I was riding up Angeles Crest Highway specifically working on getting rid of a target fixation problem I was having. Well, I rolled straight over a rock at about 50mph. It was enough to shake me up pretty good and I had to pull over to the side of the road. I walked back to see how big this monster rock was. Turns out is was about a 3" wide rock. Pushed it off to the side of the road so no other riders would hit it. Did a quick check on the bike and everything initially looked good. Started the GS up and went on my way until I noticed a hissing sound every once in a while, but only when I took turns to the right. Pulled over and looked again. Found a nasty bend right on the edge of the rim where it meets the rubber.
(http://www.projectrich.com/gallery/466-2/DSC00182.JPG)
(http://www.projectrich.com/gallery/470-2/DSC00183.JPG)
So I was about 40 miles away from my place in the middle of the mountains and losing air pressure in my front tire with every turn to the right. I finally got home a little while ago very slowly. Took off the wheel and called up a couple of places. Went to a couple of places. They're all telling me I pretty much need a new front wheel. Most said they'd try to fix it be didn't guarantee it would work and said there'd be a good chance they'd make it a lot worse.
I guess I'm looking for a new front wheel. A couple of questions. First, what are people's thoughts about getting a new one vs fixing my current one? Where are my best chances to find a new front wheel without spending too much? Has anyone heard of LA Cycle Salvage in Los Angeles? One person directed me there. General thoughts?
if it was a car I would say try and fix it. But rapid loss of tire pressure on a bike is a lot more dangerous than in a car. I'd get a new wheel. I just wouldn't trust a repair on something that important.
Matt
I'm no bike wheel specialist but Ide have the tire unmounted and bend the wheel back, while checking for any cracks ect. The wheel will be slightly weaker there due to the obvious bend and rebending but I really wouldnt worry about if you can get it straight enough for the bead to seat properly.
I'd say buy a new one. The safety reassurance granteed by a new one supercedes that of just fixing it, I think.
Those pics don't make it look as bad as it may be. If you look at the first one, you will see that not only the outside ring is bend, but the inside corner of the rim is bent also. This was the part that the people I took it to were worried about the most.
I have seen wheels on eBay try looking there.
hehe Everything on eBay are the crappy white wheels. I want my nice ass gunmetal wheels. ;)
I think I'm going to be buying a crappy white wheel and end up painting it.
Here you go man,
[/url]http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&satitle=gs+500+wheel&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=28804&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&fgtp=//Get%20one%20of%20them,%20paint%20it%20your%20color%20of%20choice,%20and%20you%20are%20off!%20Hope%20this%20helps-Patrick
Quote from: roguegeekHas anyone heard of LA Cycle Salvage in Los Angeles?
I'm sorry. That's wrong. It's
Los Angeles Motorcycle Salvage. Anyone been there before? Anyone know if I'll have any luck finding a wheel there tomorrow?
It will cost about $75 to repair a damaged wheel. DO NOT try to fix it yourself. The proper amount of heat has to be applied.
I know there has to be a place in CA that fixes wheels. Will's Rim Repair here in Greenville fixes them from all over the country. Every time I go to FedEx I see boxes that he is shipping out. He fixed a TL wheel for me several years ago. I have his number somewhere.
Ahh yes didnt notice the inner portion being so bad. A new wheel is probably cheaper than messing with fixing that one.
DOH! didn't look close enough at those wheels on e bay, to notice they are all rears! But,,, uhhh..... I was just giving that to you for an example of the "availability" of wheels on e bay, yeah, thats it,........ so you would feel better about knowing that choices are available, and this would ease the troubledness you feel deep down worrying about your GS, yup thats right, so I was really helping!!
I'll go back to my corner now,
-Patrick
Quote from: dgyverIt will cost about $75 to repair a damaged wheel. DO NOT try to fix it yourself. The proper amount of heat has to be applied.
I know there has to be a place in CA that fixes wheels. Will's Rim Repair here in Greenville fixes them from all over the country. Every time I go to FedEx I see boxes that he is shipping out. He fixed a TL wheel for me several years ago. I have his number somewhere.
Yes, I will take that number. I think I'm gonna buy a new front and rear wheel anyway but it's be a shame not to at least try and fix the one I have now.
LA Cycle Salvage: No experience
Well, I can direct you to a couple of places.. there are some more honest and more expensive places or some well.. shady and cheap places I know of. If you are interested, send me an email cronjob@gmail.com. I was sure that I saw you the other night (Friday or Saturday) over in SM heading up Centinella. Was that you? I was riding a different bike, not the GS. I would just say get a new rim. They are not that expensive for a used one.
Now this is an unrepairable wheel(http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/41/41309/folders/208237/Thumbnails/1688013Donorfrontwheel.jpg) (http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/41/41309/folders/208237/1688013Donorfrontwheel.jpg) A huge chuck of the casting is missing.
I picked up the chassis from a bike junk yard. It had a tree growing through the frame (no engine). The tire on this rim still had all the rubber nipples!
Quote from: AlphaFire X5I'd say buy a new one. The safety reassurance granteed by a new one supercedes that of just fixing it, I think.
