Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Bugger! Changed the steering head bearings in my CB400 today and whilst apart I found that it has bent forks! Couldn't believe my eyes. It has always ridden very well-it is the best handling bike I have ever owned.
It had a hard life before I owned it, and was a repairable writeoff when I bought it. It has had two roadworthies that I know of, two Queensland Transport inspections (driving school bikes get inspected yearly) and a QIS inspection to remove the writeoff status. No one picked it up- I didn't suspect it either. The front guard has never fitted properly- maybe that was a hint. It hasn't been involved in any accident since I have owned it, that would cause the forks to be bent.
Has anyone had their forks straightened? If so, how much was it? There are no creases in the tubes so I assume they can be fixed easily by someone who knows how. I am going to go to Kellett's in Springwood to straighten them unless someone else does it nearer to me. Thanks!

Had to get mine straightened on the zzr, wasn't much in it but enough to be worth doing, Bob Martin's down here in Melbourne are specialists in that sort of shit.

Can't tell you what it was worth as was part of an overall repair job.

mick_dundee wrote:Had to get mine straightened on the zzr, wasn't much in it but enough to be worth doing, Bob Martin's down here in Melbourne are specialists in that sort of shit.

Can't tell you what it was worth as was part of an overall repair job.

as Mick sez
Bob Martins is one of the few places in Oz
that will fix em

mind you, youa re lucky!
you have a bend ..not a crease in the tube
which means it CAN be fixed

Not sure id trust and un-bent fork ..... even with no crease, surely the inside of the 'bend' will be a weak spot ?

I've had mine straightened before and i've had no probs since.

Used to straighten them in a wheel bearing 10 ton press provided no kinks or flaking chrome

bob martin did my wheel!!..did a good job...postage to Melb sucked tho...

a local dude here did mine..i think it was like $50 (tho he was doin a $500 welding job putting a chunk back into my block)

turned out a pretty tidy jub...

Kellets can do it no wucks
Only thing they worry about (as above) is creases or flakes
And apparently (i am no engineer) they will be OK
I have had a two bikes with straightened forks (a chooky and a Rollerdoor) and never had any probs with either.
Once they are marked but, throw em'

Yep got a quote from Kellett today- $30-40 per leg. Pretty damned good- lots cheaper than another set of legs!

bonester wrote:Yep got a quote from Kellett today- $30-40 per leg. Pretty damned good- lots cheaper than another set of legs!

Duane you reading this Cobba

Bonie whats the go with you giving it the CB4 "Nail" the wraps about handling so well with bent forks. Want me to test ride your Scoot fleet & bend the rest of them for you

I must admit thats seems a bloody cheap Price to get them sorted.

http://www.jennycraig.com

Bonie whats the go with you giving it the CB4 "Nail" the wraps about handling so well with bent forks. Want me to test ride your Scoot fleet & bend the rest of them for you

The bloody thing (import 94 model- not the old CB of the 70s) isn't too quick in a straight line, but is a maniac in the corners- I went for a ride with a cop with a newish Trumpy Daytona 955 the other day and the CB blitzed it in the twisties.....

http://www.jennycraig.com

Dude, you're just jealous that your 100cc bigger bike with $1000 spent on the suspension couldn't keep up with my standard CB, with bent forks (!) and then stuffed rear shocks...(I put new shocks on since)

bonester wrote:Dude, you're just jealous that your 100cc bigger bike with $1000 spent on the suspension couldn't keep up with my standard CB, with bent forks (!) and then stuffed rear shocks...(I put new shocks on since)

In a straight line or twisties?? Found a buyer for my bike yet?? I want more grunt! I should know next week if the ole (not so) gpx is officially on the market or not...

In a straight line or twisties?? Found a buyer for my bike yet?? I want more grunt! I should know next week if the ole (not so) gpx is officially on the market or not...

Both I think from memory. Guess a watercooled 4 cyl 400 would have more go generally than an aircooled (I think-not sure ER-5) 500 twin.

I might have a buyer for you but I think she has just bought a Virago. I do however know someone else who has just written off their GPX who might like it....

Got the forks straightened to within 0.6mm, which is bloody fantastic- one leg was at least 10mm out! I was at the wreckers yesterday getting rear brake shoes for the GT and found out that they fix forks. $50 got both legs done AND the brake shoes!
GT engine is in a million bits- having a go at the base, head and valve cover gaskets, Wazza. No wonder it was leaking oil- o-rings are hard as buggery and base gasket stuffed.

wazza1234 wrote:

bonester wrote:Dude, you're just jealous that your 100cc bigger bike with $1000 spent on the suspension couldn't keep up with my standard CB, with bent forks (!) and then stuffed rear shocks...(I put new shocks on since)

In a straight line or twisties??

I think that had more to do with the rider than the bike, Wazza.

That was also very literally the first run I had on the ER after doing said work - it felt weird! Guess I got used to the sagginess. If it helps, I couldn't keep up with him when we switched bikes either...CB was very smooth, but didn't seem to have the same top end...but we're not talking much difference here.

Anyhow, good result on the straightening...not worried they might be flawed though?