Hey guys, I wrecked my bike and am just wondering how I would go about determining whether the forks are straight.

any advise would be appreciated.

The only accurate way of doing it is to dismantle your forks and use a dial indicator to measure the runout of the tubes in thousands of an inch. You'll have to get the specs, but I dont think the runout can exceed .005". But again, I'm not sure of the exact spec. I dont know of a way to do it while the forks are still assembled. Unless its a really bad bend, it wont be obvious to the naked eye.

If it was me, I would take it to someone with experience in repairing crashed bikes. They would probably know what to look for and be able to tell you if they are bent or not. If in doubt, I would go ahead and replace them so you aren't worrying about it

Bad luck wrecking her mate :(
If you are even a little concerned about them ...
take the time (a couple of hours max:D) pull them out and get them checked by someone with the gear to do it right..

She wont feel quite right to ride if they are even a little bent ...

How did you go down? High? low? Into a barrier?

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

How did you go down? High? low? Into a barrier?

Here's my story...
http://cbrforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89384

But from what I can see they *look* straight. But I suppose the eyes can be decieving.

Quite a story. Looks like you have done a few burnouts on that rear too lol.
Like you said they look fine though. What i would do is throw about a hundred measurements on em. Mark them in symmetrical locations. Write down all of your numbers. It should all balance. If it doesn't add up then you will know something is awry. Possibly, even graph the numbers and scale everything down into a drawing.

Thanks for all the replies everyone.



Here's my story...
http://cbrforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89384

But from what I can see they *look* straight. But I suppose the eyes can be decieving.
Holy chit...you were luck mate ..:eek:
I just checked your other story thread ..wowww! shes was wrecked alright :eek:
No wonder the buzzards are circling :rolleyes:

I spose thats one good thing about this place ...nuthin goes to waste ..:D

good luck with your parting out mate ...

Quite a story. Looks like you have done a few burnouts on that rear too lol.
Like you said they look fine though. What i would do is throw about a hundred measures on em. Mark them in symmetrical locations. Write down all of your numbers. It should all balance. If it doesn't add up then you will know something is awry. Possibly, even graph the numbers and scale everything down into a drawing.

Actually, I had never done a burn out... I don't know why the tire looks like that. Maybe something happened in the wreck to burn the rubber up.

Crash detective 101 says: It could be from the initial incident. 150 yrds past the instability point and you were still flying indicates that you probably had the rear brakes locked rather than the fronts which would have slowed you easily within 25yrds. ie: flat spot that looks like balding from burnouts. I think i read somewhere that over 75% of your breaking should come from the front. I suppose it would be kind of hard to feather the front in a "death wobble" though.

Definitely.. I can't really tell you if I was using the breaks or not because I was in panic mode I guess. But I highly doubt I could have used the front brakes considering how terribly bad the bike was wobbling.

Oh, and the tire is like that all the way around... Its not really one flat spot, its all burned up equally throughout the tire.

Oh, and the tire is like that all the way around... Its not really one flat spot, its all burned up equally throughout the tire.

An explanation could be that as you slide a bike going down , the rear wheel quite often still rotates ..and it prolly was going sideways as well !!:rolleyes:

This acts like a humongous sanding machine running across the tire, scuffing it up all the way around..:D

just my2cents worth:rolleyes:

The flat spot looks to be pretty proportionate to the center. Now unless your bike ended up with the rear still spinning (in the center) ,somehow, after you bailed, I can't really see what could have happened there.

I have heard somewhere; Rule #1: Don't Panic

The flat spot looks to be pretty proportionate to the center. Now unless your bike ended up with the rear still spinning (in the center) ,somehow, after you bailed, I can't really see what could have happened there.

I have heard somewhere; Rule #1: Don't Panic
Nar
..rule #1 = don't crash
..rule #2 = try not to panic
..rule #3 = if you do panic , don't tell anyone LOL

and hey ..my tire theory was just a shot in the dark LOL:D
But I have this picture in my of him totally under control , all sideways .. hard on the front brake, full gas , doing the most incredible power rear wheel burnout to try to save her as she was going over and all as calm as a cucumber :D

I have heard somewhere; Rule #1: Don't Panic

...easier said

No doubt, I don't ever want to meet this creature called the "Death Wobble"

No doubt, I don't ever want to meet this creature called the "Death Wobble"
In the old days we called these terror attacks from our rides , "Tank Slappers!!" because when they got real bad , your legs and knees would get chucked back and fourth , side to side slapping the tank !! as she bucked and wobbled...

I have been unfortunate to have had this happen ALLOT! on my first road ride ,a 1975 new 900 kawasaki ZIB
(I rolled over 100,000klm on her:D) , before I moded her frame and quite a few other things, would do these tank slappers at anything over 100mph if she got unstable from bumps or dips on the road..:eek:

It was a weekly experience back then..

a properly certified dial indicator guage is the only way to be sure sure. saw that story..... quite a sad one, are you going for another bike?