bent frame ridability

[uturn]

http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w622/bitikofer72/ee14a6940b78f808000c2522f33b26ec_zpsd20b3173.jpg

anyone else see my issue? this is with a new tree so its the frame that got bent in the accident. it rides perfect, which is wierd. i wondered why is stood up so straight on the stand till i did some measuring.

now i need to decide if i just ride it, or part it out to my other frame which i had hoped to just make into a rat rod and keep two valks.

sigh....

[Chrisj CMA]

I wouldn't ride it like that.  No way, No How

[Ricky-D]

If it rides perfect, then ride it.

Any ride ability problems will become apparent as you continue.

I would hesitate to make judgments at such an early stage.

***

[TJ]

I think if it was mine , I would take the front fender & wheel off and try to re-adjust those
forks & tree...

[wingrider02]

I rode with a member from this site one sunny day, and noticed that his bike was always leaning to the right while riding in a straight line.  The bike had been in an accident, but he felt it rode just fine, and has put many miles on it since the wreck.  His looked quite a bit like yours.

So, while not right, if it rides good, and you don't notice any funky handling, keep the wheels turning, and keep an eye on stuff.  If you get some odd tire wear, then look for another frame.

[Glenn-B]

If the frame tubes aren't kinked get a specialist to straighten it on a jig ?

[Daniel Meyer]

Take it to a frame shop. You'll find your answer there.

[Valkpilot]

If it rides perfect, then ride it.

Any ride ability problems will become apparent as you continue.

I would hesitate to make judgments at such an early stage.

***

Sorry, but I can't disagree more.  There's a potential for cracked welds that could fail suddenly. 

[Louis Durocher]

Valkpilot has a good argument here. Would not ride it like this

[Bighead]

I wouldn't ride it like that.  No way, No How

You will make that call on a half assed picture that looks crooked?

[mello dude]

Or - are the forks and wheel just twisted out of straitness? Can you physically see any bending in the frame? -- Just some more ideas.

Disassembe and reassemble the forks and see waht that does......

[uturn]

all the parts are good used or new...the whole original front was trashed. the frame looked good, but obviously the neck is slightly twisted from the impact...so the issue is with the frame, not the parts.

i am thinking about buying a pinwall frame and just swapping everything out. has anyone had experience with swapping vin plates for title and insurance purposes? i may need to visit the title office tomorrow...a new frame is only $200.

[uturn]

and the picture doesnt do the crookedness justice....believe me...itll be the freak show at gotf if i let it together that long....which isnt likely...

[thewoodman]

For the cost of $200 bucks, a new frame would be the way to go since most frame shops can't properly jig a bent frame unless it is stripped. So while it's broken down, replace the frame. As for rideability, tire wear is more noticeable evidence of a twisted neck. I rode a 1200 Goldwing for thousands of miles with a bent neck with no issues at all and unless I pointed it out, no one ever noticed a thing. The fellow I sold it to was fully aware of the twist; and bought it priced accordingly and is still riding it 7-8 years later.

[uturn]

thanks for that...that is exactly what i wondered. except for looking at it, and the funny way it sits on the sidestand, you wouldnt know the neck was twisted.

[gordonv]

i am thinking about buying a pinwall frame and just swapping everything out. has anyone had experience with swapping vin plates for title and insurance purposes? i may need to visit the title office tomorrow...a new frame is only $200.

When I looked into replacing my frame after the accident, it wasn't the cost of the frame, but that they wouldn't sell the title with it. Can't register without the title.

I looked into buy a new from, was closer to $1500 at the time. If you have all the parts (good ones), then I would go that way. Unless you can get something local.

With my IS, with the whole front gone, the cost was too high to replace the frame and the forks/fairing.

[Hook#3287]

Contact member "da pres".  He's got a frame for sale.

[uturn]

the front end is either new parts or good used rebuilt. i looked into swapping vin numbers on the frame and seems like the best option is do the title on this frame, then complete the forms to switch frames and get a reassembled title. its gonna have a salvage title on this frame anyway since it was totaled by the insurance after its spill...so a reassembled title would be an upgrade.

frames are too cheap not to rebuilt it. im getting to where i can strip a valk to the bare frame before lunch.

[Chrisj CMA]

I wouldn't ride it like that.  No way, No How

You will make that call on a half assed picture that looks crooked?

YES! given the OP already knows its due to a bent frame.  Frames bend at the point where the highest stress occurs.  Might not take much to fold way more dramatically next time 

[Ricky-D]

Frames bend at the point where the highest stress occurs

Wrong.

***

[Chrisj CMA]

Frames bend at the point where the highest stress occurs

Wrong.

***

So, the steering head area, the area that frequently is damaged is one of the most beefed up over welded, reinforced points on the frame just for looks?

