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Title: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: positivecarry on October 21, 2009, 01:46:48 PM So I'm looking at a used bike that was dropped on it's left side. The bar is bent and the clutch lever is bent. How problematic is this and how expensive/difficult is it to fix?
Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: Airborne on October 21, 2009, 01:56:30 PM You should inspect the bike for other damage that resulted from the drop. If you can't find anything else then thats not a very hard fix. I don't know the current prices of those parts but chances are you can buy new bars from someone here who switched to clip ons for around 100 bucks.
Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: Raux on October 21, 2009, 02:09:20 PM bent bar could mean bent steering stops.
Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: Ducatl on October 21, 2009, 02:31:29 PM +1 to the steering stops, also if the bike is a steel tank model I'd look for poor repair jobs on the tank itself as it's pretty common for the bars to dent the tank. If it has stock low mounts you might want to check the swingarm where the exhaust would hit it to check for dents.
Also CA-cycleworks (board sponsor) sells stock bend bars from like Edit: $49 http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/shop/catalog/ducati/chassis.html (http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/shop/catalog/ducati/chassis.html) Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: MonsterDark on October 22, 2009, 04:54:48 AM bent bar could mean bent steering stops. What would be the issue with bent steering stops? If you adjusted them back out so your bars didnt hit the tank would there be any other sort of issue ? - i dropped my bike too and just wondering :( Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: metallimonster on October 22, 2009, 05:05:26 AM If the stops are bent or broken you have a problem. Probably totaled.
I have the M5 bars from CA Cycleworks and they work awesome. Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: WetDuc on October 22, 2009, 05:14:49 AM Yea, I'm wondering the same thing. Why is bending/breaking the stops such a major issue?
Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: junior varsity on October 22, 2009, 05:15:04 AM If you crack those frame tabs, that's a "totaled" frame. (insurance-wise; Wouldn't affect really anything else though.)
Bent bars likely means tank-ding. Bent clutch lever might be more than simply bent lever, might also affect the master cylinder. In the grand scheme of things, replacing the bar, bar end (inevitably scuffed), grip (if scuffed), and even the entire clutch master cylinder (used off of ebay, there are usually lots, or see Gotham Cycles), its not all that expensive to have it in tip-top condition again. Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: MikeZ on October 22, 2009, 05:25:34 AM I dropped my bike last winter due to cold tires and I managed to bend the bar and break the brake lever at the break away point w/o the bars touching/ denting the tank so just because it was dropped doesn't mean the tank or steering stops were touched.
I bought a $20 bar from someone here on the DMF and now call the break lever "shorty" so this can be a cheap fix. Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: RetroSBK on October 22, 2009, 05:53:23 AM The clutch lever is a simple replacemnt away.. $30 bucks at cycle gear
I have been fitting K&N bars or other bends to a lot of bike lately.. little taller, more pullback, $29-39 bucks Bend the frame back at the steering stop, no big deal... Reset the alignment of the forks in the triple clamps... ride the piss out of it! Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: Adam in TX on October 22, 2009, 12:03:40 PM sometimes a bent bar can be helpful... like if you have two different length arms.
Just Sayin' Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: Jarvicious on October 22, 2009, 03:20:18 PM Define dropped.
If they're going to tell you that the handlebar was bent in a parking lot or low speed drop, I'd second guess the whole thing (maybe someone can refute that). Clutch lever in a low speed drop? Sure, but not the bars. Like everyone else said, check the swing arm/tank/foot pegs for damage that may have come out of a lowside. And not that you were thinking it, but don't try and rebend hardened aluminum. Even if you do get it close to the stock angle, you will regret it the next time you put too much force on down on that left hand. Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: junior varsity on October 22, 2009, 03:42:23 PM Stock bars could be bent slightly in a drop because the metal used on the stock bars is, well used to be, soft. Took a pretty good crash to bend mine straight down a few years back. Oops.
Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: somegirl on October 22, 2009, 06:30:22 PM I bent my stock bars (and brake lever) the first time I dropped the Duc in a parking lot. :P
Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: ghostface on October 22, 2009, 06:45:36 PM This cool ass dude has the solution...
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=31064.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=31064.0) Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: somegirl on October 23, 2009, 07:03:05 AM I've been riding (not a Ducati) my bike with slightly bend handlebars and clutch lever for some time now. Didn't notice any difficulties with the bars and I've straightened the lever a bit so it's usable. Is this stupid? Should I change the parts that are not that expensive? If you notice that your bike doesn't track straight, or that you are getting sore/uncomfortable from being in an asymmetrical position, then you might want to replace the bars. Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: Jarvicious on October 23, 2009, 02:10:09 PM I bent my stock bars (and brake lever) the first time I dropped the Duc in a parking lot. :P Did you push it over and stomp on it :)?? Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: somegirl on October 23, 2009, 02:46:10 PM Did you push it over and stomp on it :)?? Nope, I really just fell over, slow enough that I was able to jump out of the way. It was a minor bend, I didn't notice it right way but once I did I replaced them. IIRC the only damage was the bars and the brake lever and a scratch on the stock exhaust. Funny story though, after I fell over that time, a girl that was bicycling by hopped off her bike, helped me lift up the Duc, split her pants in the process, then she hopped back on her bike and left. It was a bit surreal. [laugh] Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: junior varsity on October 24, 2009, 07:09:35 AM hahaha.
That is a pretty good opportunity to upgrade to Rizoma Conical or Renthal bars. Something a little more robust and less prone to bending. One advantage to clipons is that its quick to replace just one half-bar and swap controls than it is to do BOTH. That's just one of the reasons I switched (when I bent up my bars real, real good). Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: Jarvicious on October 24, 2009, 03:55:05 PM hahaha. That is a pretty good opportunity to upgrade to Rizoma Conical or Renthal bars. Something a little more robust and less prone to bending. One advantage to clipons is that its quick to replace just one half-bar and swap controls than it is to do BOTH. That's just one of the reasons I switched (when I bent up my bars real, real good). And even with a new set of riser bars being only 20 some odd dollars, a new clip on tube is like 15 and the difference in labor for repair is worth it. Ms Inc, it still surprises me the stock bars are that weak. Upgrade being considered..... Title: Re: How problematic is a bent bar? Post by: somegirl on October 24, 2009, 04:30:28 PM Ms Inc, it still surprises me the stock bars are that weak. Upgrade being considered..... I should add that I have since put on bar end sliders, my bike has been over 3 times since [roll] and I haven't had any more issues with the bars bending. Either I was very unlucky the first time or the sliders have helped. |