I did a search and didn't find the info I was looking for

I just took my forks off to change the seals and found a nice surprise... my forks are bent.  I'm 95% sure it happened 9 monthes ago when a car hit me, unless they were like this before I got the bike. After my incident I looked closely at my forks on the bike to be sure they were still straight, and they seemed to be fine.  But now that I have the forks off the bike, I can see that they are both slightly bent.

If this did happen 9 monthes ago, I've probably put 2000+ miles on the bike since then with no ill effects.  I don't think I should keep going like this, but is it possible?

Can I have them straightened?  If so, where and how much is it going to set me back?

If that's not a good option, what are my options for getting different forks?  Katana shocks slip right in correct?  Or I guess I'll look for forks around here and on Ebay.  Any other options?

best bet is to buy new forks ... trust me I know , I am on my third set of forks on my GS lol :lol:

You can have them straightened. There is a place in palo alto that will straighten your inner tubes (SEND THEM FULLY DISASSEMBLED) for under 100 bucks shipped all said and done. I had mine done on mY CBR by them, excellent turn around time. Do a search on google or BARF for Aftershocks suspension. Great Company.

dissassemble them
take to a local machine shop
have them straighten them

if you can feel a kink....they will prob break
if just a gradual bend....A-OK


i just traded for a POINT brew t-shirt from a guy in WI
some things i miss....

ken in NC

Quote from: werase643
i just traded for a POINT brew t-shirt from a guy in WI
some things i miss....

ken in NC

That's good beer, have you tried it?

Definately no kink, like I said, I never noticed it before when I was looking for bent tubes with the forks on the bike

been 8-10 yrs....

i p.m.ed you some info.

Yup, got it, thanks

Quote from: Nomakbest bet is to buy new forks ... trust me I know , I am on my third set of forks on my GS lol :lol:

Where'd you get your new tubes?

Quote from: manofthefield

Quote from: werase643
i just traded for a POINT brew t-shirt from a guy in WI
some things i miss....

ken in NC

That's good beer, have you tried it?

Definately no kink, like I said, I never noticed it before when I was looking for bent tubes with the forks on the bike

It's pretty good, but New Glarus is my favorite. The beer I'm drinking right now is pretty appropriate for this forum.



I really like it but like so many of their beers, it's seasonal. I'll have to find a new one soon (no more at the liquor stores), but I'm sure the new ones will be good, too.

Quote from: manofthefield

Quote from: Nomakbest bet is to buy new forks ... trust me I know , I am on my third set of forks on my GS lol :lol:

Where'd you get your new tubes?

I bought entire forks ... once from a member off here and the second time from ebay ...

I'm working on finding forks locally, if that doesn't pan out or costs too much $$, I'm getting them straightened,  werase gave me a local lead for that.  Just need to have everything back together for my trip in 2.5 weeks or hopefully sooner.

Resolution (mainly for future reference):

I took my bent fork tubes to Suter's Speed Shop in Madison, WI to have them straightened.  I left them there for 3 hours, but it probably only took him 45 minutes or something.  Steve Suter has done this a number of times and I think my fork tubes came out pretty good.  You would never know that they had been bent... well maybe you could if you carefully took a long straight edge to them.  In any case I'm very happy with how they came out.  Cost was $35 per tube, about half of what used tubes would cost and a quarter or less of what new tubes would cost.

Time to put the bike back together tomorrow with new fork seals, new fork oil , and a new rear tire  :mrgreen: