Steering Stem - To replace or not after hitting a fawn

[Jersey]

As some of you may be aware, I hit a fawn a few weeks ago.  The majority of the impact was the front fender and right fork/right Pod.  The fender made contact with the butt as it was moving left-right... the body most was the right Fork and Pod.

I then road it for another 5k miles.  Only real issue was the very slight twist of the triple trees causes a slight pulling to the left.  Lost all fork oil during those miles as well.

Question:  Is it normal to replace the steering stem bearings in this type of situation?

I can't feel anything in particular... no worn spots, no bumps, etc. while moving bar left and right.

Having not done the steering stem yet, I'm just wondering if the work is necessary or would am I just overthinking this?

Thanks,
Jersey

[Chrisj CMA]

I would think you stand a very good chance of NOT needing to replace the steering head bearings. Once the forks are removed you should be able to do a very close inspection. If the trees go stop to stop with no roughness, tic or click. I’d leave them alone

[Jersey]

I would think you stand a very good chance of NOT needing to replace the steering head bearings. Once the forks are removed you should be able to do a very close inspection. If the trees go stop to stop with no roughness, tic or click. I’d leave them alone

That's where I'm leaning... thanks for the feedback!

[Mooskee]

Since you are asking for opinions, here's one!

If I found that the steering stem was bent when the fork was bent, I would replace the steering stem and both bearing and race sets. The manual says the bearings and races must be replaced in sets.

If I found that the steering stem was not bent, then I would go with a careful inspection, per the manual, and replace if they test bad.

I was removing my forks and triple tree to replace them with a chrome set. I could not feel any roughness in them until the wheel was off and then I could feel a couple of clicks. I had to change them anyway for the triple tree change.

Not sure if you can tell if the steering stem is bent until you replace the fork tube(s) and ride it again. I would think the fork tube would bend way easier than the steering stem, but deer are really solid when you run over them!

[gordonv]

I would check/realign your front forks. Since you feel no issues with the bearings, but seem to have alignment issue, I would start there first.

[Jack B]

If you need a triple tree I have a set I would sell.

[John Schmidt]

Keep in mind, on most bikes you can knock your forks/triple trees out of alignment without bending anything. Takes a fair impact to do so but can happen(such as a wild hog darting out of the ditch). My buddy & I found a couple trees close together, stuck the front wheel in between and gave the bars a couple yanks. Straight enough to ride home and upon checking found nothing bent except my composure. Had to loosen everything up to correct it but it was fine afterward. You may not have anything bent, I'd loosen up everything on the front end and see if they will align properly before spending money.

Just my experience!

[MarkT]

I killed two muley bucks in one crash 20 years ago with "Deerslayer" - hit them at 70.  Flipped the bike, damaged a lot of chrome etc. but the forks and stem were not replaced - still good.  Just anecdotal I know but two grown bucks hit T-boned at speed - these bikes are pretty sturdy.  If as other said, close inspection and no noticable aberrations, I didn't replace the stem bearings.

[Led]

I never hit any Deer,  But had one run into me!!    

I was on my Dad's bike.  And a Deer flew out of a cornfield, right at me!   I lifted my left leg, and it smashed its head right into the side of the bike.  The dern thing ATTACKED me!!  I did not crash, but thought, WTF????

It did crack His rear trunk on the bike.  I had some explaining to do, when I brought His bike back.   NOT sure to this day, if He thinks I wiped out, or if He believed the Deer story?  

But the story is.....TRUE!!!        I am sure that Deer, had ONE helluva headache after that!  

[Jersey]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.  Will inspect hopefully this week and go from there.

Cheers,
Jersey

[SunshineNomad]

I would look at the stem closely, especially towards the top where the threads are. On my Victory, I had an encounter with a car with the brakes on full lockdown. The impact was at walking speed. The only visible damage was the fender but when I took the front apart for a hearing check, I was shocked to find the end of the stem where the threads start bent at an offset angle.  1st time I ever saw anything like it. An engineer friend told me that when the brakes are on full causing the forks to be pushed down, they are more rigid and all or most of the force travels upwards. As the stem is the final point of a triangle, it takes the most force. Sounds reasonable anyway.