It was a beautiful day and so I gathered up my girlfriend and took the VFR on a run through the Jemez from Albuquerque. All was well until I got stuck behind a Sunday driver in a big Chevy doing 10 mph under the speed limit. Now I know I wasn't too close to him because I was leaving room for acceleration when a passing lane came my way, but I was too focussed on looking for traffic and missed the soft ball sized rock placed perfectly in the middle of the road that threw my stomach into my throat for a split second. Right after that was an even bigger one that I fortunately missed. I did what all true riders who have an undying passion for their rides would do. I pulled over and carefully looked everything over checking for damage. All appeared well so I carried on until my girl gave me the "pee break" signal. While she was off to take care of business I took the time to carefully go over the front end again. There it was. Plain as day. A nice bend in the rim. The front fender had hidden it on the first inspection. It was not bad enough to break the bead on the tire but it's there none the less and even though I made it home safe it still leaves me feeling unsafe.
So here is my question: Fix it or replace it? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/comp13.gif) Where can I get a good front used rim if I need to replace it? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/dry.gif)
I will post a picture later tonight but the bend is maybe a 1/4 inch up off the normal radius.
vanion2, Feb 4 2007, 07:08 PMIt was a beautiful day and so I gathered up my girlfriend and took the VFR on a run through the Jemez from Albuquerque. All was well until I got stuck behind a Sunday driver in a big Chevy doing 10 mph under the speed limit. Now I know I wasn't too close to him because I was leaving room for acceleration when a passing lane came my way, but I was too focussed on looking for traffic and missed the soft ball sized rock placed perfectly in the middle of the road that threw my stomach into my throat for a split second. Right after that was an even bigger one that I fortunately missed. I did what all true riders who have an undying passion for their rides would do. I pulled over and carefully looked everything over checking for damage. All appeared well so I carried on until my girl gave me the "pee break" signal. While she was off to take care of business I took the time to carefully go over the front end again. There it was. Plain as day. A nice bend in the rim. The front fender had hidden it on the first inspection. It was not bad enough to break the bead on the tire but it's there none the less and even though I made it home safe it still leaves me feeling unsafe.
So here is my question: Fix it or replace it? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/comp13.gif) Where can I get a good front used rim if I need to replace it? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/dry.gif)
I will post a picture later tonight but the bend is maybe a 1/4 inch up off the normal radius.
Thanks in advance.
Have it fixed. Look in your local yellow pages for wheel repair. If it is not affecting the bead it is a very easy fix. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
i swear to god we need a new display under the vfrd logo.. bent rims/// eletrical//// carbs and exhaust/// what do you guys think?? or should we add a new thread every time someones battery runs down or they need a corbin/sargent seat...
gll429, Feb 4 2007, 08:30 PMi swear to god we need a new display under the vfrd logo.. bent rims/// eletrical//// carbs and exhaust/// what do you guys think?? or should we add a new thread every time someones battery runs down or they need a corbin/sargent seat...
Bad day today?? If you were just trying to make a point of suggesting the search function, then why not just say that instead of going dramatic?
Shameless highjack, but this kind of incident is the reason I'm loathe to powdercoat rims. I understand the 400 F heat needed to powdercoat can make certain alloy wheels brittle so that they break on impact, rather than bend and maintain air pressure, as this one did. Any contrary input appreciated.
vanion2, Feb 4 2007, 04:08 PMIt was a beautiful day and so I gathered up my girlfriend and took the VFR on a run through the Jemez from Albuquerque. All was well until I got stuck behind a Sunday driver in a big Chevy doing 10 mph under the speed limit. Now I know I wasn't too close to him because I was leaving room for acceleration when a passing lane came my way, but I was too focussed on looking for traffic and missed the soft ball sized rock placed perfectly in the middle of the road that threw my stomach into my throat for a split second. Right after that was an even bigger one that I fortunately missed. I did what all true riders who have an undying passion for their rides would do. I pulled over and carefully looked everything over checking for damage. All appeared well so I carried on until my girl gave me the "pee break" signal. While she was off to take care of business I took the time to carefully go over the front end again. There it was. Plain as day. A nice bend in the rim. The front fender had hidden it on the first inspection. It was not bad enough to break the bead on the tire but it's there none the less and even though I made it home safe it still leaves me feeling unsafe.