+1. If it were me and my bike, I'd buy a new wheel. I would feel unsafe after the integrity of the wheel has been tampered with.
don't forget.....
a 89-97 GSX600/gsx750 (kanatuna) front rim is the same, just diff colors
i would expect an aluminum wheel to generally be unrepairable. aluminum does not like bending.
Aluminum wheel repair is big business, like Wheel Wizard in G'ville. I have seen $1000+ wheels repaired that did not look too much different than what starwalt posted. When fixing bends, the aluminum has to be heated then is becomes soft and is able to be formed back into shape. Basic metalurgy.
Quote from: jomeiI was sure that I saw you the other night (Friday or Saturday) over in SM heading up Centinella. Was that you?
Sorry. Not me. :dunno:
Quote from: werase643don't forget.....
a 89-97 GSX600/gsx750 (kanatuna) front rim is the same, just diff colors
Sweet! I didn't know that. Are these wheels shared with any other models? Now are all 1989-present GS front and rear wheels the same or did they get changed up ever?
Are these options?
1,
2
GS wheels are universal over the entire model line. Nothing was changed about the wheels with the exception of the color. White, gunmetal gray, or black.
OK I can guarantee you ... I can repair that wheel for under $20 ... Done it on many old school bikes with aluminum wheels ...
First take it off put some rubber or plastic on the vice and press it ...
You may have to heat it ... if it looks like it may break. As in dont crank it mercilessly ... Recently drifer8899 fixed a wheel that was slightly dinged (Couldn't even see it ... but tire was losing air slowly I believe) ... but whacking it with a mallet.
Now if it doesn't bend back or looks like it will crack ... bend it back anyway, let it crack and then weld it and have a new seating area ground clean ... That's what my welder does day in and day out. That's what will cost ya $20 or so ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Wow. That's definitely not something I could do. If I find someone who will be able to fix it, great. In the mean time, I'm gonna go hunt for some used wheels. Think I'm gonna replace both front and rear and have them painted matte black.
Alright, I just purchased a new front and rear wheel. Please check these out and tell me I bought the right ones. I'm sure I overpaid on the front, but that's fine with me. I really don't want to go another day without my GS. I also figured since they're both painted the same color, I could just clean them up instead of re-painting them and save a little money and time. :thumb:
- Front Wheel (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4577405347)
- Rear Wheel (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4577405423)
Please tell me I got the right ones at a decent price. :dunno:
You gonna hook up another caliper in the front?
Quote from: RVertigoYou gonna hook up another caliper in the front?
Yes. The original one. My understanding is the rotor on the Katana is different so I can't use the same caliper, but that's ok because the wheel is the same. Yes no? Did I do ok with these buys?
They are the correct wheels. The price may be a little high but if the paint is in good shape then it is a decent price.
The Katana front rotors are smaller than the GS rotor. You will need to use your GS rotor. The rear rotors are the same.
If you want to sell the Kat rotors let me know. I could use another pair.
Alright. I got my front and rear wheels in today. Just opened the box and they are exactly as described on eBay. Slightly weathered, but paint is good and wheel is straight. Very happy about that. I can only sit here and compare them to my current wheels in my head since I'm at work and don't have them right in front of me. They do look like they will work and you guys claim the Katana wheels will work. One concern that I hope you guys can put to rest real quick. The front wheel has dual rotors on the Katana wheel I bought. I know the GS only has a single rotor in the front. This is expected, yes? I didn't buy something that wont work, right?
Yea lose the Katana rotor and fit the GS rotor on the right side ... the bolt pattern is same, Kat has 280 X 2 and GS has 310 X 1 ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Looks like the bearings and anything else inside the wheels were left on also. Probably just use the ones off my current wheels since I know those are in good shape.
Quote from: roguegeekLooks like the bearings and anything else inside the wheels were left on also. Probably just use the ones off my current wheels since I know those are in good shape.
If you are planning on swapping bearings, do not waste your time. They are tough to remove without damaging them. Better off spending the $20-30 for a new set. I rarely change the bearings unless they grind or have flat spot while spinning.
I forgot to mention.....before removing the rotors, soak the bolts in liquid wrench or a similar bolt loosening product over night. It kind of softens the locktight they put on.
Quote from: dgyverI forgot to mention.....before removing the rotors, soak the bolts in liquid wrench or a similar bolt loosening product over night. It kind of softens the locktight they put on.
hehe It's funny you mention this because I absolutely for the life of me could not get the damn rotors off on the front wheel. Used liquid wrench on both the front and rear rotors. Could only get the rear one off. Soaking overnight and gonna give it another go tomorrow. If I'm still not able to get them off, I'm just gonna have the local shop torque them off and install the tires at the same time.
It's amazing how much work is needed to just replace a wheel on a bike. I mean, it is my first time trying, but compared to a car, it's just a little mind blowing at first. I actually screwed up the brakes by accident by not putting something between the pads and I accidentally pulled the brake lever. Now I have to reset the pistons and bleed the brakes. Fun stuff. At least I'll know better next time. :dunno:
Applying a little heat to the bolts may help as well. Just be careful if you used a flammable liquid wrench.
I use a long breaker bar and apply slow but firm pressure. I have only torqued of one bolt out of 10+ wheels.
I used a cheater bar to get those bolts off. Maybe try that also.