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Buy DR650 w bent subframe?
Buy DR650 w bent subframe?
Today I went to see an '03 Suzuki DR650 dualsport
with 27k Km. Price was good, around $3000 Cdn;
there are a few cosmetic issues but the worst
is the rear subframe. The tail light is about 4"
to the left of where it should be.
Vendor's story is that he dropped the bike on pavement
in a tight right turn. This was about a year ago and
he's been riding it normally (including freeway use)
ever since; he says the rear tire wore evenly.
I test rode the bike and it felt ok ... my first
inclination was to pass it up (better safe than sorry)
but then again maybe it's ok.... any opinions?
Sean Q
Today I went to see an '03 Suzuki DR650 dualsport
with 27k Km. Price was good, around $3000 Cdn;
there are a few cosmetic issues but the worst
is the rear subframe. The tail light is about 4"
to the left of where it should be.
Vendor's story is that he dropped the bike on pavement
in a tight right turn. This was about a year ago and
he's been riding it normally (including freeway use)
ever since; he says the rear tire wore evenly.
I test rode the bike and it felt ok ... my first
inclination was to pass it up (better safe than sorry)
but then again maybe it's ok.... any opinions?
Sean Q
Re: Buy DR650 w bent subframe?
Sean wrote:
> Today I went to see an '03 Suzuki DR650 dualsport
> with 27k Km. Price was good, around $3000 Cdn;
> there are a few cosmetic issues but the worst
> is the rear subframe. The tail light is about 4"
> to the left of where it should be.
>
> Vendor's story is that he dropped the bike on pavement
> in a tight right turn. This was about a year ago and
> he's been riding it normally (including freeway use)
> ever since; he says the rear tire wore evenly.
>
> I test rode the bike and it felt ok ... my first
> inclination was to pass it up (better safe than sorry)
> but then again maybe it's ok.... any opinions?
Buying a bike with a bent frame for anything other than parting out or a
demolition derby is idiocy.
Sean wrote:
> Today I went to see an '03 Suzuki DR650 dualsport
> with 27k Km. Price was good, around $3000 Cdn;
> there are a few cosmetic issues but the worst
> is the rear subframe. The tail light is about 4"
> to the left of where it should be.
>
> Vendor's story is that he dropped the bike on pavement
> in a tight right turn. This was about a year ago and
> he's been riding it normally (including freeway use)
> ever since; he says the rear tire wore evenly.
>
> I test rode the bike and it felt ok ... my first
> inclination was to pass it up (better safe than sorry)
> but then again maybe it's ok.... any opinions?
Buying a bike with a bent frame for anything other than parting out or a
demolition derby is idiocy.
Re: Buy DR650 w bent subframe?
Polarhound wrote:
> Buying a bike with a bent frame for anything other than parting out or a
> demolition derby is idiocy.
Ok, so I didn't buy it... but there's another point
to consider: the vendor talked about having the frame
"straightened" with special equipment (clamps,
hydraulics, etc. Pulling it back into visibly apparent
alignment might not correct any weakness caused by
the accident, and he won't necessarily inform the next
prospect, especially if he believes that the frame
damage is confined to the rear subframe only.
Caveat emptor *, I suppose, especially with respect
to the next used bike I might buy.
Sean Q
* "Let the buyer beware"
Polarhound wrote:
> Buying a bike with a bent frame for anything other than parting out or a
> demolition derby is idiocy.
Ok, so I didn't buy it... but there's another point
to consider: the vendor talked about having the frame
"straightened" with special equipment (clamps,
hydraulics, etc. Pulling it back into visibly apparent
alignment might not correct any weakness caused by
the accident, and he won't necessarily inform the next
prospect, especially if he believes that the frame
damage is confined to the rear subframe only.
Caveat emptor *, I suppose, especially with respect
to the next used bike I might buy.
Sean Q
* "Let the buyer beware"
Re: Buy DR650 w bent subframe?
Polarhound wrote:
> Buying a bike with a bent frame for anything other than parting out or a
> demolition derby is idiocy.
Here are two replies I got in rec.motorcycles.dirt:
> Subframes bend easily and while a structural part,
> they rarely pass on any damage to the frame.
> They can be expensive to replace, but most can easily
> be straightened. If the frame is straight, a little
> tweak of the subframe is a minor flaw.
> No big thing. Tweak the subframe the other direction
> until you're happy.
Sean Q
Polarhound wrote:
> Buying a bike with a bent frame for anything other than parting out or a
> demolition derby is idiocy.
Here are two replies I got in rec.motorcycles.dirt:
> Subframes bend easily and while a structural part,
> they rarely pass on any damage to the frame.
> They can be expensive to replace, but most can easily
> be straightened. If the frame is straight, a little
> tweak of the subframe is a minor flaw.
> No big thing. Tweak the subframe the other direction
> until you're happy.
Sean Q
Re: Buy DR650 w bent subframe?
Sean wrote:
> Polarhound wrote:
>
>> Buying a bike with a bent frame for anything other than parting out or
>> a demolition derby is idiocy.
>
> Here are two replies I got in rec.motorcycles.dirt:
>
> > Subframes bend easily and while a structural part,
> > they rarely pass on any damage to the frame.
> > They can be expensive to replace, but most can easily
> > be straightened. If the frame is straight, a little
> > tweak of the subframe is a minor flaw.
>
> > No big thing. Tweak the subframe the other direction
> > until you're happy.
>
> Sean Q
What they failed to mention was that "tweaking" metal back and forth
also has the effect of weakening it, increasing the likelihood of
failure in the future.
Sean wrote:
> Polarhound wrote:
>
>> Buying a bike with a bent frame for anything other than parting out or
>> a demolition derby is idiocy.