So here is my question: Fix it or replace it? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/comp13.gif) Where can I get a good front used rim if I need to replace it? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/dry.gif)
I will post a picture later tonight but the bend is maybe a 1/4 inch up off the normal radius.
gll429, Feb 4 2007, 08:30 PMi swear to god we need a new display under the vfrd logo.. bent rims/// eletrical//// carbs and exhaust/// what do you guys think?? or should we add a new thread every time someones battery runs down or they need a corbin/sargent seat...
Bad day today?? If you were just trying to make a point of suggesting the search function, then why not just say that instead of going dramatic?
I agree with Jeremy.
no i had a great day.. it just that no one uses search.. they just keep asking the same stuff over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over .. getting the same reply... and yes i do dramatic very well! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
gll429, Feb 4 2007, 08:30 PMi swear to god we need a new display under the vfrd logo.. bent rims/// eletrical//// carbs and exhaust/// what do you guys think?? or should we add a new thread every time someones battery runs down or they need a corbin/sargent seat...
Bad day today?? If you were just trying to make a point of suggesting the search function, then why not just say that instead of going dramatic?
I agree with Jeremy.
no i had a great day.. it just that no one uses search.. they just keep asking the same stuff over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over .. getting the same reply... and yes i do dramatic very well! (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
Sometimes here, it is like talking with my 90 year-old dad. When I talked with him tonight, he told me about something 4 times due to the fact that he is losing his short-term memory. Sometimes, ya just gotta accept parents, and question-re-askers with patience and be happy to help them. Anything less than that will just keep you in the anger/frustration zone. [/end psychologist rant] (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/blink.gif)
gll429, Feb 4 2007, 08:30 PMi swear to god we need a new display under the vfrd logo.. bent rims/// eletrical//// carbs and exhaust/// what do you guys think?? or should we add a new thread every time someones battery runs down or they need a corbin/sargent seat...
gll429, Feb 4 2007, 08:30 PMi swear to god we need a new display under the vfrd logo.. bent rims/// eletrical//// carbs and exhaust/// what do you guys think?? or should we add a new thread every time someones battery runs down or they need a corbin/sargent seat...
gll429, Feb 4 2007, 06:30 PMi swear to god we need a new display under the vfrd logo.. bent rims/// eletrical//// carbs and exhaust/// what do you guys think?? or should we add a new thread every time someones battery runs down or they need a corbin/sargent seat...
I all ready got beat down by the girl for "wasting time" posting this so forgive me if just once I didn't do a search because I was in a hurry(and if you don't I am ok with that too). (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/wink.gif) Thanks for the link VFR FLYER. It made your point succinctly enough. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
I had a pretty good bend on the rear rim of my last bike, and other than being able to see it, I never knew it was there. Never caused a vibration, etc, so I just let it be...
Alien TLR, Feb 4 2007, 09:40 PMI had a pretty good bend on the rear rim of my last bike, and other than being able to see it, I never knew it was there. Never caused a vibration, etc, so I just let it be...
I am getting no vibrations even at highway speeds and the tire is unharmed but the bend is enough that a small rock/stick could get lodged in there and I love riding my VFR so I will invest the money for both our sakes. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)
Alien TLR, Feb 4 2007, 09:40 PMI had a pretty good bend on the rear rim of my last bike, and other than being able to see it, I never knew it was there. Never caused a vibration, etc, so I just let it be...
I am getting no vibrations even at highway speeds and the tire is unharmed but the bend is enough that a small rock/stick could get lodged in there and I love riding my VFR so I will invest the money for both our sakes. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)
First off, it is a balmy -6 right now here in my part of Indiana, so that fact that you had the chance to (safely?) bend a wheel makes me green with envy.
Second, do the right thing and get the bent wheel off your bike and/or repaired/replaced. It looks like you've already decided that, so good for you. The only time I noticed a bent rim was when I had it held way over left side as the front would feel funny. Got back in and realized I had curb checked it early on. The tire barely started to show abnormal wear across the bent section (tire movement in the corner?) Trailered me for the day, but better than starting over.
As for the powdercoat/ brittle issue, the wheels are forged ALOT hotter than that and the powdercoating temp wasn't the problem. From what I've read and seen it was an issue with the alloy itself.
gll429, Feb 4 2007, 08:30 PMi swear to god we need a new display under the vfrd logo.. bent rims/// eletrical//// carbs and exhaust/// what do you guys think?? or should we add a new thread every time someones battery runs down or they need a corbin/sargent seat...
