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.





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: PatrickInNCHere 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

hmmm...a rear wheel for the front wheel? that's should be interesting  

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  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.