Rear Tire Alignment

[Scooterbob]

So I installed my new Metzler tire last night.  When I was finished with putting it back on the bike it visually looks to be sitting to the left side a little bit.  It's not tilted or out of straightness at all from what I can tell.  The chain is at correct tension and markings on tensioners are at the same spot on both sides.  Everything is good except for the look of it being more to the left side.  Is this normal or just an optical illusion of some sort?  

[andyb]

Bent subframe?  Bent swingarm?

Measure and find out.

To see if it's running true, the fast way is using an 8' lightbulb to see where it is relative to the front tire.

[Scooterbob]

No damage that I've done, and I don't see any signs of prior damage.  I will use some sort of straight edge this evening and see the relation to the front tire.  Good idea.

[RichBaker]

~10 ft of string and a jackstand...... put the jackstand in front of the front wheel and run the string down each side from the jackstand. Make sure the string is touching the rear tire at front and back, you should see equal space on each side of the front tire at front and back.

[Scooterbob]

Found the issue after taking everything back off again.  I was not able to move the right side forward enough because I did not loosen the torque rod to the brake caliper.  I was causing enough friction to prevent me from aligning correctly.   

All is good now.  Thanks for your help.  I ended up using a long paint rod to check spacing at front wheel on each side.