Are my forks bent?

dino74 · April 10th, 2013, 10:11 AM

I was changing out my front tire last night and notice the front fender isn't straight.
At closer examination, I realize the front brace is rather tweaked, so I bolted up a spare straight front brace.

When the axle is inserted with the new front brace in and no wheel, it does not line up with the axle holes. The axle hits the second fork about 3/8 inch off of the axle hole.

So I was thinking maybe the brace isn't on correctly. I remove all bolts from the right hand side of brace and mount the wheel. The right side brace holes are off about 3/8 of an inch for the fork holes.

I wish I took pics last night. My question is:

If the front wheel is off, should the axle slide through the fork holes with ease?

lgk · April 10th, 2013, 10:26 AM

maybe they're just twisted

alex.s · April 10th, 2013, 10:37 AM

i would exmine the bottom triple. they could just be twisted. you could measure the distance between them in the top triple and the distance between the axle mounts maybe? if you take the springs out and move the lower up the stanchion, does it move straight or bend? if you bottom it out with the spring out does it rub on the inside? its not very difficult to have straight forks but a bent lower triple.

might be a good idea to fully disassemble the forks and check the stanchions with a straight edge (or roll them on a true surface)

dino74 · April 10th, 2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

i would exmine the bottom triple. they could just be twisted. you could measure the distance between them in the top triple and the distance between the axle mounts maybe? if you take the springs out and move the lower up the stanchion, does it move straight or bend? if you bottom it out with the spring out does it rub on the inside? its not very difficult to have straight forks but a bent lower triple.

might be a good idea to fully disassemble the forks and check the stanchions with a straight edge (or roll them on a true surface)

Yeah, that's a good idea, I'll have to check that

Trailerboy531 · April 10th, 2013, 11:16 AM

Sounds like it might be a good idea to buy a spare set of forks for no reason....

alex.s · April 10th, 2013, 11:38 AM

"you know 250ss is super stock right?" --"yeah i know!" --"you know those upside down ohlins forks aren't stock right?" --"they're stock... stock on a gsxr."

tooblekain · April 10th, 2013, 11:48 AM

A crude way to find out if they are bent is to take the forks off and put them on a wheel balancer and spin them and see how much they wobble. Sean at Trackoholics can do that for you relatively quickly.

If you want to know how bent, put a dial indicator on it.

As Alex mentioned...maybe check the distance from the center of the axle hole to the bottom of the bottom triple. Check to see if the distance between the two is the same for both forks.

Motofool · April 10th, 2013, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino74

............So I was thinking maybe the brace isn't on correctly. I remove all bolts from the right hand side of brace and mount the wheel. The right side brace holes are off about 3/8 of an inch for the fork holes.............

Off in what direction?

Nemesis · April 10th, 2013, 02:18 PM

So what you're saying is you got robbed by Dr. John when you paid him $400 to straighten out your bike? LOL

dino74 · April 10th, 2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemesis

So what you're saying is you got robbed by Dr. John when you paid him $400 to straighten out your bike? LOL

Dr J was back in September. This is definitely from November's crash. I'm hoping Alex.S is right and its just a twist in the triple.

But luckily, I just happen to buy a complete 250 front end for $100 last weekend.

Nemesis · April 10th, 2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino74

But luckily, I just happen to buy a complete 250 front end for $100 last weekend.

Dannnnggg...your Asian skills (finding low prices) are quite uncanny.

dino74 · April 10th, 2013, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motofool

Off in what direction?

Its a horizontal offset.

dino74 · April 10th, 2013, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemesis

Dannnnggg...your Asian skills (finding low prices) are quite uncanny.

Yeah, I figured I could sell it to you for $150

Nemesis · April 10th, 2013, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino74

Yeah, I figured I could sell it to you for $150

I <3 u!

dino74 · April 11th, 2013, 12:03 AM

bent

dino74 · April 11th, 2013, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemesis

I <3 u!

I think you got a bad case of the yellow fever!