LOL. Even after the crash, a LOT has been rebuilt. I had a crappy day. Gll, want to send some good my way? (Be sending a pic of scraps). Any one want a red B.B. with silver fleck in the clear? Waste of a weekend.
As not in the past, the search now automaticly encompasses, "search this forum". Screwed me up. Need to get used to it.
Vanion,
My boy, I say fix it. Take the time to research the shop, that you choose. A large gash, I wouldn't, but think'n you'll be ok if you find a shop that can work the metal, WITHOUT PUTTING YOU AT RISK. That is the most important.
With all the lucky folks, to live through some bad wrecks, last year,....Anyone got a good rim for cheap?
As promised here is a picture of my weekend adventure. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/dry.gif) [image: gallery_9864_2412_621502.jpg] bent rim2.JPG I found a machinist who will fix it for $120. He told me I should just buy a new rim but when I told him the average cost is around $500 he agreed that fixing the rim would be the better way to go. The only problem is I have a 2 week turn around time as he is pretty busy right now. At least I know he does good work. He was recommended by my local tire shop and he is restoring a $2200 BMW rim among his other projects. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/blink.gif) When I called the Honda dealership the guy replied "We don't fix rims. We replace them." Then he tried to tell me he didn't think the rim could be repaired so I kindly pointed out that it could because the VFR forum I did the research on has successfully done it before. He pretty much hung up on me at that point. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/laugh.gif) *shrugs* Oh well.
Vibrations make me feel good, I buy black tires, they perform best. My neighbors say my exhaust is too loud, I can't hear it anymore so it seems fine to me. Carbs are great after a work out, otherwise they just make you fat. I only buy electical parts after the old ones quit smoking/sparking. I like my stock seat because it is cheaper than a new seat. I don't use oil, I use last Saturday's bacon grease.
I know everything there is to know about motorsickles.
vanion2, Feb 5 2007, 07:40 PMAs promised here is a picture of my weekend adventure. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/dry.gif) [image: gallery_9864_2412_621502.jpg] bent rim2.JPG ...The only problem is I have a 2 week turn around time as he is pretty busy right now. At least I know he does good work. He was recommended by my local tire shop and he is restoring a $2200 BMW rim among his other projects. ...
NO VIBRATIONS??? Who cares - INVEST, INVEST, INVEST. Dayum, that scares me just looking at it!!!
Kudos on doing the research to find a good machinist. Good luck.
Rice, Feb 5 2007, 08:04 PMThat does not look bad at all I would just use a piece of wood and knock it back into place.
Hmmm...here is a top down view of the rim. [image: gallery_9864_2412_594377.jpg] front bent rim
I didn't break the bead...but not by much (I should have used the flash to make that more apparent). I think the $120 is going to be well spent for piece of mind if nothing else. Besides, I think I would be in more danger of compromising the rim trying to hammer that back into place as opposed to having a machinist use the right tools to do it correctly.
Do you think that machinist has a special tool to straighten bike rims? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/rolleyes.gif) Here is how it will go once you leave the shop: He will take a rubber mallet to your rim. It will fail, of course. Then he will do one of two things: If he's any good, he will put a piece of wood on the rim and use heavy hammer to strighten it out. If he is an idiot, like many "machinists" that I had a misfortune of dealing with (no disrespect to machinists who know what they'r doing), he will use the hammer directly on the rim...
In my experience, bike rims are extremely tough. They have huge amount of strength built in to them and not a lot of load to support. I live in NYC and have put my rims to some of the most extreme tests imaginable in day-to-day driving. At times, the impact was so great, that I thought that the whole bike will just fold into the pothole. If I was unluck enough to bend a rim lip, I would just straighten it myself. Never had a problem.
So, the only real reason to go to a machinist or to buy a new rim woud be your piece of mind.
TommyHoffman, Feb 6 2007, 09:59 AMThere are places that specialize in repairing rims. Check on line. I am sure there is one near you. I found this with Google.
These guys look like they know what they'r doing. Very thorough description of the process. While I was reading, I was jokingly expecting the description of cleaning, heating, vibrating, pressure, precision, etc... to end with "Then we take a BFH and bang the rim back into place" (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)
I will ask the machinist how he fixes rims. If it involves a BFH then I will just ship it off to the link given above (thanks TommyHoffman). I am sure the Hammer time method would work but I am old fashioned in wanting to get the job done right the first time and still saving money in process when possible. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/fing02.gif)
End of thread · 30 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 13 Feb 2007