Damaged wheel - replace? UPDATE. REPAIRED.

BrownTrousers · Trackday Trickster Joined: 08 Sep 2013 Karma :

Hi all,

Whilst washing my bike after a long trip to Europe, I noticed the deformation of the front wheel as shown below.

There's no sign of damage to the paint or tyre, so i'm not really sure how it happened. I don't remember hitting any particularly huge bumps or feeling any unusual handling.

Anyway. what do?

https://i.imgur.com/Z2RwNfM.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/222dKui.jpg
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Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

I had one like that on one of my CBRs after a crash.

An inattentive MOT tester passed it twice.

It then failed when he noticed it.

I tried hammering it back into shape and asking for quotes on repairs. They wanted about £130 to repair it (this was about 12 years ago).

In the end because my CBR is/was a popular bike it was easier to simply change the wheel. The problem that came up was that the brake discs mounting bolts changed between 1999 and 2001.
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P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

I'd either bent it back or just replace. Irony lols for the Ducati safety pack noting on the side.

doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

I'd see if it could be pressed back in a vice, with a larger bit of wood on the other side. Since it must not be leaking (?) it's largely cosmetic.
Buying a used one for all you know it might have had worse *fixed* already.

barrkel · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Jul 2012 Karma :

A bend like that on the front wheel would worry me more than the same deformation on the rear. If you hit something else, you could see rapid deflation, and on the front at any meaningful speed that means a crash.

It might not leak now, but think about what stresses your tyres are under with hard riding.

Bending it back will weaken the alloy. Another bump and it could fracture instead, and you're looking at rapid deflation again. Unless you heat it, but the whole wheel would be a heat sink. A quick web search shows there are some professionals who do this for car wheels, more likely to suffer with low profile tyres. If you do bend back, I'd look into this option.

I'd replace, with second hand if it can be found. IMO you'd notice if a second hand wheel had also been bent, you'd feel the ripples when keeping your finger on the rim while rotating the wheel.
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MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

Can't remember what caused it or when it happened?

Has anyone else got access to this bike?

Very Happy

Maybe on a long boring bit of Europe you clocked a kerb and never noticed?

I would press that ding back into shape.

You could do it using a small bottle jack (a scissor jack might work too) and jam the rim between something heavy and some wooden packing to protect the paint.

I have straightened alloy car wheels like this (but in a hydraulic press) and there were no problems with the wheel later.

If you have access to a big truck HGV that may be enough weight to resist the force required to press the ding back.

You could do it with the tire on too. Just let the air out.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

Riejufixing · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jun 2018 Karma :

Courier265 · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Oct 2017 Karma :

That's nasty damage to the wheel, a repair would be a good option if you can find somewhere that can do it.

Perhaps you could get a second hand one off ebay, then try and get the old one repaired.. at least you would have a spare wheel.

kramdra · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Oct 2010 Karma :

I would consider that scrap, dislike the idea of cold working on a wheel and hot work done correctly with heat treatment would be uneconomical. A used wheel and respray would be cheaper.

Johnnythefox · Traffic Copper Joined: 01 Dec 2016 Karma :

Since you are asking, I'm going to say replace it.

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Looking at the costs of Multistrada 950 wheels even used they're not particularly cheap either with some prices around £1000+

Go and get it repaired £120-£150 per wheel. A few of them let you send them the wheel if they think it's irreparable they won't charge you for it.
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BrownTrousers · Trackday Trickster Joined: 08 Sep 2013 Karma :

Well thanks for the advice. Not many votes for "ignore it" so looks like I'm on for a load of cash one way or the other. Sad

Still no idea how it happened - I didn't hit any curbs, animals, potholes etc during the tour as far as I remember so a total mystery. A review of the pics taken during the tour suggest I've already done a good few hundred miles on it that way..
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Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

BrownTrousers · Trackday Trickster Joined: 08 Sep 2013 Karma :

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Could it have happened when it was strapped down on the ferry?
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BrownTrousers · Trackday Trickster Joined: 08 Sep 2013 Karma :

Riejufixing · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jun 2018 Karma :

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

I'd press that back in without a thought. Probably in my 10 ton press using some hardwood blocks.

Just don't be tempted to heat it up, you'll change the properties of the ally.
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Riejufixing · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jun 2018 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

These guys have repaired several bike and car wheels for me. Thoroughly recommended Thumbs Up

https://www.motoliner.com/
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waffles · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Oct 2009 Karma :

Bikeless · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Karma :

I had a worse ding than that repaired on my gullarm, was about £60 for Roy Thersby to fix around 20 years ago.

Fisty · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Karma :

BrownTrousers · Trackday Trickster Joined: 08 Sep 2013 Karma :

Perfect, thanks guys. Info on Motorliner is exactly what I was after when I created the thread.

Will give them a ring on Monday and let you know how I get on.

Thumbs Up

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