Bent handlebars

minieggroll · 02-16-2012, 04:45 PM

Hello!

So I dropped my bike for the first time today while turning and needing to brake due to the vehicle in front of me. The handlebars are slightly bent and I can't seem to lock the bike when parked using the "off" key position.

Is there an easy fix for this?

Thanks!

PS: Thankfully I expected to drop it eventually and was wearing all my jacket, glove, pants armor and FF helmet so I was fine.

alantf · 02-16-2012, 04:58 PM

Do you mean lock the steering? "off" only switches the engine off. You have to move the key to the "lock" position to lock the bars.

As for the bent bars - this often happens when the gz goes down. When mine went down, and while waiting for the new bars to arrive, the bike shop guy used a short length of scaffolding pole, on the end of the bars, to bend them back into shape.

minieggroll · 02-16-2012, 05:02 PM

Yeah I mean they key won't allow me to turn to the "lock" position now. Normally before I dropped the bike, I would turn the handlebars to the left and turn the key to the lock position. Now, since the bars are bent I think the wheel won't turn far enough to let me lock it.

Water Warrior 2 · 02-16-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minieggroll

PS: Thankfully I expected to drop it eventually and was wearing all my jacket, glove, pants armor and FF helmet so I was fine.

Your gear just paid for itself. Now that you have worn the "NEW" off the bike you can relax and ride.

alantf · 02-16-2012, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minieggroll

since the bars are bent I think the wheel won't turn far enough to let me lock it.

I don't think that bent bars alone would stop you turning the steering into the lock position. Yet, dropping the bike at low speed doesn't seem enough to have affected the steering geometry. If this is the case, you may need to have it checked over by the bike shop to see what's been knocked out of true. Remember - it's your life that's at risk if you're riding with a steering geometry problem.

minieggroll · 02-17-2012, 06:15 PM

Just double checked this morning. The handlebars appear fine (only windshield was bent, but I managed to bend it back) and the lock just needs a little wiggle of the wheel to lock so everything seems okay now.

Luckily, there's just a small scratch about an inch long on the front fender. These bikes are built like tanks lol. I went down at 25 mph in a turn and slid a good 15 ft.

02-16-2012, 04:45 PM	#1
minieggroll Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 73	Bent handlebars Hello! So I dropped my bike for the first time today while turning and needing to brake due to the vehicle in front of me. The handlebars are slightly bent and I can't seem to lock the bike when parked using the "off" key position. Is there an easy fix for this? Thanks! PS: Thankfully I expected to drop it eventually and was wearing all my jacket, glove, pants armor and FF helmet so I was fine. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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02-16-2012, 04:58 PM	#2
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Re: Bent handlebars Do you mean lock the steering? "off" only switches the engine off. You have to move the key to the "lock" position to lock the bars. As for the bent bars - this often happens when the gz goes down. When mine went down, and while waiting for the new bars to arrive, the bike shop guy used a short length of scaffolding pole, on the end of the bars, to bend them back into shape. __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman.
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02-16-2012, 05:02 PM	#3
minieggroll Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 73	Re: Bent handlebars Yeah I mean they key won't allow me to turn to the "lock" position now. Normally before I dropped the bike, I would turn the handlebars to the left and turn the key to the lock position. Now, since the bars are bent I think the wheel won't turn far enough to let me lock it. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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02-17-2012, 06:15 PM	#6
minieggroll Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 73	Re: Bent handlebars Just double checked this morning. The handlebars appear fine (only windshield was bent, but I managed to bend it back) and the lock just needs a little wiggle of the wheel to lock so everything seems okay now. Luckily, there's just a small scratch about an inch long on the front fender. These bikes are built like tanks lol. I went down at 25 mph in a turn and slid a good 15 ft.
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