Bent Handle Bars....and more..?

[Canuck]

Hey everyone,

couple months ago I was downtown dropping some books off at the library... parked close behind a Suzuki Sidekick and when i returned to the bike 10 mins later it was on its left side with a police officer standing next to tell me what happened...

fortunately the only damage was a smashed windshield and some scratches to the trunk and the left mirror.

OR so I thought

After riding the past few months ive felt as if the alignment was off... I checked out the handlebars and I could SWEAR the left side has been bent in even if slightly i can only imagine what else is bent or thrown off....

Now the good things is i am one of the few on this site who seems to have gotten his right side throttle cap bolt inside the handlebars.

SOOO i was thinkin best thing here is to replace the bars and see if the alignment problem is fixed while hitting another bird with the same stone..

Or should i be getting a full out alignment inspection done by me somehow or the expensive mechanics on Van Island..*sigh*

[Canuck]

With the bike weight over 300 lbs dry, leaves one to wonder if the extra force of the jeep slamming into my front fork would be enough extra to really bend those handle bars and maybe more..?


just some thoughts..

thanks guys

[music man]

I would replace the handlebars if they are in fact bent, because you can buy a set of aftermarket bars cheap, and you need them anyways, and then ride it and see how it feels, and if it is still off, then take it and get it checked out further. Start with the cheap stuff first.

[Easy Rider]

Start with the cheap stuff first.

:plus1:

OTOH, a really good, experienced mechanic can probably tell just by looking at it what it needs.
That "look" might be free and it might save you from replacing things that really don't need to be replaced.

If you feel that you can replace the bars yourself......(fishing the wires into the new bars can be tricky), then I'd say go for the new bars. If you don't think you can do it yourself, might as well take it in to start with.

[alantf]

....(fishing the wires into the new bars can be tricky),

What wires?

[Water Warrior 2]

....(fishing the wires into the new bars can be tricky),

What wires?

Yah, what wires ??

[Easy Rider]

[quote="Easy Rider":35m6wj93]....(fishing the wires into the new bars can be tricky),

What wires?

Yah, what wires ??[/quote:35m6wj93]

OK...OK...you mean the wires on the cheap little pig run on the OUTSIDE of the bars ???? :oops:

Yep. Sure enough. :retard:

[patrick_777]

:owned: :itsokay:

[Easy Rider]

:owned: :itsokay:

:crutches:

I may be down but I ain't out !! :cool:

[adrianinflorida]

Hey, Easy came up with a new mod.....I have a new handlebar coming this week, maybe I'll just route everything (Wiring) inside the handlebar, rather than outside. Nah, too much like work. :biggrin: Zip ties are good enough for me. Maybe I'll get some of those neon colored ones to dress up the harness a bit ;) (Just kidding)

[Easy Rider]

Zip ties are good enough for me.

Or the redneck version: Twist ties from bread wrappers !! :shocked:

[music man]

Zip ties are good enough for me.

Or the redneck version: Twist ties from bread wrappers !! :shocked:


Hey if bread wrapper twist ties and/or duct tape won't fix it, it ain't worth fixin.

[alanmcorcoran]

Does a low speed dump ever affect the disc brakes? As in, they are now touching the disk? (This was a regular feature of bicycle dumpage. [Not the disk, but the wheel rim.]) I notice a bit of noise on mine since my parking lot incident and they are warm (but not hot) when I get home. I tried eyeballing them, and also exercising them a bit on the off chance they are self adjusting, but they basically look like they are touching on both sides becuase they are so close anyway. Is there a feeler test or something?

[Easy Rider]

Does a low speed dump ever affect the disc brakes?
Is there a feeler test or something?

Disk brakes are inherently "self adjusting" and they are supposed to touch the rotor......EVER so lightly.

After a long run and not using them at all, they will probably still be slightly warm to the touch (rotor too). If they are HOT to the touch after NOT being used......then something is stuck or bent and needs to be serviced.

Some noises are "normal", some not. A simple flushing with water might eliminate the noise. Do NOT use high pressure and DO let them dry a few hours before riding !!

[adrianinflorida]

Does a low speed dump ever affect the disc brakes? As in, they are now touching the disk? (This was a regular feature of bicycle dumpage. [Not the disk, but the wheel rim.]) I notice a bit of noise on mine since my parking lot incident and they are warm (but not hot) when I get home. I tried eyeballing them, and also exercising them a bit on the off chance they are self adjusting, but they basically look like they are touching on both sides becuase they are so close anyway. Is there a feeler test or something? is it a constant 'touching' or could you have bent/warped the disk ever so slightly? Otherwise, for it to be crash related, maybe you bent the attaching point on the fork for the caliper. Then again, a light sanding of the disk and pads (Glazing?) might solve your problem, too.

[adrianinflorida]

Zip ties are good enough for me.

Or the redneck version: Twist ties from bread wrappers !! :shocked:
Hell, just wrap the wires and cables around and around the handlebars, no ties needed. :D