RickyD Im sure you have some kind of scientific gotcha to prove you are right.  My point is, it bent there once, its going to most likely bend more in the same place if another frontal crash occurs.  So the strength is compromised.  Therefore, safety is compromised.

[Ricky-D]

First off, you cannot say where the frame is bent because you have not seen the bike.

Secondly, the bending occurs at the weakest part of the frame and not necessarily

at the point where the highest stress occurred.

Finally, bending steel one time does not necessarily have to mean the steel is weakened.

You assume so much, with so little information.

***

[Led]

I am not sure how every different State does thing's, but I grew up with a Guy that now owns a Motorcycle salvage yard. He buys wrecked bikes and resells them.

A lot of them do NOT have a "clear" title.......but what is called a "salvage title".  It can STILL be titled, but informs any future buyer that it was trashed at one time. 

Now......I have NO idea, if a "salvage title".......would allow one to actually change the frame out???  You would THINK so, for safety reasons, but like I said, laws differ to all over the Nation.....

If you ever need bike parts, a shameless plug......
http://www.cyclesalvage.net/

[Chrisj CMA]

First off, you cannot say where the frame is bent because you have not seen the bike.

Secondly, the bending occurs at the weakest part of the frame and not necessarily

at the point where the highest stress occurred.

Finally, bending steel one time does not necessarily have to mean the steel is weakened.

You assume so much, with so little information.

***

I don't know about all that.  I do know some people will replace a helmet if its dropped significantly or heaven forbid, in an accident.  They sometimes pay more for a new helmet than that new (used) good frame could cost.  Once a frame is bent, it either gets fixed or replaced to be safe.

Im willing to stand by my comment, if the frame is known to be bent, its compromised, I wouldn't let anyone I cared about ride that very far, maybe down the block to the trailer to take it somewhere to get fixed

Secondly, the bending occurs at the weakest part of the frame and not necessarily at the point where the highest stress occurred.

So when the steering head area gets bent, that there is the weakest part of the frame?  Not really buying that one.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

[R J]

Has the owner looked at the steering head on the frame.

That is where they usually bend in an accident.

Pull the tank off, and check out the neck of the frame for paint that is not attached to metal anymore.

If you see split paint, then you can bet you last $$ that it is bent and you will not lose the bet.

I rode an old Indian 4 cyl for several years with the steer head bent, and repaired by a Blacksmith.

Grandpa was the Blacksmith and he straightened it out pretty good.

It took a lot of abuse out there in the pasture everyday for at least 4 years and no problem.

Dad rode it for a few years and sold it to a guy about 20 miles North of where we lived.

As I was growing up, I saw that old Indian many times being ridden like he stole it.

That 4 cyl would wind up pretty good and eat up the asphalt roads.

[R J]

http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w622/bitikofer72/ee14a6940b78f808000c2522f33b26ec_zpsd20b3173.jpg

anyone else see my issue? this is with a new tree so its the frame that got bent in the accident. it rides perfect, which is wierd. i wondered why is stood up so straight on the stand till i did some measuring.

now i need to decide if i just ride it, or part it out to my other frame which i had hoped to just make into a rat rod and keep two valks.

sigh....

Only thing I can see in that picture is MAYBE the left fork tube might be bent about where the tree fastens on. 

I'd pull the front end, wheel, fender and fork tubes.   Then you can use a straight edge on the tubes to see if they are bent.     As I posted in an earlier post, pull the tank and check for split paint around the neck on the frame.

Read that post instead of me duplicating it here.

                                 

[uturn]

thanks everyone for your input.

its the frame that is bent...all the other stuff is new, or good used rebuilt. i do this stuff a lot...sadly...i.e. the forks, tree, axle, all that stuff is straight.

i need to replace the frame, now the question is how to title it in texas with a different frame. in the meantime, im gonna ride it till i strip down my other frame, and on a few days when its cold outside im gonna frankenstien it!

Gawd i just put it all together, i cant stand the thought of tearing it down and rebuilding it....again....but the memory of these things usually fades in a few days.

so i have myrtle apart in the garage, shes gonna have the heart and soul of christine, the frame of christine is going in the trash and then my new yet-to-be aquired frame will be put together with the now really large assortment of parts in my house!

the galveston title office is about to hate seeing me....

[indybobm]

After going to all the work of taking the bike apart, is it possible that a frame shop could actually straighten and check it? It probably is not tweaked that much and this way you would not have the title issue to contend with. You are going to strip it anyway, why not try it? The frame shop might be able to answer any strength, rigidity concerns.

[Daniel Meyer]

In Texas you *must* have a title for the donor frame (the title goes with the VIN on the neck). It can be a salvage title, but there *must* be a title. A frame without a title is presumed stolen property and cannot be legally transferred...well...anywhere really.