Hello everyone,
Last year I happen to crash my 2014.
I rode the bike home after the crash and fixed the minor details, but noticed that my bikes front forks, handle bar, and wheel are somewhat out of alignment. Has anyone successfully aligned them back into place? I did straighten the forks out a bit with the help of some online research, but it isn't perfect. My front tire is still at an angle.
Will post images when I get home!
Thanks!
A concern is that it might be a number of things, or a combination of things. Bent fork tubes. Bent upper or lower triple clamps or a bent steering stem. The frame neck might be bent.
First thing I’d do is loosen all the clamping bolts, axle and all and see if everything falls back into place. This worked for me back in the day.
If that doesn’t work I personally would let a dealer look at it.
I agree with the Lord ... disassemble the front end.
With everything off, loosely reinsert the forks into the triple clamps and try to rotate each stanchion and see if it rotates freely and doesn't wobble the lowers, i.e. confirming the stanchion is not badly bent. Ensuring the forks are now in line and set to the desired depth, torque the triple clamp bolts. Fit the front wheel but only lightly tighten the axle. Bounce the front suspension to help it find a 'comfortable' position, then tighten the pinch bolts and axle and brakes.
Good luck, hopefully all is well with your forks.
You must have thought about the insurance route?
I've taken some of this advice from browsing around. I want to say that I continued to ride the bike for the rest of last season with a slight feeling of misalignment, but it was still the CB I know. I've worked out some of the kinks when installing a fresh windscreen this week. I think the best bet might be to either take it to a bike mechanic or disassemble the front end as others have mentioned. I think it is straighter after adjusting this past week, but haven't ridden yet this season except for the past weekend. Sadly, I only pay for the bare minimum insurance.
(03-22-2022, 10:44 AM)Coronado_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I've taken some of this advice from browsing around. I want to say that I continued to ride the bike for the rest of last season with a slight feeling of misalignment, but it was still the CB I know. I've worked out some of the kinks when installing a fresh windscreen this week. I think the best bet might be to either take it to a bike mechanic or disassemble the front end as others have mentioned. I think it is straighter after adjusting this past week, but haven't ridden yet this season except for the past weekend. Sadly, I only pay for the bare minimum insurance.
Who knows if you had more than the minimum coverage anyway. Typically there are deductibles that might just be equal or more than they repairs or adjustments, so you would be out-of-pocket anyway (unless, of course, one had $0 deductible).
You could use a spirit level to check for parallel legs, not by using the bubble but the broad straight edge of the tool.
A decent quality one will give accurate results when held against the fork legs, if it tips slightly when held against one leg and then the other they are out of parallel.
This could give you a way to assess the amount and direction if you have not done so already.
In addition to this you could try to put shims under the clamps, either in the lower or upper half of the clamps, alu can makes a good size shim, use your favorite brand and shape with scissors as required.
Hope that helps.
Risking a bent front fork? ...