make sure that your rear sprocket is lined up with the drive sprocket on the trans so you dont drop the chain
Yes this is used to get the sprockets and chain running true with one another. - Van
PLEASE HELP! I used the tool to align my chain and the tool is straight all the way through. Great. But my tire is turned to the left which is not good to ride. How do I fix my tire to be straight with the alignment tool still being straight?
To be fair this is not something I would be able to help with via TH-cam comments. If you want to snap a pic and email it to service@sportbiketrackgear.com I will try to help you get this sorted out. - Van
lazer tool, far more accurate. How do you know the rod is dead straight?
A laser tool is more accurate for sure as it will project up to the counter shaft sprocket. That said the alignment rod on this tool is long enough to get you very, very close to perfect and will be more than accurate enough. - Van
Will not work on every bike depending on swing arm type
Exceptions to every rule. This works well on most bikes. - Van
Thanks Pro
You're welcome and thanks for watching. - Van
To be honest with you the rod is not long enough. If you take your chain off and put a straight edge from your rear gear to your front gear that's the only way to do it properly. I bought that tool tried straining my chain. Took my chain off and then use a straight edge from the rear gear to the front gear and it was off
This is a good idea in theory but would be near impossible to apply to a sportbike that uses a chain with a rivet style master link. Even if you could get the chain off it would be very difficult to get the master link back on with proper chain tension.
I use this tool along with the alignment marks on the chain adjusters and get a result I am happy with. When you use the tool make sure you have it installed on the rear sprocket so it is flush with the sprocket (some brands are more difficult than others) to get it as accurate as possible. This is not an exact science, there will almost always be a little misalignment in the drive train. The chain fits loose enough on the sprockets that this is a non issue. - Brian Van
Aint nuthin wrong with Motion Pro anything.
They make some bad ass moto centric tools. - Van
👍👍👍👍
Thank you for watching! - Van
Yeah, that chain isn't straight. This is the third video of this tool where the dude talks and talks, shows a misaligned wheel and says "good to go!". Even the official Motion Pro video is less than instructional.
Bullshit the chain is 100% straight. If you can do a better job let's see the video Mr Wizard. - Van
@@sportbiketrackgear Yes if your cross eyed. lol
Why didn’t you show how to adjust it 😂
We have done that in several other videos. - Van
Don’t use this it’ll make your rear wheel not aligned right, the chain will be straight but not your rear wheel
This tool works very well and helps to get the rear axle properly aligned. If the rear axle is straight the chain will be straight as well. - Van
Dude, I think your shirt shrunk in the wash.
Shirt fits perfect! - Van
Start lifting and once you get big you will understand Sean.
This is NOT how to use this tool .... it has to sit on the sprocket omg.....nr 1 on google and so wrong.
It is sitting on the sprocket Mr Wizard. - Van
Waste of money..thought it would do more than eye balling the rod.
I still use this all the time. Works great and it is cheap. - Van