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View Full Version : Recent 'drop' - what to look for?


GoatMasterUK
10-06-13, 01:20 PM
Hey all - First post of mine which isn't really a good one. I've had my bike for about 3 months now and the other day had a little 'accient' with the clutch. Needless to say, my bike ended up in the middle of the junction.

The front fairing is now dead however - I'm planning to keep the bike for a few years so I've used some blackandnasty and going to cable tie the rest up (In a neat and drifter front bumper fashion).

The radiator is bent and I've ordered a replacement for that and is on it's way as we speak. The rear break pedal also needs replacing but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

I was wondering is there's anything I should check that I may have missed? I managed to get the bike back home though the front break felt a bit iffy.. Any suggestions on what could be wrong there?

Cheers,

Goaty

Pricey12
10-06-13, 01:45 PM
I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along soon, but off the top of my head I'd be checking frame and forks for damage. Probably not very likely with a low speed off, but still worth checking.

daveyrach
10-06-13, 03:20 PM
I'd be checking the forks as well, how did you manage to bend the rad?

markc123
10-06-13, 03:28 PM
I'd be checking the forks as well, how did you manage to bend the rad?

At least on the curvy S, the fairing clips straight to the rad. Therefore the weight of the bike ends up bending the rad. Mine is banana shaped, but has not lost any water in 20+K miles. OP - is it actually leaking?

daveyrach
10-06-13, 03:32 PM
At least on the curvy S, the fairing clips straight to the rad. Therefore the weight of the bike ends up bending the rad. Mine is banana shaped, but has not lost any water in 20+K miles. OP - is it actually leaking?

Ah I see, I have a curvy I've stripped it enough times so I should've known that.

Steve_God
10-06-13, 03:45 PM
Depends how is landed and if it hit anything else along the way...
Firstly is leaks - get it running stationary and leave it to get up to temperature. Check around the bike for any trips anywhere.
Then frame / forks. Any cracks, splits, anything that looks bend or is showing strain marks.

Also, recommendation for repairing the fairing rather than tape and cable ties is fiberglass repair - you can get a pack with some solution and fabric for under a tenner on ebay and is plenty strong enough to repair cracks/splits from the inside to make it structurally ok, although the crack will still show on the outer.

ChrisCurvyS
10-06-13, 03:51 PM
Re the front brake - it's usually that the lever's taken a knock and bent so it doesn't move backwards and forwards properly on the pivot.

I had that and then the thing snapped in my fingers while braking so check it properly! That was a cheapo one though - the OEM I replaced it with feels much more durable.

Awesome username btw.

yorkie_chris
10-06-13, 03:53 PM
Did you hit anything? Or just the ground?

GoatMasterUK
10-06-13, 05:03 PM
Thanks for the advice so far.
The main frame seems to be fine with no sight of hairline cracks etc. The rad doesn't appear to be leaking neither, however, the bottom bolt is snapped and due to the bend, the top part does not sit on the frame properly.
It's on a k4 pointy :) I'm not sure if fibre glass will help here.. I'll get a picture up later tonight or tomorrow.
Just hit the ground on the right side (When sat on it).
Are rear break pedals bike specific?
Thanks ChrisCurvy :P

Nobbylad
11-06-13, 07:16 AM
What colour are the fairings?

GoatMasterUK
11-06-13, 09:54 AM
Blue? I don't know the Suzuki colour naming convention.
Reference Fiberglass. Is it applied almost like tape on the inside of the fairing?

Nobbylad
11-06-13, 04:44 PM
Basically you spread the resin on the inside of the panel where the crack is, then lay the fibreglass matting over it and put some more resin/matting over the top (if required). I usually use a few layers depending on the extent of the damage and how far I want to overlap either side to add strength.

A good tip is to rough up the surface with coarse sandpaper etc to improve adhesion/surface area.

GoatMasterUK
11-06-13, 07:29 PM
So you can all have a little view.
I'm planning to fiberglass the parts which have cracked and the on the front fairing, I'm going to get some bog to fill it then try some Plastidip and respray the bike! (ha!)

http://s1297.photobucket.com/user/GoatMasterUK/story/71229