Background
Bought a 1975 CB 750K in the fall of 2010 that came from British Columbia. It was a complete bike I planned to rebuild and cafe. I had taken it on a 20 min road test before laying out the cash. I had to get an "out of province" inspection which is an extensive road worthiness inspection here. I don't disagree with this law.
Certified Motorcycle Inspection facility #1
- Claimed they did a alignment test and found the bike out by 3/4 of an inch. I had never heard of such a thing but that's just me. They couldn't say where or how exactly. Didn't put it on their lazer as the string test, they explained, is the first initial test and they don't go further unless the customer want to pay higher fees. It failed the inspection which cost me $190.00. I wanted a second opinion as they estimated 8 hours and more at shop rates to find and fix it.
The alignment test method was never identified, I didn't think to question they're technique.
Certified Motorcycle inspection facility #2 (owner is known as the local CB750 expert I found out)
- This guy and his tech, that I described the above to, rolled on the floor laughing. Said " There's no way the bike can be out 3/4 of an inch". They couldn't understand why facility 1 didnt put it on the lazer "Cause it only takes 5 minutes". After a two week wait for them to get around to my bike, they came back and agreed the bike was out 3/4 of an inch. Also told me they didn't know where. Said they wanted to take my front end apart, again at hours of shop rate labor, defeating my intent to rebuild and learn on, I left FRUSTRATED and feeling conned. I went back a week later with my triple and forks and was told they were good. I ended finding another frame with an Alberta title, stripped all the parts off my "bent" frame and stuffed it into the attic until today. Re-assembled the parts onto the new frame and got riding.
I don't want to scrap this frame so here's what I did. Not very scientific but it was my first test.
Flipped the frame on its back, leveled it, found center on the back cross member as pictured.
Framing square against tube
Second test. Drew a straight line on the floor. Frame upright, leveled, plumb bob at the rear and plumb bob hanging from the steering stop. Plumb front to back along the straight line. I place a straight edge down the steering tube and noted where the straight edge touched the line. The picture tell the tale.
Is my method flawed and is this not conclusive enough?
Let me know your thoughts.
Various photo's different angles.