Looking at a 04 500, I have not seen the bike yet.  Heading over there Saturday morning.  The seller said the front forks are bent.   But  the bike is still rideable .

I know forks can be straightend, but how much out of wack can they be before I should just replace them?

Thanks

Hi there,
Personally, I would NEVER straighten a fork tube.
I would always replace a bent tube. I've worked in bike shops and that was always the policy we went with for safety.
Plus if the tube is bent, the steering stem and frame are suspect too.
I wouldn't trust a bent tube.
Good luck,
Todd

I've heard as long as there isn't a kink in it, they can be straightened.  But obviously use your judgment

Dave.. I've got a set of straight, but old forks you can have. I thought they were nicked or something, cuz of a leak in one seal. Turns out my lower triple was bent. Once I fixed that, leak went away. They're ugly, but perfectly functional. I'll even give you the set of fork seals I've got sitting here in the package and order a new set for my current forks.

Let me know if you get the bike, and when's a good day for me to swing by with the forks and some cash...

Thanks Nick, going to take a looksie on Saturday morning he's asking $850 for it.  Once I see it I'll let you know  .

bent forks = who knows what else was stressed. steel doesn't mind being manipulated usually. keep in mind you have to press steel a good way PAST what was originally 'straight' to 'straighten' it, and it adds stress.

a few heat / cold cycles and steel can remember how it once was.

aluminum = no freaking way for me. alu gets stress fractures that aren't always easily seen, and will fail with a POP instead of a slow bend.

just my experience, i occasionally straighten 10" diameter SS shafts around 30' long to <5 TIR and have seen weird things happen during that bit of black magic.

is there anything else damaged? an 04 for 850 seems crazy cheap

The GS forks are a weak point but the lower triple does get bent at times. Rare that the frame gets bent. IIRC...Traxxion straightens tubes for around $40. I would consider upgrading the forks, probably Katana.