SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Accident damage (bent frame mount) Is it serious?
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1184463275

Message started by metri on 07/14/07 at 18:34:35

Title: Accident damage (bent frame mount) Is it serious?
Post by metri on 07/14/07 at 18:34:35

I was in an accident yesterday. A car turned out right in front of me. I layed it down while braking hard. I'm generally ok, but the front fork tubes are bent, but the worrying damage is a 2 inch dent in the down tube of the frame and one of the left frame mounts is bent (where is attaches to the plate with clutch/footrest). It's only bent, maybe 5-10 degrees.

The question is, how bad is this for the integrity of the frame. Is it worth trying to unbend the mount, or write off the frame entirely?

Thanks for any advice.

Title: Re: Accident damage (bent frame mount) Is it serio
Post by justin_o_guy on 07/14/07 at 21:09:59

A 2 inch dent can be read 2 ways. A dent that is 2 inches long in the downtube. A dent that drives the downtube to the side 2 inches. If it's a shallow dent in the downtube that is 2 inches long, I would say no biggeeee, but if the downtube is moved over 2 inches, that's an issue. I can see repairing it, myself, but paying to have it done would likely cost more than a frame costs. If the forks are really bent thers a cost, but sometimes they are just "Tweaked" & the triple tree clamps can be loosened & straighten them up & the handlebars are straight across again when the tire is pointed straight. To know when it's lined up, get a piece of light rope that doesnt stretch & mark a spot on the front tire, measure to the end of the handlebar, do the same thing on each side & adjust till you get them equal. A little tape on the rope helps & a spot on the tire to make sure you measure at the same place. Whiteout on the tire is good. I had to do this on the Guzzi when I dropped it, cuz it slapped hard enough to make the front tire point left.I wound up kicking the tire to get the thing to go back, Even with the clamp loose, it wouldnt just go back straight without"persuasion". Good Luck.

Title: Re: Accident damage (bent frame mount) Is it serio
Post by metri on 07/15/07 at 04:46:07

The dent on the down tube does not deflect the frame, simply an indentation. The fork tubes are ruined. Mangled would be another term for them. I was mostly concerned by the deflection of one of the motor mounts from when they hit the ground fairly hard.... I'll try and post a pic later today.

Title: Re: Accident damage (bent frame mount) Is it serio
Post by justin_o_guy on 07/15/07 at 08:06:22

I notice you arent talking about yourself being injured. Did you manage to get away without the person who mashed your bike hurting You, too? If so, Congratulations!! Real sad about the bike, but surely their insurance will be buying you another??

Title: Re: Accident damage (bent frame mount) Is it serio
Post by slavy on 07/15/07 at 10:14:41

If the forks are bent, You definitely have bent tripple trees. Also check for the stoper, that prevents triple trees and forks from hitting the gas tank- You might need to have it built back or rewelded.
Other wise everything could be fixed

Title: Re: Accident damage (bent frame mount) Is it serio
Post by justin_o_guy on 07/15/07 at 13:24:31

Study the frame for cracked paint at the welds above & below the bend. If cracked, it's bent more than you can see.