>
> Here are two replies I got in rec.motorcycles.dirt:
>
> > Subframes bend easily and while a structural part,
> > they rarely pass on any damage to the frame.
> > They can be expensive to replace, but most can easily
> > be straightened. If the frame is straight, a little
> > tweak of the subframe is a minor flaw.
>
> > No big thing. Tweak the subframe the other direction
> > until you're happy.
>
> Sean Q
What they failed to mention was that "tweaking" metal back and forth
also has the effect of weakening it, increasing the likelihood of
failure in the future.
Re: Buy DR650 w bent subframe?
Polarhound wrote:
> Sean wrote:
>> Polarhound wrote:
>>
>>> Buying a bike with a bent frame for anything other than parting out
>>> or a demolition derby is idiocy.
>>
>> Here are two replies I got in rec.motorcycles.dirt:
>>
>> > Subframes bend easily and while a structural part,
>> > they rarely pass on any damage to the frame.
>> > They can be expensive to replace, but most can easily
>> > be straightened. If the frame is straight, a little
>> > tweak of the subframe is a minor flaw.
>>
>> > No big thing. Tweak the subframe the other direction
>> > until you're happy.
>>
>> Sean Q
>
> What they failed to mention was that "tweaking" metal back and forth
> also has the effect of weakening it, increasing the likelihood of
> failure in the future.
Has the effect of work hardening it in most cases--it actually gets
harder but more brittle for a while then starts cracking due to the
increased brittleness. If you've ever broken a coat hanger by bending
it back and forth you might have noticed that it got a little bit harder
to bend at first then when it started to go it went very quickly.
If it's a "tweak" it shouldn't make a lot of difference structurally.
If it's something you keep bending and having to straighten then it's
another story.
I'd inspect any welds very carefully though after the "tweak" to make
sure that none of them had cracked.
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Polarhound wrote:
> Sean wrote:
>> Polarhound wrote:
>>
>>> Buying a bike with a bent frame for anything other than parting out
>>> or a demolition derby is idiocy.
>>
>> Here are two replies I got in rec.motorcycles.dirt:
>>
>> > Subframes bend easily and while a structural part,
>> > they rarely pass on any damage to the frame.
>> > They can be expensive to replace, but most can easily
>> > be straightened. If the frame is straight, a little
>> > tweak of the subframe is a minor flaw.
>>
>> > No big thing. Tweak the subframe the other direction
>> > until you're happy.
>>
>> Sean Q
>
> What they failed to mention was that "tweaking" metal back and forth
> also has the effect of weakening it, increasing the likelihood of
> failure in the future.
Has the effect of work hardening it in most cases--it actually gets
harder but more brittle for a while then starts cracking due to the
increased brittleness. If you've ever broken a coat hanger by bending
it back and forth you might have noticed that it got a little bit harder
to bend at first then when it started to go it went very quickly.
If it's a "tweak" it shouldn't make a lot of difference structurally.
If it's something you keep bending and having to straighten then it's
another story.
I'd inspect any welds very carefully though after the "tweak" to make
sure that none of them had cracked.
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Re: Buy DR650 w bent subframe?
Sean wrote:
> Today I went to see an '03 Suzuki DR650 dualsport
> with 27k Km. Price was good, around $3000 Cdn;
> there are a few cosmetic issues but the worst
> is the rear subframe. The tail light is about 4"
> to the left of where it should be.
>
> Vendor's story is that he dropped the bike on pavement
> in a tight right turn. This was about a year ago and
> he's been riding it normally (including freeway use)
> ever since; he says the rear tire wore evenly.
>
> I test rode the bike and it felt ok ... my first
> inclination was to pass it up (better safe than sorry)
> but then again maybe it's ok.... any opinions?
"Don't buy someone's else's problem and make it your own"
--
'01 SV650S '99 EX250-F13 '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7
Sean wrote:
> Today I went to see an '03 Suzuki DR650 dualsport
> with 27k Km. Price was good, around $3000 Cdn;
> there are a few cosmetic issues but the worst
> is the rear subframe. The tail light is about 4"
> to the left of where it should be.
>
> Vendor's story is that he dropped the bike on pavement
> in a tight right turn. This was about a year ago and
> he's been riding it normally (including freeway use)
> ever since; he says the rear tire wore evenly.
>
> I test rode the bike and it felt ok ... my first
> inclination was to pass it up (better safe than sorry)
> but then again maybe it's ok.... any opinions?
"Don't buy someone's else's problem and make it your own"
--
'01 SV650S '99 EX250-F13 '98 ZG1000-A13
OMF #7
Re: Buy DR650 w bent subframe?
SNIP
> "Don't buy someone's else's problem and make it
> your own"
Great somebody FINALLY tells me after on T-500 and
one DR370 note a trend? Oh and yes both are blue.
Just proof I'm crazy.~8^\
--
Keith Schiffner
History does not record anywhere at any time a
religion that has any rational basis. Religion is
a crutch for people not strong enough to stand up
to the unknown without help. But, like dandruff,
most people do have a religion and spend time and
money on it and seem to derive considerable
pleasure from fiddling with it.
Robert Heinlein
SNIP
> "Don't buy someone's else's problem and make it
> your own"
Great somebody FINALLY tells me after on T-500 and
one DR370 note a trend? Oh and yes both are blue.
Just proof I'm crazy.~8^\
--
Keith Schiffner
History does not record anywhere at any time a
religion that has any rational basis. Religion is
a crutch for people not strong enough to stand up
to the unknown without help. But, like dandruff,
most people do have a religion and spend time and
money on it and seem to derive considerable
pleasure from fiddling with it.
Robert Heinlein