CZroe · April 16th, 2013, 12:07 PM

Time to go to Mackie Welding in Sierra Madre. That's who repaired one of the rims I sold you ($75).

alex.s · April 16th, 2013, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino74

bent

just hit it with a hammer!

seriously though any decent machinist can straighten that in a few minutes with a press and vblocks. they will take a few passes, checking it between each press. if it was kinked its another story... just throw it away if it is kinked.

dino74 · April 16th, 2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

just hit it with a hammer!

seriously though any decent machinist can straighten that in a few minutes with a press and vblocks. they will take a few passes, checking it between each press. if it was kinked its another story... just throw it away if it is kinked.

Nah, I swapped them completely out cause I picked up a set of front forks the weekend before

CZroe · April 16th, 2013, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dino74

Nah, I swapped them completely out cause I picked up a set of front forks the weekend before

How much for your old tubes then?

April 10th, 2013, 10:11 AM	#1
dino74 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: dino Location: Oceanside, Ca Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): '09 250 Street, '09 250 Race, '13 300 Race Posts: A lot.	Are my forks bent? I was changing out my front tire last night and notice the front fender isn't straight. At closer examination, I realize the front brace is rather tweaked, so I bolted up a spare straight front brace. When the axle is inserted with the new front brace in and no wheel, it does not line up with the axle holes. The axle hits the second fork about 3/8 inch off of the axle hole. So I was thinking maybe the brace isn't on correctly. I remove all bolts from the right hand side of brace and mount the wheel. The right side brace holes are off about 3/8 of an inch for the fork holes. I wish I took pics last night. My question is: If the front wheel is off, should the axle slide through the fork holes with ease? __________________________________________________ CVMA #55

April 10th, 2013, 10:26 AM	#2
lgk ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Norfolk, VA Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.	maybe they're just twisted __________________________________________________ Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700

April 10th, 2013, 10:37 AM	#3
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	i would exmine the bottom triple. they could just be twisted. you could measure the distance between them in the top triple and the distance between the axle mounts maybe? if you take the springs out and move the lower up the stanchion, does it move straight or bend? if you bottom it out with the spring out does it rub on the inside? its not very difficult to have straight forks but a bent lower triple. might be a good idea to fully disassemble the forks and check the stanchions with a straight edge (or roll them on a true surface) __________________________________________________

April 10th, 2013, 11:16 AM	#5
Trailerboy531 Gear crash test dummy Name: Max Location: South Bay (So. Cal) Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 race bike, 2014 ZX-636r Posts: A lot.	Sounds like it might be a good idea to buy a spare set of forks for no reason.... __________________________________________________ CVMA #531

April 10th, 2013, 11:38 AM	#6
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	"you know 250ss is super stock right?" --"yeah i know!" --"you know those upside down ohlins forks aren't stock right?" --"they're stock... stock on a gsxr." __________________________________________________

April 10th, 2013, 11:48 AM	#7
tooblekain ninjette.org sage Name: Matt Location: San Diego, CA Join Date: May 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Triumph Bonneville; 2008 Ninja 250r (trackbike) Posts: 748	A crude way to find out if they are bent is to take the forks off and put them on a wheel balancer and spin them and see how much they wobble. Sean at Trackoholics can do that for you relatively quickly. If you want to know how bent, put a dial indicator on it. As Alex mentioned...maybe check the distance from the center of the axle hole to the bottom of the bottom triple. Check to see if the distance between the two is the same for both forks. __________________________________________________ CVMA #312SoCal TrackdaysBigHeadz RacingMotion ProFactory EffexLeatt Brace* Racetech Bell Woodcraft CFMVortexHotbodiesSurface Sun SystemsBrakingLiveWire EnergyFreegun Underwear

April 10th, 2013, 02:18 PM	#9
Nemesis CVMA #74 WSMC #750 Name: Nemesis Location: On the track Join Date: Oct 2009 Motorcycle(s): All of them Posts: A lot.	So what you're saying is you got robbed by Dr. John when you paid him $400 to straighten out your bike? LOL __________________________________________________

April 11th, 2013, 12:03 AM	#15
dino74 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: dino Location: Oceanside, Ca Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): '09 250 Street, '09 250 Race, '13 300 Race Posts: A lot.	bent __________________________________________________ CVMA #55

April 16th, 2013, 12:07 PM	#17
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	Time to go to Mackie Welding in Sierra Madre. That's who repaired one of the rims I sold you ($75).

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