Time to NOT rebuild my bike- crashed wednesday

[jfoley]

So looks like instead of buying different types of gear and farkles for my bike I will be rebuilding it. On wednesday I went down, lowsided and crashed into the rear of a minivan. There was an already existing accident right in front of a light. Everyone rubbernecking and not paying attention to the light lead to everyone slamming on their brakes when light hit red. When I realized that all the cars were braking, it was too late. I went on my brakes and lowsided under the rear bumper of a honda minivan at a slow speed (must have been under 10-15 since my gear didnt sustain much damage).




Luckily I was wearing full gear (boots, gloves, jacket w/ armor, pants w/ armor, back protector and brain bucket). I happily walked away with a stubbed toe and a sore leg/knee.





Now it looks like I will need new handlebars, front right turn signal (already ordered), front brake lever (ordered as well), speedometer (god, these are expensive), and headlight.




Is the dent in the frame concerning at all? Weld doesn't seem to be damaged. Forks seem to be straight (eyeballing).

Any suggestions on handlebars? I want something close to stock, wouldn't mind a little more rise and run (I like being upright).

Please be safe out there.

[ver4]

No way you were only going 10 to 15 mph.  I've been in accidents of speeds in excess of 30 mph and didn't cause that much damage.  Maybe I was just lucky?  Glad that you made it out of it with no major injuries.

Since my accidents, I have learned from my mistakes and make sure I have plenty of time to react.  Increase your following distance and you won't run into this problem.  I know.  I've made those mistakes too.

Edit:  After looking at the pictures better, did the bike slam down?

[ben2go]

Glad you're OK.Gear was a good plan.Glad it all held up for you.I'm not sure I would rebuild on that frame.With a hit like that,it may not be true and square.Your forks need to be checked as they appear to be slightly twisted.It may be the way the pic looks on my screen,but it's better safe than to be in another accident.

[crzydood17]

take it to a shop and have them make sure everything is true... if yes, get a body guy to pull the dents and repaint, throw on new bars and a new turn signal and maybe upgrade you gauges and go have fun

[justinmc84]

I'm also going to recommend you have a legit shop take a look at the bike.  There's no sense in trying to salvage something that is unsafe to ride.  You already went down once and got away with minor injuries, you might not be so lucky next time brother.

[mister]

IF you had the bike insured for such, the insurance company will write off your bike. End of story. It's automatic. Damaged frame = write off. They don't want to risk any repercussions of fixing a damaged frame, having a frame failure and MASSIVE payout due to wrongful death or other maiming so they consider the bike totaled when frame damage happens.

The frame doesn't just exist to hang stuff from. It is the structural integrity of the bike. It enables the bike to handle like it does. Damaged frame also equals poor handling, less maneuverability, etc. Sure, you Could fix it if you don't want an insurance payout. BUT, riding a bike with a Fixed Frame is asking for trouble. Better off getting an undamaged replacement frame.

As an aside, in hind sight, how could you have avoided the crash? What did you learn from it?

Michael

[Twisted]

On top of parts for the bike you will need to toss them gloves. The boots and the pants will probably be ok. I would look around for someone who has pulled a motor out of a GS and has a rolling chassis and plant your stuff into that. Frame looks like it is toast.

[crzydood17]

if you can find a donor bike yeh new frame... if not I don't think the frame is too badly damaged, though... fully boxing in that section would probably be good for strength..

[Mad Dog]

As other people have said above. Toss that frame and build into a new donor frame. Here in Aus if you put the bike back on the road with that frame the cops would throw you off the road in a heart beat.

Would be awful if the damaged frame caused you to have a more serious accident in the future

[xunedeinx]

After you get the frame, I have a set of 37mm clipons for $20 shipped, and a GSXR600 SRAD shock for $20 shipped, combine them for $30!

Being your rebuilding anyway, just make the new shock mount and call it a day!

-Justin

[jfoley]

bleh, im going to sell the bike, cant afford another crash or parts...

selling as a whole parts bike.

If someone wants to buy engine, I would be more likely to part it out.

[crzydood17]

  GET BACK ON THE HORSE! 

[jfoley]

i will get back on the horse eventually...but not this one.

[bill14224]

Again I agree with Michael.  Damaged frame = totaled parts bike.  Unless you have a spare frame hanging around, forget it.  Tear it apart and sell it here or on eBay, then start over.  I like your new pullback handlebars.  Sorry, I couldn't resist!  Glad you're OK, and yeah, give yourself more space.

I've made the same mistake in the past as well.  Luckily for me I ended-up stopped sideways right behind a station wagon with my right foot on his bumper!  He jammed on his brakes to stop at a yellow light, and as we all know cars can stop quicker than bikes can.  After the light turned green, he drove away.  He never knew I almost rear-ended him.  He never looked back, never knew I was there!

[crzydood17]

If you had left a foot print that would of been epic

[jcroom]

From the looks of it you can get a new frame pretty cheap.... If you have little money but a lot of time.... go for it!


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-Suzuki-GS500F-Frame-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem415b2e6f9cQQitemZ280702644124QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Browsing ebay looks like you can get a frame for around $100...

[sledge]

Thing about frame damage is its difficult to detect without specialist gear. It can look servicable but it might be stressed, take the engine, swinger or shock mount out and it can spring, upshot is mounting points wont line up and you cant get the parts back in. The headstock only needs to be a few degrees out to affect handling and you simply cant see that sort of misalignment with a Mk1 eyeball.

Used GS frames cost nothing.....exmple..... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-GS500-GS-500-E-1994-FRAME-AND-V5-/250832690464?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3a66cb1d20


Ok its in the uk but you will find one in the us. They are cheap from breakers because they take up space and there is no demand for them, you should seriously consider looking for one and swapping it over. Or even buying another GS with a fubared engine making a good one up out of the two and selling the unused parts to claw some caash back.

People make a living out of doing this sort of thing 

[yamahonkawazuki]

Thing about frame damage is its difficult to detect without specialist gear. It can look servicable but it might be stressed, take the engine, swinger or shock mount out and it can spring, upshot is mounting points wont line up and you cant get the parts back in. The headstock only needs to be a few degrees out to affect handling and you simply cant see that sort of misalignment with a Mk1 eyeball.

Used GS frames cost nothing.....exmple..... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-GS500-GS-500-E-1994-FRAME-AND-V5-/250832690464?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3a66cb1d20


Ok its in the uk but you will find one in the us. They are cheap from breakers because they take up space and there is no demand for them, you should seriously consider looking for one and swapping it over. Or even buying another GS with a fubared engine making a good one up out of the two and selling the unused parts to claw some caash back.

People make a living out of doing this sort of thing 

yup and the gs is an easy bike to tear apart. could prolly have it done maybe an hour tops

[ben2go]

If you change frames,make sure you get the title for the new frame.Anytime a frame is changed,the bike has to be registered and insured to the new frame.

[Bluesmudge]

I did the exact same thing a few months ago on my dual sport. I rear-ended the back left steel bumper of an 18-wheeler truck when everyone slammed on their breaks. It took out everything from my headlight back to my handlebars. I was lucky based on the circumstances of the accident that I was able to get the bike back on the road for about $300 and a $125 ticket. I know that feeling of being 100% in the wrong. It sucks, but at least you are okay and when you do get back on the bike, you have learned a strong lesson about following distances.