I had the opportunity to take a run up 'n down a local mountain.
I noticed that my cycle wanted to "cant" to the right when my arms were off the steering (with the throttle locked to a set speed), instead of going straight ahead.
When I bought the cycle, I inspected the chain and it was not centered on the rear sprocket. I then asked the service manager if he would "fix" this detail and center up the chain on the sprocket. He indicated this was correct, and proceeded to oblige me.
But, after about 30 minutes, he came back and pronounced that he was unable to do this. When he attempted to center the chain on the sprocket, the rear wheel would then be out of alignment by a substantial amount (approx difference between right and left side guide was 1/2 of distance between two guide lines). He also tried centering up the rear wheel on the same two guide lines, but then the chain was somewhat strongly pulled to one side of the sprocket. Nothing he could do would center the rear tire on the cycle center-line (using the same, equal, guide line on either side), and at the same time, adjust the chain so to center that up on the rear sprocket.
The best he could do was a compromise: Reduce the non-centered-ness of the chain so that it was not severely pulled to one side on the sprocket, and at the same time, set the rear tire so that it was also not centered, but now mis-aligned from centerline.
So, now I strongly suspect that this is the reason for the cycle doing this "cant" when it should go straight.
My opinion is, the chain should be centered on the rear sprocket (and the service manager tacitly agreed), but I find no such instructions in the service manual. I read it pretty closely, and I see inspections for stretch, and for "tight-ness", but none for centering. I also see inspections for centering the rear tire on the guides (and warnings are given if this is not done).
So, now I wonder if I have a warranty claim for service or not, against the chain pulling to one side on the sprocket, if the tire is centered.
What do you guys think?