As you may remember, I wrecked my 01 GS500 about a month ago. I saw my bike for the first time since the accident... I got her to turn over, but wouldn't start. However, I'm sure that'll be easy, as I think the battery was weak from sitting for a month.

Now to fix-up the bike. It'll be at least a few months till I can ride, but I want to at least get the ball rolling on repairs. I think the most damaged part is that my forks are bent. A friend seems to think we can straighten them and they'll be good as new. Here are some pics:
Left fork
Right fork

Here are some other damage pictures:
Dent in gas tank; you guess what from :lol:
Dent in gas tank; other angle
Bike front view

IMO those are junk, bent too much to be repaired and still have a good amount of strength to them.  Once something like that is bent it is never as strong as it previously was and judging by your pics those are bent pretty good so the metal has streched good on the one side.  But i guess you might be able to save them, who knows, if you can have them bent back and then turned in a lathe to insure there absolutly straight then maybe they can be saved. :dunno:

Nope toss them, forks are cheap and heck Katana forks are under $100 at local wrecker ... I got a set if you want ... make spacers ... easy enough I might for a few extra $$$ ...
Cool.
Srinath.

if the bend isnt more then so many degrees, and the point of bend isnt too tight and no kink at bend, they can be straightened.  

those are savable but you need someone with bending equip ment to be able to straighten it.  i remember my father heating up the fork tubes of his 74 XL250 with a torch and straightening them back out. just for gigles, if you find another set of forks, i would like to take a crack at straightening your old ones, i belive i can do it with the press and V blocks at my job.

I'd give advice to get the tubes replaced.

You can straigten them, but the chrome layer all over the tube will
be surely damaged, with microscopic sized cracks, and they
will damage soon your seals (you will be replacing seals from time
to time).

You can get the tubes to CNC them after strightening.

I did mines, they were not bent but had multiple impacts from
little stones that ruined my seals. Now they are OK.

The man's got balls of steel!! Glad you're ok. Replace the forks.

Those are really bent as compared to the junk chassis I bought. The front wheel of the chassis is dished out and broken, Srinath has seen it. The tube are about 1/8 out of flat at the same point as yours.

I just scored a set of tubes on eBay last week for $60 BIN. They were in super shape with good seals AND a front caliper and hose.

Shop around for replacements and make tomato stakes out of them or send them to Blueknyt for the Ultimate Tube Staightening Challenge.

I claim dibs on the DVD residuals. We've got to get some Aussies or Brits to host the program. Americans love to listen to our Oz and UK friends speak about junk projects.

I assume my 4-month old Progressive springs will likely still be useable?

I'm not going to risk my life (again) over repairs to a <$100 part... I'll just find new ones and maybe send the old ones to Blueknyt (I get 50% of whatever profit you make from them   )

Anybody know what a new front fender and a headlamp enclosure costs?

And octane, I had enough bruising to know they aren't quite steel (hrm, new title for me 'not-quite balls of steel'?    )

Quote from: FintAnd octane, I had enough bruising to know they aren't quite steel (hrm, new title for me 'not-quite balls of steel'?    )

Hey John... You gotta give Fint a new title, I mean, did you see those pics?    Dang Fint, glad your alright... didn't you just get married too? Good luck with your bike man

Yup, my wreck was Apr 22nd, two days before my wedding (Apr 24th). Needless-to-say, there was no consummating for a few weeks.

Keep an eye on ebay and you can probley get those parts you need relatively cheap, someone may also have them for sale on here for a good price too, just post a wanted add in the for sale section.

You also might want to think about replacing all the bearings and what not in the front end, they obviously took a good hit.

Just saw these...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4551711822&category=10066

Would the forks from an '89 fit an '01?

I have a set for sale.

You can wait and see what the ones go for on E-Bay.

If interested PM Me.

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17822

Quote from: seshadri_srinathNope toss them, forks are cheap and heck Katana forks are under $100 at local wrecker ... I got a set if you want ... make spacers ... easy enough I might for a few extra $$$ ...
Cool.
Srinath.

I'd take him up on that deal if I were you.

as far as the gas tank goes.. get a tank bra...that will cover everything..  


unless you want to get it replaced/fixed that is.

is that dent your belt buckle?

Were you running a touring tire on the front of your gs when you had the accident