VFR down!!
Re: VFR down!!
Sorry to read this but glad you're ok. I agree with others, I'd probably move on to another bike and move parts over but sounds like you're up to resurrecting it so best of luck.
Yes, I'm up to the challenge to put this one back on the road.
Years ago, I bought a spare parts bike for my EX500. I ended up with so many extra parts and nowhere to store them. I don't want to go through that again. Besides it would kill me to break one down and take it off the road forever. These bikes are getting rare to find. I'm sure I can fix this one for less than buying a used one from someone else with some other problems. I'm not in a hurry to get back on the road riding at this point I'm still healing from the accident. I enjoy working on bikes and this is something that I will take all winter to get back on the road. You can say this will strengthen my skills and I just love wrenching on them.
I did find out the forks are bent. I'm not sure if there is someone out that has ever straighten them after they have been bent, but I have found some used ones for a decent price that I will throw on. I'm sure I will have to install new seals and that is something new to me. While I'm at it I should change the fluid in the used ones and put new bearings in the triple tree if it is still useable.
I'm sure there is plenty of help out there to help me with the forks. You guys are always there in pinch, thank you for that.
Years ago, I bought a spare parts bike for my EX500. I ended up with so many extra parts and nowhere to store them. I don't want to go through that again. Besides it would kill me to break one down and take it off the road forever. These bikes are getting rare to find. I'm sure I can fix this one for less than buying a used one from someone else with some other problems. I'm not in a hurry to get back on the road riding at this point I'm still healing from the accident. I enjoy working on bikes and this is something that I will take all winter to get back on the road. You can say this will strengthen my skills and I just love wrenching on them.
I did find out the forks are bent. I'm not sure if there is someone out that has ever straighten them after they have been bent, but I have found some used ones for a decent price that I will throw on. I'm sure I will have to install new seals and that is something new to me. While I'm at it I should change the fluid in the used ones and put new bearings in the triple tree if it is still useable.
I'm sure there is plenty of help out there to help me with the forks. You guys are always there in pinch, thank you for that.
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rc24dk
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I this thread: https://vfrdiscussion-archive.org/topic ... st-1150833 tsmitty corrected a bent fork. Most pictures are gone but the thread is full of optimism an problems solved. Correcting a bent fork requires tooling and measurements and success probably depends on how bad it is. Also the rc24-1 fork were just 37mm diameter. If bent more than 1mm or so a bigger problem than strightness will be ovalisation. Aslo check for roundness in the bent zone.
The result may never be perfect anyway so replacement is less of a hassle.
The result may never be perfect anyway so replacement is less of a hassle.
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maxredline
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2026 4:22 am
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I have had success straightening forks rolled straight at a shop with a large enough unit. I am not sure of the procedure used. No one will give you any kind of guarantees on outcome.
Just do it, time runs out.
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Captain 80s
- Posts: 12
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I've straightened quite a few bent fork tubes. Of course being knowledgeable and realistic about what is "saveable" is the first step.
I use hard wood v-blocks in my hydraulic press to correct. You have to over correct to compensate for spring back. More than you think at first. And then I use my wheel balancer and a run-out gage (if needed) to check straightness. I then visually inspect the area with some magnification. Some times I will take the finished product to work and roll them on my inspection granite too for a double check.
I have gotten some really good deals on slightly bent, sought after forks for front end swaps. Buying them can be a gamble, but has saved me a ton of money in the long run.
I use hard wood v-blocks in my hydraulic press to correct. You have to over correct to compensate for spring back. More than you think at first. And then I use my wheel balancer and a run-out gage (if needed) to check straightness. I then visually inspect the area with some magnification. Some times I will take the finished product to work and roll them on my inspection granite too for a double check.
I have gotten some really good deals on slightly bent, sought after forks for front end swaps. Buying them can be a gamble, but has saved me a ton of money in the long run.
