I've just been told the greatest handlebar alignment tip!

[Robbied196]

Getting handlebars straight is something I've always had a problem with. I eyeball it down the forks to the wheel, lock the stem, go out for a ride and they are slightly out, which then really annoys me :facepalm:

Here's such a simple tip its got me smiling

Loosen off the stem then slide a 12" steel ruler or something thin and straight through the wheel behind the forks (where the red line is on the photo). Gently roll the bike forward so the spokes trap the ruler against the back of the forks. Then get another longer straight edge, I used a broom handle, and hold it behind the drops of the handlebars (red line on photo). You can then easily see when the two are parallel and you get perfectly aligned handlebars

 

[firedfromthecircus]

Great tip.

 

[Midlife]

Nice . The other way is to line up the front wheel with the down tube so the forks are straight then lay a straight edge across the levers where they touch the bars and check it's not pointing to one side or the other.

Shaun

 

[Jonny69]

Great tip.

Now, all I've got to do is try and remember it!

 

[Robbied196]

Great tip.

Now, all I've got to do is try and remember it!

Remember what?

 

[Midlife]

Nurse !!

 

[Robbied196]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ujmkLTGNM[/youtube]

70s again

 

[Nob]

You can always go High Tech

https://fairwheelbikes.com/tune-spurtre ... -6672.html

 

[non-fixie]

What works for me (and saves me $95, apparently):

Turn the front wheel 90 degrees (easy to see) and align the bar with the top tube.

 

[Woz]

Top tip. Just the other day I was wrestling with this....always astounds me that a lot of
precision goes to making a frame, wheel, bike parts and then fitting the stem can be so wonky.

You'd have thought some sort of sensible notch or etch mark system would be used by now (but alas
we just get an extra sprocket and battery powered gear changes :roll: )