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Message started by runwyrlph aka limpaway on 02/24/14 at 19:28:21

Title: bike damage pics
Post by runwyrlph aka limpaway on 02/24/14 at 19:28:21

Well, I got the salvage delivered today from my getting run over last October.

Here's some pics of the damage.

Handlebars forced past the stop, triple tree dented tank on front.

Headlight bucket scraped and dented/awry, but still lights

front fender bent down rubbing tire

left side engine case took most abrasion

foot peg bent up

poor saddle bag...

Can't really see in these pics, but probably most worrisome to me from a "fixing" standpoint: front wheel is out of line with handlebars - could forks be bent, or axle?

http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/madcap_bucket/100_4446.jpg

http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/madcap_bucket/100_4332.jpg
http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/madcap_bucket/100_4331.jpg

http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/madcap_bucket/100_4334.jpg

http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy299/madcap_bucket/100_4333.jpg

[img][/img]

Title: Re: bike damage pics
Post by Dave on 02/25/14 at 06:27:22

Well you certainly have some work to do.

The front end being tweaked my not be horrible....it used to happen a lot to the old MX bikes. Loosen the fender, pinch bolts on the lower fork yoke, and the center nut on the top steering stem. Then straddle the bike and see if you can grab the handlebars and pull the forks back into alignment. If so.....tighten everything back up and see if you can adjust the front fender up off the tire. Then see if the forks work smoothly up and down.

If the forks won't straighten you may need to remove the fork tubes and see if they are bent. Most often they are bent just below the lower fork yoke. We had a press and some wood blocks at a local cycle shop and they could straighten most lightly bent forks without taking them apart.

Title: Re: bike damage pics
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/25/14 at 07:06:41

When I dropped the Guzzi on a gravel road it twisted the forks. As stated above, loosen all the stuff that keeps the front end centered up, manually "adjust" the position of the front wheel to be straight when the bars are straight.
I used a Non stretchy piece of cord, taped it on center on the tire, at the front edge, then got the bars squared up the last bit.Just take a shot at it, if riding doesnt "feel right" then go fo that method.

You get that bent fender out of the picture & it may fix easier,,
If you decide to straighten it, post pics first & wait on How to hit it, where to hit it advice unless you have experience..

Title: Re: bike damage pics
Post by WD on 02/25/14 at 08:07:28

That all looks fairly simple.

Fender shifted on the bolts, loosen them and reset. Follow the advice above on resetting the forks, and before you tighten it up, put the front tire against your truck's tire and bounce the suspension down HARD a couple times. The parts "took a set" before your wreck, normally a few good hard bounces pops them the rest of the way back to it.

Hit the classifieds for a front peg and swap it out.

If the bag isn't holed, keep using it. Good conversation starter for Bike Night at the local wherever you guys have bike nights and/or cruise ins.

As for the tank dent... Bondo, take it to a pro, swap the tank, or live with it. It can be repaired, but, it won't be easy.

Title: Re: bike damage pics
Post by runwyrlph aka limpaway on 02/25/14 at 08:47:09

excellent! thanks for the advice. I will try what you guys said. WD, yeah I was kind of thinking keep the saddle bag more or less as is. Either that or stick an ammo can on that side. And my bondo skills should be up to packing that dent full of putty! 8-)

I'm not even going to try to make it look perfect or even very nice, I don't have the skills for that and I don't want to put much $$ into it - It's always gonna be a `07 with 20k+ miles and a "r" title.

Just get it in good mechanical condition is what I'm shooting for.

My foot was pinned between bike and road, somewhere in the vicinity of that bent peg as we slid along the tarmac... I'm happy to be walking (limping) today!

Title: Re: bike damage pics
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 02/25/14 at 13:02:30

There is an "eyebrow" all the way around that dent. Packing it w/. mud wont work like you mite think,, Rental shops around here rent "Spike Guns".. They spot weld a spike that locks into a dent puller tool, so no holes get drilled.. NOW, would I do that to a gas tank? NO,, not W/O First emptying & rinsing it out & blowing the water out,& making sure there were no EX PLOsive fumes,,
Gotta get the paint outta the dent, get the tank well secured,, as in, on the bike w/ the bike secured, First gear, slack outta the belt, drive line, so it cant come forward, & tied off so you cant pull it over.

The 2 lines that were made by the upper & lower edges of the top of the triple tree will need pulled. Where the triple tree is rounded & thats the deepest part of the dent is where to start. You cant fully pull it, but start there, on the vertical line the end of the T/tree made. Work left on upper & lower lines. Tap the slide hammer out, tugging on the "spikes" gently. Dont get excited & think youre just gonna yank that dent out. Light taps, pulling, then hold back on the slide hammer & gently tap the eyebrow near the part of the dent youre working. You need a real life, no kiddin, body hammer,
Dont be surprised if the metal is stretched & needs to be heat shrunk. If you have a torch w/ a brazing tip, youre in bidniss!

IF you decide to just pack it & blend past the eyebrow, its gonne look weird, but itll be better than caved in,,IF you do that, use the coarsest sandpaper you can find. We used 40 grit on grinders to rip paint & ready metal for mud. DEEP mud needs to be laid in in thin layers, no more then 1/4 to 3/8ths &the skin taken off & textured for the next layer. "Re-bar" is a great plan,, Brazing some kinda wire low, across the dent, & then another, higher up the dent, would help keep the mud in it,
Tho, my suggestion is PUll that dent..

You mite ride around & look for a bodyshop w/ a bike parked out front,,
Youd be surprised what $100.00 & a 12 pack can accomplish,,
Dont talk to people in the office, slip in a door & strike up a conversation w/ a bodyman. Ask if anyone is doin any work on the side,, Every shop I worked in, there were a few guys rebuilding cars at home, painting & selling them, or keeping them,
OHH,, & just go get an estimate, see what it would cost to just be a customer. Thatll give you a starting spot for negotiating with a guy who is doing it at home. No need to pay the same $$$,, is there?

Title: Re: bike damage pics
Post by ToesNose on 02/26/14 at 06:28:44

Just as they guys said as long as the forks aren't bent they aren't too bad too get aligned again, Just like Dave pointed out it's all to common with dirt bikes. Please make sure that you take it easy and don't hit any high speeds until you know that they are aligned straight though! ;D