Ok so... some of you guys may have seen my post about my troubles taking my wheel off to get to the forks... well, after further investigation, it appears one of the forks is slightly bent and must have caused the troubles. 

The fork that is bent is on the left when sitting on the bike (on the right when facing the front of it). Is there any way to just replace the top cylinder that attaches to the tree? If not, would anyone happen to have any super cheap forks that are in good condition (not bent) that would fit on a 96 gs500e? I'd even trade this fork that is slightly bent and some $$ for one that would work (as I don't have too much expendable cash laying around). I recently got this bike used and I was pulling these to replace the seals and springs and now I've come to find this out... really kills my weekend

Any help is greatly appreciated. You can also email me at zdeptawa at gmail dot com.  Thanks again guys. 

I have been able to straighten them if they are not awful.
Left fork on the bike I bought last year was also bent so I dont have left, have good right, and tops are the same so you could swap, however its less work to strighten yours, send me a pic. I'll tell you if it will straighten and how much it be $$$ approximately.
Cool.
Buddha.

Here are some pics (sorry for the quality, these were shot on my iphone this morning):

http://flickr.com/photos/zdeptawa/3325248481/
http://flickr.com/photos/zdeptawa/3325249477/
http://flickr.com/photos/zdeptawa/3325263029/
http://flickr.com/photos/zdeptawa/3326101712/

Is bending a fork back good though? Wouldn't that mean that there is stress in the metal from that point on? Also, if you have a right fork that you could sell me the top tube from, how much would it cost me to grab just that top tube from you (I live in San Antonio, TX - 78212). Thanks in advance for any help you guys can offer me, my plans of getting on the road this weekend have been ruined since I've found this out.

oh yeah youve got a bent fork.  im sure buddha will have a way to fix

20 bucks and shipping for top tube, and 90% of the work is taking it apart. Or I send the whole leg if I'm bored, you can pull it.
This can be straightened easy, 20 ton, V blocks, dial guage etc.
The thing is it will straighten out just fine, but the next crash if it involves stressing this leg, you will more than likely ripple the surface if its the same type. Its weaker because its brittle, not weaker in the way its gotten softer or whatever.
And this inpact could ahve bent the lower triple, and those cannot be fixed, if its bent, its trash.
Cool.
Buddha.

Buddha,

I'll take that right fork top tube (or whole thing if you don't feel like pulling it apart) for the $20 and shipping! Can you email me at zdeptawa at gmail dot com so we can coordinate this? Also, can you snap some pictures of that fork for me? If you can get me that top cylinder (or even the whole fork) I can just take all the parts to a shop to get them to go through pulling it and putting it on the other fork during the rebuild. Thanks a TON!

Oh, also, would you mind doing me a favor and checking the entire tube with a straight edge? I just want to be totally sure that its 100% straight if possible. I appreciate it!

No straightedge. How about my hand. No, a ruler ? a stick of DOM .88 OD/120 wall ?
Its straight dude, checked it before straightening that other one only to have it buckle and die.
OK here is a more important Q, what if its not the same as left ?
Let me yank it, I believe I pulled that left one, so when I get this apart, I can compare.
Please wait, I have to wait for the thaw. Maybe thursday.
Cool.
Buddha.

hes not super fast but if he says its good its good...huh buddha...

Awesome, no complaints here! I'll await your word. Again, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to do this for me. Thanks again!

Bent fork, you'll really have trouble eating ... 
Cool.
Buddha.

Hahaha... when you asked for pictures of my forks initially, I was tempted to take a picture of my silverware drawer.   Thanks for all your help Buddha. Let me know when you're done pulling that tube.

Buddha,

Any news on that fork tube? Please let me know. (zdeptawa at gmail dot com) Thanks!

Searching for it tommorow.
Cool.
Buddha.

Thanks Buddha! Just let me know.

man, that's not bent, THIS is bent

@jrains89 - Hahaha... that sucks bad man   How'd that happen?


@Buddha - Any luck with finding that fork? Just checking, thanks!

Jrains - yours right is dead, left may be straightenable.
Mortuar - sorry haven't found it yet. I may have carted it off to storage. Noday I should ahve 1 hour of daylight to search in that, after that I may have it in this van/trailer of mine. but I'll let you know.
Cool.
Buddha.

those are the forks that came on my bike, it was wrecked when i bought it. I replaced them months ago but i still keep em around because they're awesome.

Buddha: Any luck? Please save me from this fork hell!