'71 Commando, Rear Wheel Tilted? Offset (was: New Member, Introductions)

Background: '71 Commando Roadster. Bought it from a friend....ran like crap, handled like crap, everything is crap. Hopefully I can fix it. It came with 2 other bikes, a '73 Commando 850 that was seized up and a 1968 Honda CL350 (first year). First order of business was to restore the Honda and sell it. Mission accomplished. The proceeds from the sale paid for well over half of the purchase price of all 3 bikes...my conscience is clean.

I completely disassembled the '73 850 several months ago with the idea that some parts can be used on the '71 when I rebuild it and some parts can be sold. The '73 transmission cradle looked better than the '71 because it has the holes for the oil filter and the center stand holes look cleaner. The swingarm also looks more robust. Both swingarm spindles are in great shape, no drag, no play.

First picture....this is my methodology. Front end is tight, engine cases are in place (not tightened though), Z plates are tight and the trans cradle is tightened down.

The next 2 pictures are with the trans cradle and swingarm from the 850 installed. Picture 1 is the bike jacked up and no weight on the rear wheel. Picture 2 is the bike sitting on the rear wheel like a normal bike would sit.




The next series is the trans cradle and swingarm that came on the '71 (that came with it). Picture 1 is rear wheel off the ground, 2 is it sitting.




I realize that there may be parallax effect but in my opinion the '71 looks better. HOWEVER...there is still a pretty substantial offset of the wheel to the left. I've heard some say that is normal. That does not sound right....what say you?

Not normal, the wheel rim should be central in the frame. However, it is very common after 50 odd years of poor maintenance and rebuilding for such errors to develope.

hybridracer said:

Not normal, the wheel rim should be central in the frame. However, it is very common after 50 odd years of poor maintenance and rebuilding for such errors to develope.

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I have read in some places that the Commando rear wheel was laced up with the hub approximately 3/8" to the left. This would explain that fact that that center strip on the tire appear to be about 3/8" to the left of sight plane of the frame backbone.

IT looks like the swingarm is bent. If the front and rear iso mounts are level that should level the swingarm pivot( Front of the swingarm) and then check the level of the axle. I align and put the rear wheel /rim directly behind the front that is centered in the folks and not cocked to one side. You need to have true spokes on each wheel so it is not cocked by the spoking before you begin.

Banzaibob816 said:

I have read in some places that the Commando rear wheel was laced up with the hub approximately 3/8" to the left.

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Any offset was to bring it back in line with the centreline, the engine was over to the right.