Author Topic: front suspention question w/ pics (Read 3247 times)

its840 · « **on:** December 31, 2006, 02:05:08 AM »

ok a freind and i noticed that the front forks on my bike looks bent. they look bent back twards the oil cooler..
i have snaped a few pics but i need to know if this is norm of if my bike needs the forks replaced.... thanks in advance for any and all help...

solman · « **Reply #1 on:** December 31, 2006, 02:33:54 AM »

Can't tell by the pics, was the bike in an accident?

its840 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 31, 2006, 02:52:38 AM »

well when i got it the guy said it was laid down in garage... but after i had if for a while i met the previous owner and he said he taged a car with it... but said it wasnt bad just broke the peg, levers and ripped the exhaust off it...

thanks thats bout all i had to say.. cause the bike rode fine.. so i know the guy i got it from must have known.. but i already had the bike for a while... ill take some more pics with the fairing off of it and a straight edge on it.. looks to me that its bend back about 1 or 2 inches...

solman · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2006, 04:40:27 AM »

A straight edge sounds like a good plan. When I wrecked my 900, it was obvious that my forks were bent, so replacement was obvious.

SHREDDER · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2007, 01:02:36 AM »

From what I can tell by your pics it looks like the tire and fender are much too close to the headers.

2005B12S · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2007, 11:11:24 AM »

Check the front rim as well. If the front end suffered an impact great enough to bend the fork tubes, chances are the wheel is bent also.

Good Luck, Ed.

pmackie · « **Reply #6 on:** January 01, 2007, 02:21:18 PM »

Can't really tell from the pictures...

Easiest way to check is to loosten the pinch bolts on the top and bottom triple trees of ONE fork leg. Rotate the fork leg and see if the axle moves at all. If you have a bent fork leg, the axle will move front to back slightly. IF the bend is too great, the fork will bind and not move all the way around, unless you loosten the axle pinch bolt as well. With straight fork legs you should be able to rotate the legs completely.

However, if the fork legs really look bent 1-2", it should be obvious, and you shouldn't ride the bike until you get them fixed.

davesavvy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2007, 07:37:48 PM »

Quote from: "its840"

i met the previous owner and he said he taged a car with it... but said it wasnt bad just broke the peg, levers and ripped the exhaust off it...

He told the truth when he stated that he tagged a car. Those forks are obviously bent from what I see. He lied when stating what was effected by the impact.

its840 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2007, 09:55:58 AM »

the orig owner and the guy i bought it from are 2 diff ppl.... ie: he wrecked it and sold it to him who fixed it and sold it to me...

ive been searching for a set of forks... stock ons for a bacndit are not cheap...
gixxer forks can be had with trip tree for about 3-4 hundo..

i think think the route im gonna take...

Ranger · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2007, 06:04:24 PM »

ZenMan · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2007, 08:47:19 PM »

Just take a length of string, hold one end on the center of the axle shaft, and stretch it tight alongside the fork up to the center of the cap. You'll be able to see if it's bent.