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Message started by Latimer on 09/07/07 at 12:11:32

Title: First Post - Need help!
Post by Latimer on 09/07/07 at 12:11:32

Hi everyone,

Well I bought my first savage 3 months ago, a red 96. I absolutely love it so far and have been lurking in these forums for a while, must say everyone here seems very helpful. Well I have a problem now that I was hoping someone could help me with.

A week ago I dropped the bike for this first time.... fortunately I was just in my backyard, and it was really just laying it down hard (dog came tearing out of left field and it was either drop the bike or kill my dog...). So after dropping it (fell to the left) the handlebars seem to have gotten bent. At least thats what I think it is. I really dont have much experience with bikes... this is my first one. But from the looks of these pictures? Would you say that the handlebars are bent? Or the fork is bent?

Is there any way to fix this outside of purchasing new handlebars?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Heres links to the pictures for higher resolution

http://bp0.blogger.com/_8Gjl28YjLUI/RuGewz2KhII/AAAAAAAAABs/UsmTDKf7zyQ/s320/CIMG1671.JPG

Picture 1 (http://bp0.blogger.com/_8Gjl28YjLUI/RuGewz2KhII/AAAAAAAAABs/UsmTDKf7zyQ/s1600-h/CIMG1671.JPG)

Picture 2 (http://bp0.blogger.com/_8Gjl28YjLUI/RuGfGz2KhJI/AAAAAAAAAB0/3mq6ibokm8w/s1600-h/CIMG1671.JPG)

Picture 3 (http://bp0.blogger.com/_8Gjl28YjLUI/RuGewz2KhII/AAAAAAAAABs/UsmTDKf7zyQ/s1600-h/CIMG1670.JPG)

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by youzguyz on 09/07/07 at 12:19:52

The handlebar itself looks ok.
Looks to me like the only thing that happened was the left riser rotated a bit counter clockwise, or it got bent towards the back of the bike.
Can't really tell with only one angle on it.

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by Latimer on 09/07/07 at 12:22:32

Sorry, was having a little trouble with my HTML code. If you check the links at the bottom of the first post you will see 3 different angles.

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by youzguyz on 09/07/07 at 12:25:24

I did, and I saw 3 pictures that were all pretty much the same. A view looking down.

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by youzguyz on 09/07/07 at 12:28:12

If you look at it from the side, does it look like the left riser is bent towards the back of the bike?

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by Latimer on 09/07/07 at 12:31:09

sorry... i think my http references are having some problems. anyways heres the other angle (http://bp3.blogger.com/_8Gjl28YjLUI/RuGmpj2KhLI/AAAAAAAAACE/esZBWqyLQUg/s1600-h/CIMG1672.JPG)

http://bp3.blogger.com/_8Gjl28YjLUI/RuGmpj2KhLI/AAAAAAAAACE/esZBWqyLQUg/s320/CIMG1672.JPG

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by Latimer on 09/07/07 at 12:38:17

Hmm Im really new to all this, not even sure what a riser is. Im in the process of downloading the manual right now and am going to brush up on all of it. Here are 2 more angles.

Angle 1 (http://bp0.blogger.com/_8Gjl28YjLUI/RuGohz2KhNI/AAAAAAAAACU/7f1RDz9OI6k/s1600-h/CIMG1675.JPG)

Angle 2 (http://bp0.blogger.com/_8Gjl28YjLUI/RuGoez2KhMI/AAAAAAAAACM/ijEritu2sJ0/s1600-h/CIMG1674.JPG)

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by youzguyz on 09/07/07 at 12:46:21

The riser is the vertical piece that connects the handlebar to the triple T. (The triple T is that large triangle shaped piece of metal).
From angle1, it looks like the left riser is bent.
Take the handlebar off the risers and just set it on a towel on the front of the gas tank.
If it isn't obvious at that point if one of the risers is bent, you can take them off using the nuts that are on the bottom of the Triple T.

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by demin on 09/07/07 at 13:11:08

Looks like maybe you just twisted a riser.Easy fix if thats it.(1)pop off the bolt caps from your risers
(risers are where you handlebars connect)
(2) take a marker put a line on handlebars and riser.
(to line back up later in case bars move)
(3)Loosen clamps then retighten
(4)recheck alignment
This will relieve the pressure
PS When you retighten there should be a gap on both sides of the clamp where it meets the riser.

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by youzguyz on 09/07/07 at 13:11:29

If the above doesn't work:
You should take the risers off anyway, as there are multiple pieces to them. (upper cushion, lower cushion, spacer,etc) Any of which could be damaged.

Steering Stem (http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0271/steering_stem/steering_stem.cfm?man=su&groupid=7170&parent=7080)

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by Latimer on 09/07/07 at 13:17:11

Ok, looks like this might hopefully be an easy fix. Gonna go give this a shot. Thanks for the help guys.

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/08/07 at 11:56:47

I guess if all else fails ya COULD drop it the other way & get it symmetrical.
AWWWW, that aint funny! Sorry, just HAD to say it. Hope you get it figured out. Looks like a NO Cash fix, tho! I hope so,best O luck!

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by slavy on 09/08/07 at 14:08:27

The bars are OK. There are no damages. The Rizers are OK. The only thing that is a little off are the bolts that hold the rizers /the rizers are hollow and there are bolts going thru them/.
To fix the problem turn the bars to the Right all the way and keep pulling with Your right hand and pushing with the left. This should fix it. You might need to get a little help from a friend to keep the bike straight.

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/08/07 at 18:30:40

A close look at the ends of the bolts sticking down thru the bushings looks a bit like the one on the left is maybe not as tight as the one on the right, possibly it is the angle. But, I think I see more bushing between the cup the nut holds against the bushing & the bottom of the upper triple tree. If you cant wrestle it back into position( I kinda hope you can't) loosen the nuts underneath & maybe you will need to loosen the top ends & allow the handlebars to be loosely sitting on top of the risers, & generally, just re install the risers.

Hey, guys, is it possible the bushings need to be spun around the bolt maybe 90 degrees? Maybe the hole thru the bushings has been distorted?

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by islandwahine on 09/08/07 at 18:44:32

Kinda looks like he bent the living daylights out of the bolts that clamp the handlebars down.
I think taking a pic from the side would show more

Title: Re: First Post - Need help!
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/08/07 at 21:30:20

I spose that a possible,, Whynaheck didn I see that?