No Damage? Really? - SV650.org

25-01-05, 11:33 AM

As I seem to be collecting bits of damaged SV650s I decided to take a box of bits down to Maidstone Motoliners to get the checked out and straigthened if necessary.

In the box I had three sets of yokes from K3/K4 bikes, one from a K2, a bunch of K3/K4 axles and a set of Raptor forks and yokes.

The Raptor bike I got the bits from had been hit hard on the front, enough to bend the steering stem badly and bend the yokes and forks. The guys there got a new stem made and fitted and straightened the Raptor bits. Sorted.

They also managed to straighten all bar one of the front SV650 axles and all bar one top yoke from the SV650s. The worrying thing is that one K3 had had a big front end impact, enough to break the forks and the wheel in to pieces and put the calliper bolt through the head of the engine. The top yoke had cracked from the impact on the underside but the bottom yoke was straightened okay.

The other K3 yoke had received a light impact and was straightened but the worrying thing was the K4 yoke. It was from a bike that had been hit up the rear and not hit any kerbs or anything, i.e. no frontal impact at all. This yoke was bent enough to need straightening also! Really scary!

The K2 yokes had been from another big front end impact crash that had also destroyed the wheel, forks and damaged the front of the engine. These were bent but not as badly as the others and were straightened easily.

Now the bottom yokes across all the models are very similar and will all bend to a degree in an impact. The top yokes on the newer bikes are very soft with much less metal used than the earlier bikes.

The K3/K4 forks have thicker side walls so any impact is transferring the force in to the yokes causing more damage than on the older models where the lighter forks would have bent more and absorbed much of the impact.

Interestingy enough the upside down Raptor forks and yokes are so heavy they require two hands to pick up but are much stronger than I would have expected.

They also mentioned that they have had brand new yokes that have been outside of their expected tolerances and have needed straightening!

The moral of the storay is that there are profesionals out there that can fixed minor damage safely but it is very easy to bend bits of your bike without realising so it is worth getting them checked out in the even of even a minor spill.

BillyC · 25-01-05, 12:12 PM

Mike,

I find this very interesting - not only because you say how easy it is to bend something on the newer K3+ bikes, but also because since I had my topple, things have never quite felt the same.

I've put this down to a number of factors:

1) Me
2) Replacement Renthal bars being slightly different to the stock
3) Replacement Renthal bar-ends not being has large and heavy as the stock.
4) Other stuff being bent or out of alignment.

You saying how easy it is for the yoke parts to bend has put a new light on this. Is there any easy way to measure this without dismantling the front end?

25-01-05, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyC

You saying how easy it is for the yoke parts to bend has put a new light on this. Is there any easy way to measure this without dismantling the front end?

Erm, not easily. If you remove the forks and they don't slide back in easily and without catching then your yoke is probably bent. It's worth looking down the edge of each fork from the top to make sure they aren't bent as well - Remember they are made of chocolate also

Maidstone Motoliners are good blokes and do a 'same day turn around' service. If memory serves me right they won't charge you for testing if is straight or not so if they are okay you will only have to pay for it to be posted there and back. They charge forty quid if it does need work. Give them a call on 01622 - 790 705 and discuss it with them.

BillyC · 25-01-05, 01:07 PM

Ah, I've already experienced Maidstone Motorliners - I took my forks to them shortly after the crash. They said one was okay, and did a small amount of straightening n the other.

So I suppose at some point when I've bought the appropriate stand, a front end dismantle is in order then!?

25-01-05, 01:12 PM

Do they straighten anything.. as I have some monster forks and a wheel that got damaged in a front end impact. 40 quid would be a nice repair.

Do you have address?

25-01-05, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grinch

Do they straighten anything.. as I have some monster forks and a wheel that got damaged in a front end impact. 40 quid would be a nice repair.

Do you have address?

My forks were 70 quid to have straightened (but they did have to do both of them).

www.motoliner.com
01622 - 790 705
01622 - 691 402

Maidstone Motoliner Centre
Mill Hall Business Estate
Aylesford
Kent
ME20 7JN

25-01-05, 11:33 AM	#1
Mike1234 Guest Posts: n/a	No Damage? Really? As I seem to be collecting bits of damaged SV650s I decided to take a box of bits down to Maidstone Motoliners to get the checked out and straigthened if necessary. In the box I had three sets of yokes from K3/K4 bikes, one from a K2, a bunch of K3/K4 axles and a set of Raptor forks and yokes. The Raptor bike I got the bits from had been hit hard on the front, enough to bend the steering stem badly and bend the yokes and forks. The guys there got a new stem made and fitted and straightened the Raptor bits. Sorted. They also managed to straighten all bar one of the front SV650 axles and all bar one top yoke from the SV650s. The worrying thing is that one K3 had had a big front end impact, enough to break the forks and the wheel in to pieces and put the calliper bolt through the head of the engine. The top yoke had cracked from the impact on the underside but the bottom yoke was straightened okay. The other K3 yoke had received a light impact and was straightened but the worrying thing was the K4 yoke. It was from a bike that had been hit up the rear and not hit any kerbs or anything, i.e. no frontal impact at all. This yoke was bent enough to need straightening also! Really scary! The K2 yokes had been from another big front end impact crash that had also destroyed the wheel, forks and damaged the front of the engine. These were bent but not as badly as the others and were straightened easily. Now the bottom yokes across all the models are very similar and will all bend to a degree in an impact. The top yokes on the newer bikes are very soft with much less metal used than the earlier bikes. The K3/K4 forks have thicker side walls so any impact is transferring the force in to the yokes causing more damage than on the older models where the lighter forks would have bent more and absorbed much of the impact. Interestingy enough the upside down Raptor forks and yokes are so heavy they require two hands to pick up but are much stronger than I would have expected. They also mentioned that they have had brand new yokes that have been outside of their expected tolerances and have needed straightening! The moral of the storay is that there are profesionals out there that can fixed minor damage safely but it is very easy to bend bits of your bike without realising so it is worth getting them checked out in the even of even a minor spill.

25-01-05, 12:12 PM	#2
BillyC Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The exiles of Kent Posts: 2,184	Mike, I find this very interesting - not only because you say how easy it is to bend something on the newer K3+ bikes, but also because since I had my topple, things have never quite felt the same. I've put this down to a number of factors: 1) Me 2) Replacement Renthal bars being slightly different to the stock 3) Replacement Renthal bar-ends not being has large and heavy as the stock. 4) Other stuff being bent or out of alignment. You saying how easy it is for the yoke parts to bend has put a new light on this. Is there any easy way to measure this without dismantling the front end? __________________ SV650 K3 - Gone. Now a member of the SV650.org Kawasaki brigade!

25-01-05, 01:07 PM	#4
BillyC Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The exiles of Kent Posts: 2,184	Ah, I've already experienced Maidstone Motorliners - I took my forks to them shortly after the crash. They said one was okay, and did a small amount of straightening n the other. So I suppose at some point when I've bought the appropriate stand, a front end dismantle is in order then!? __________________ SV650 K3 - Gone. Now a member of the SV650.org Kawasaki brigade!

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25-01-05, 01:12 PM	#5
Grinch Guest Posts: n/a	Do they straighten anything.. as I have some monster forks and a wheel that got damaged in a front end impact. 40 quid would be a nice repair. Do you have address?