October 24th, 2012, 07:53 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
I gots a cracked frame, guys
I noticed a crack on my frame, right under the gas tank next to a factory weld. I took it to a dealer to get it inspected and they've basically told me my bike is unsafe and the frame needs to be replaced. I contacted Kawasaki out of desperation and they won't touch it because of the fact it's been welded(?). Only problem with replacing the frame is it'll cost me roughly $2300, pretty much the cost of my entire bike, and this bike is my only form of transportation. I've ridden it year-round since I got it (going on 2 years now), I have no idea how long this crack has been there but the dealer also kindly told me the frame is bent (in the same area, under the tank) on top of it all and that it's been welded before.. I have nobody to thank but myself for getting into this mess, this is my first bike and I went into the deal a little uneducated about the precautions. I basically took every precaution.. except getting the frame inspected! Oh the irony of buying a damaged bike thinking I'd save money...
I don't know a damn thing about frames or cracking and I can't find much on the topic other than from forums that basically only swing two ways: they all freak out and tell the OP the bike is totalled or they all just advise the OP to find a cheap local welder and that'll fix it; "Just weld it up and keep riding" basically. While I have taken in what the dealer said, I can't help but think they also simply want me buying up anything possible like usual. I haven't really been able to find anything on Ninja 250 frame cracks at all, so might as well try asking around here. As far as I can tell I can just be a d*ck and sell this bike to some unknowing dumb*** like myself, I can (maybe) replace the frame, sell it to a salvage yard/as a whole parts bike on craigslist. I don't have time to spend months parting the bike out, if I could I would probably go this route but, like I said, this is my only transportation and I'd need to replace it with something else ASAP. My biggest issue right now is that I won't get any sort of money for another 2 weeks, and I now feel uneasy riding the bike I've had for 2 years with a cracked frame (is ignorance bliss or what?). Also, I'm attending college with no job. Hooray for first world problems! What should I do? What would you do? Any, ANY, sort of help is helpful to this... guy |
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:13 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Jason
Location: Norfolk, VA
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.
|
do you have pics of the crack?
depending on the location you might be able to get it fixed easy.
__________________________________________________
Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700 |
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:25 PM | #3 |
RIP Alex
Name: Cuong
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 2
|
Pics of the crack, please. Honestly, take the bike to a reputable welder and have them fix it properly. Any professional welder and repair a crack or perhaps make it stronger than stock. You're looking at possibly 100 dollars at most or maybe a 6 pack of beer at the least.
__________________________________________________
HalfFast Racing Team Serving Greater Houston Area Riders:WFO Riders MotoHouston HPC CMRA Ride Smart Fastline Lone Star Track Days |
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:27 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
|
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:30 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Jason
Location: Norfolk, VA
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.
|
is that cross tube detached all the way around the weld, or just one side?
eta: how long is the crack?
__________________________________________________
Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700 |
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:32 PM | #6 |
RIP Alex
Name: Cuong
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 2
|
Like I said, take it to a reputable welder. I would say now at most 50 dollars to repair. Welder's going to have to clean area up with grinder and lay a good bead down. Is it cracked all the way around?
__________________________________________________
HalfFast Racing Team Serving Greater Houston Area Riders:WFO Riders MotoHouston HPC CMRA Ride Smart Fastline Lone Star Track Days |
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:32 PM | #7 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
Quote:
That's good to hear though. I actually contacted a welding company who are interested in seeing it. After the dealer I was kinda hesitant on this idea though, they gave the impression I had no alternatives. I don't know anything about welding but it doesn't make much sense to me that getting a frame welded is bad since, you know, that's how the frame is held together in the first place. Then again I'm tarded on the subject. |
|
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:35 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Jason
Location: Norfolk, VA
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.
|
its definitely worth a try, compared to spending $2300 on a new frame...
i'm hoping its not cracked all the way around...
__________________________________________________
Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700 |
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:36 PM | #9 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
It's a hairline crack on the inner side of the right hand tube cracking down where the weld ends, it pretty much is going down the entire side but not, so far as I know, around the entire tube.
|
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:39 PM | #10 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
|
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:41 PM | #11 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Jason
Location: Norfolk, VA
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.
|
yeah as long as its not on the bottom of the tube it should be a quick job.
it will probably be stronger than the factory welds
__________________________________________________
Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700 |
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:44 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
|
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:49 PM | #13 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Jason
Location: Norfolk, VA
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.
|
the top is preferable imo.
after dismantling everything needed to get to it the dude will cover up everything, clean up the weld area, and mig weld it. if its on the bottom you will need to remove more stuff to clean and weld to the crack.
