Rear tire alignment

[arzueck]

So after getting the bike off the trailer when I first got it I noticed that the rear tire was rubbing on the inside of the swing arm / drive shaft housing.

I don't know the full history of the bike but I know that since it was last ridden the tires have not been changed, and nothing else has been done to this area of the bike that should affect alignment.

I read Duane Ausherman's write up (http://w6rec.com/bmw-motorcycle-swing-arm-adjustment/). I've loosened the bearings and adjusted the side to side of the swing arms every which way, but even with tapping on the tire with a mallet and loosening the axle pinch bolt, I was only able to move the tire the tiniest bit. It is still rubbing on the tire, but only slightly. (Enough that it is difficult to push the bike around due to the added friction).

The swing arm bearings and wheel bearings have no play in them, so I'm ruling them out for now.

Do I have a bent frame somehow? Could the trailering have done it? Is there a specific spot on the left side of the axle where the swing arm is supposed to rest?

[Zombie Master]

Could it be that somebody installed a tire that was too wide?

[Kurt in S.A.]

Could it be that somebody installed a tire that was too wide?

+1 What size is the tire? The R100/7 should have a 4.00x18 rear tire. If someone's installed a 120/90 tire, that would be the reason.

Kurt in S.A.

[barryh]

If a wider tire has been fitted BMW has a wider top hat spacer available but being 10.7mm instead of 9.2 it only adds 1.5 mm of clearance. Might be enough though.