DRZ Forks bent

[Grant BlackerMember]

It appears when I lost control down a steep slippery hill and ran into tree……I actually did some damage.
Not to myself but to the trusty DRZ.
Seems I may have bent the forks. Am getting it checked out at the suspension shop now.
The bikes steering is twichy at speed only 60kph and doesnt want to go around corners like it used to ie seems to loose traction at the front wheel.
Im sure I didnt hit the tree hard enough to bend the frame.
Wondering if there is anyone with fork tubes or complete set up they want to off load.
Its an 08 DRZ 400.

Thanks gotowo

[drewMember]

i’m not sure if you would have bent the actual forks, maybe more likely that the triple clamps have moved out of alignment and the front wheel is not tracking quite true.

the bars may also be slightly bent adding to the odd feel. one of the forks may have moved up in the triple clamps just enough to make the axle be out of alignment /square to the forks.

you’ll have to let us know what they find at the shop…. hopefully it’s something as simple as i’ve mentioned…

[AlexMember]

Agreed, not so easy to bend forks. If you said you have bent the wheel and axle, smashed headlight, instrument cluster, bent bars, flat radiator and broken leg – then yep sure your forks might be bent
As XY said, bound up forks and/or bent bars and bar clamps sound more likely. Put your cheque book away you should be fine.

[Dwayne OMember]

Maybe I would have loosened the axle & retainer nuts, then loosen the fork clamps etc then tighten them again to check misalignment before panicking ,,,,
Would take a big hit to bend fork legs :unsure:

Good Luck with the investigation

[RoyMember]

Reminds me of when my brother and I got our first bikes (PW80) for christmas. First day my brother goes flat out into a strainer post. Bent the forks until the front tyre was rubbing on the spark plug. Must have made mum and dad cry. It was brand new. My brother was knocked out for a good while (had a helmet on thank god).

Funny thing was Dad bent it back and we kept riding it for years. Leaked a little oil and had a bit of a sticking in that part of the stroke but went fine. Bring back the good ol’ days.

Bit different to a big bike though. Hope all is well and it doesn’t cost much like others have said.

[Grant BlackerMember]

I did loosen the fork clamps to straighten the handlebars,……didnt think about the axel.
The forks are both level in the clamps and the wheel seems OK ie not out of round.
Could be a bent axel but its not noticeable.
The suspension guy cant look at it before this Friday, will keep you all posted.

[Scott SouthwellMember]

+1 for out of alignment. The DRZ has very strong 49mm forks. I had a head on with a tree on mine. Hit it hard enough to force handlebar forward in their brackets but forks all good.

Note the chunk out of the tree just in front. The impact was hard enough the top of the tree snapped and fell on me. Mine survived this crash.

[Brendon CarreMember]

I had the same prob after a big off and it was just the forks moved in the tripple clamps. loosen the tripple clamp bolts and hold front brake on then push the forks down a couple of times, check that the forks have not moved up in the clamp and then tighten tripple clam up. Then put the bike up on a stand and loosen the axle spin the front wheel and apply front brake a couple times tighten up the axle and all should be good.

[drewMember]

hey Scotty, is that number plate legal like that?? :cheer: :silly: :laugh:

[Adam RodgersMember]

I’ve taken out a tree or two as well :whistle: (Gavb can bear witness to that) :laugh:

Plenty of damage to the pride :blush: a bruise or two :dry:

Twisted guards and squished radiators :S

But the DRZ pulled through, so with any luck yours will be OK too

Adam.

[alanMember]

if the forks look bent they are bent hit a creek once on a it 465 bent the forks bad put them in the pipe bender and fixed them sort of would not recomend this but was a poor aprentice at the time so it does happen .the skipy i was chasing got away to

[Grant BlackerMember]

Thanks for the advice fellas…… think I’ll pick the bike up from the shop and have a closer look myself.

[Dwayne OMember]

Yeah mate,, I would have a closer look myself (might save you some $$$ & time too)
BTW, Boulder`s method is exactly what I was talking about

Give it a try & I think you will be sorted, free of charge !!!!

Good Luck

[Grant BlackerMember]

Everything is now all OK.
Got the bike this morning and pulled the front wheel off checked the axel for straightness…. OK.
Pulled the forks out put them in the vise spun the tube to check if they were bent….OK.
Put it all back together went for a test ride and its all fixed.

Something must have been out of alignment but I dont know what.
Its all good now… ..I didnt know the how hard or easy it would be to bend the forks.. I now know its hard.
What threw me was the guy at the shop thought the forks looked bent.

Thanks heaps fellas, appreciate your advise.

[drewMember]

:woohoo: top result

glad it all worked out well.

as is the common thought with it was that it’s not impossible to bend the forks, but if most things on the bike look ok, have a bit of a fiddle as it most likely cost you your time. then if it still feels out of sorts do what you did, pull all the related parts out and check them over. reassemble , then if it’s not right take it to a shop.

maybe the ‘looks bent’ was from his vision being distorted through $$$ signs :huh: :cheer: :laugh:

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