Post crash damage assessment??

So I posted in an earlier thread how I dumped my bike on a gravel road through a turn, I broke my thumb, bent my bars, minor cosmetic damage. Now I replaced the bars and a few cowlings that got scraped now I just noticed my front tire is no longer perfectly in line with my front fender. How do I check if I messed up my forks I haven't ridden it yet as my thumb is still in a cast.

I would start by loosening the whole front end. Bars, triple clamp bolts and front axle. There is a good chance that the front twisted and will come back to position if you loosen it up. Also check the front fender to see if it moved. This is a common routine for me when I drop the bike.

Can I do that with weight on wheels or do I need to buy a center stand?


edit: so i just went out and loosened the bottom clamps that also have those reflector brackets and wa-la! magically went back in place... re-torqued the bolts... I got my cast off my thumb today and I can operator the clutch fine but hurts too much pressing the turn signals so i think I'm gonna wait a bit don't wanna rush it but I'm dieing to ride.

Anyways thanks man I was sweating for a second there for sure!

shep546 wrote:

Can I do that with weight on wheels or do I need to buy a center stand?


edit: so i just went out and loosened the bottom clamps that also have those reflector brackets and wa-la! magically went back in place... re-torqued the bolts... I got my cast off my thumb today and I can operator the clutch fine but hurts too much pressing the turn signals so i think I'm gonna wait a bit don't wanna rush it but I'm dieing to ride.

Anyways thanks man I was sweating for a second there for sure!

I would also reset the whole front end. What you did may have worked but your forks could still be slightly tweeked.

Gravel roads suck huh my best friend lives down one about half a mile long with loose gravel that gets pushed around by semis going to gas wells. Every ride down it is an adventure that requires complete concentration. Surprisingly its easier to ride my cruiser down it than my dirt bike based sumo lol.