Hi


I've been stripping down my cane so that I can paint the engine and frame ect, when I found that there was a load of filler in the frame rails that run along under the tank.








Does anybody have any ideas why these dent are here or are they something that is on all of them from factory.


Thanks Dave

 

Not sure but looks an awful lot like crash damage repair. Deffy no filler in the frame from factory.

 

My first thought was crash damage but I've had a look about ad cant see anything else to suggest it was involved in a crash.

 

Looks to me it was in a head on collision and the bike tried to bend into a "U" shape. You say you cant see any more evidence of crash damage. Post more pics, I bet someone might see something you cant.

 

I'll get some more pics tomorrow of the sides of the frame. Is there anywhere else I should be looking/taking pics of??

But After digging a bit further I've found a bit more damage.















One thing I have noticed is the tubes that go through the frame for the ram air pipes are not perfectly round... Are they meant to be like that??

Thanks Dave

 

Holy Hell, is that Bondo body filler I see. I think so. The air tubes should be mostly round but I would think not noticeably oval shaped. You said you didnt see any evidence of crash damage prior to taking it apart. Are the foot pegs scratched or bent, how about the rear brake lever or shifter, engine covers scratched. Those are telltale signs it been horizontal.

 

Yeah your eyes do not deceive you, there is 'Bondo' body filler in there.


When I say any other signs of crash damage I looked at all the pegs, controls, forks, bars and even the frame that the headlight mounts to and they are all straight.
I'm beginning to think that it may have been in a head on crash and a lot of money and effort was spent putting it back together but not when it came to the frame.


Thanks Dave

 

That definitely look like the frame tubes have buckled and then somewhat straightened.

 

That's what I'm starting to think. Every bike I've seen that's had a head-on crash
Has pushed the lower part of the headstock back towards the engine, damaging the lower tubes of the frame or stretching the upper tubes.
What could explains the deep dents in the upper parts of the frame, if they have pulled the headstock back to th correct angle by smashing dents into the upper tubes.

Thanks Dave.

 

This is crash damage. I have worked on and tore down many crashed bikes and these are the tell tale signs you have there.


I would be concerned about the integrity (I see at least one crack), as well as tracking if the steering head is not straight. You can do some measurements to determine if it is straight.


Most times it's best to put it on a frame jig to determine if the steering head is properly aligned.


You probably weren't looking for this answer, but your safety might be at stake here.