__________________________________________________
Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700 |
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:51 PM | #14 |
RIP Alex
Name: Cuong
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 2
|
No matter where the crack is or if it's cracked all the way through. The welder can brace it or sleeve it. Trust me, a real welder isn't going to half ass his welds knowing that it's something structural and life dependent.
__________________________________________________
HalfFast Racing Team Serving Greater Houston Area Riders:WFO Riders MotoHouston HPC CMRA Ride Smart Fastline Lone Star Track Days |
|
October 24th, 2012, 08:55 PM | #15 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
Ah man this is a massive relief. I've been spending the past week trying to figure out what I could do. If anything.
Thanks, guys! |
|
October 24th, 2012, 09:06 PM | #16 |
Jigglin' your Jiglets
Name: Sean
Location: San Jose, Ca
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 1
MOTM - Apr '13
|
Lol you idiots telling him to go to a welder, there's no need for that
Just duct tape it.
__________________________________________________
If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs |
|
October 24th, 2012, 09:12 PM | #17 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 7
|
It cracked for a reason. Part of the fix is welding it. The rest of the fix is figuring out what else is bent due to the impact that cracked the weld.
__________________________________________________
Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered) |
|
October 24th, 2012, 09:15 PM | #18 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
|
|
October 24th, 2012, 09:17 PM | #19 |
Jigglin' your Jiglets
Name: Sean
Location: San Jose, Ca
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 1
MOTM - Apr '13
|
__________________________________________________
If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs |
|
October 24th, 2012, 09:17 PM | #20 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
|
|
October 24th, 2012, 09:18 PM | #21 |
RIP Alex
Name: Cuong
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 2
|
__________________________________________________
HalfFast Racing Team Serving Greater Houston Area Riders:WFO Riders MotoHouston HPC CMRA Ride Smart Fastline Lone Star Track Days |
|
October 24th, 2012, 09:19 PM | #22 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
|
|
October 24th, 2012, 09:20 PM | #23 |
Jigglin' your Jiglets
Name: Sean
Location: San Jose, Ca
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 1
MOTM - Apr '13
|
Damn straight
__________________________________________________
If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs |
|
October 24th, 2012, 09:28 PM | #24 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14
|
If all else fails:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/08-12-Kawasa...34e12b&vxp=mtr |
|
October 24th, 2012, 09:33 PM | #25 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Kristoffer
Location: San Jose
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (sold) Posts: 110
|
Quote:
|
|
|
October 25th, 2012, 07:23 AM | #26 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Jason
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 (sold), '06 Ninja 650R Posts: 455
|
Quote:
Also, is that the ignition switch? |
|
|
October 25th, 2012, 07:41 AM | #27 |
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.
|
Add some gusseting for peace-of-mind.
|
|
October 27th, 2012, 09:33 PM | #28 | ||
ninjette.org member
Name: Amber
Location: Kentucky
Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250 Posts: 103
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
|
October 27th, 2012, 11:47 PM | #29 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: .
Location: .
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much.
MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14
|
There's other frames on ebay as well. That one's just an example.
But yes, there might be some title issues with it. I'm not really sure how that process goes tbh |
|
October 28th, 2012, 12:38 PM | #30 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Amber
Location: Kentucky
Join Date: Sep 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 250 Posts: 103
|
Me either. Not that I ever hope to replace a frame, but I was hoping for a little insight.
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
what frame sliders you guys using? | LoneRonin | 2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Farkles | 34 | January 10th, 2021 09:08 PM |
Cracked!!! | Adrrrrianna | General Motorcycling Discussion | 2 | July 27th, 2013 03:43 PM |
This cracked me up | CThunder-blue | Videos | 16 | August 13th, 2011 10:41 PM |
[SoupKast] - SoupKast by Honda Episode 82: Laguna USGP: Fast Guys, Short Guys and Idi | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | July 15th, 2009 11:00 PM |
[SoupKast] - SoupKast by Honda Episode 82: Laguna USGP: Fast Guys, Short Guys and Idi | Ninjette Newsbot | Motorcycling News | 0 | July 14th, 2009 10:40 PM |
|
|