Author Topic: Bent Front Rim  (Read 8246 times)

Offline subforry

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 162
Bent Front Rim
« on: July 31, 2017, 01:11:25 PM »
I remember some hard hit on a speed bump or pothole.  Then a few weeks later I notice this dent/bend in the front rim on my K1100RS.  Any thoughts?  I could beat on it, take it to a shop, or replace it.  I need to investigate it more: check tire air pressure, look over the whole rim, etc.
  • Hermosa Beach, CA, USA
  • 1996 K1100RS
1981 Suzuki GS850G
1990 Suzuki Katana 1100 (GSX1100F) - sold
1996 BMW K1100RS
2009 BMW K1300GT

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10120
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2017, 01:31:35 PM »
Then a few weeks later I notice this dent/bend in the front rim on my K1100RS.  Any thoughts? 
http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,9688.msg81500.html#msg81500
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 6617
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2017, 01:32:42 PM »
It can be done if you take your time.  The alloy in these wheels is fairly soft.  I straightened the three spoke front wheel on my K100RS. 

There are a couple threads here and at the K100 forum on straightening wheels.  When I did mine I used a wheel balancer to spin the wheel, a heavy hammer, some 2x4's to rest the wheel on, a couple chunks of wood to beat on the wheel, and tools to take the tire off.  Took me an afternoon. 
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline alexis291

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 166
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2017, 03:54:16 PM »
I phoned round many alloy wheel repairers and none of the car ones can do bike wheels. If you google it you will find a couple. I was tempted to try myself but I'd advise having the means to heat the wheel to maybe 200 degC so it doesn't crack.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • UK
  • K1100RS 1995

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10120
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2017, 04:19:20 PM »
. . . I'd advise having the means to heat the wheel to maybe 200 degC so it doesn't crack.
The author of the post at the link in Reply #1 in this thread has experience in flattening these deformations. He asserts that these BMW wheels don't like heat.

What has been your experience, alexis?
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 6617
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2017, 05:43:19 PM »
The reason BMW wheels bend is that the alloy is so soft.  BMW engineers chose it specifically to avoid the wheel cracking and losing air which leads to much more pain than a bent rim, especially at high speeds. 

People have been hurt bad when the hard alloy wheels on some rice burners literally exploded when hitting a pothole at speed. 

A hammer or press is all you need to reshape a BMW wheel.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline johnny

  • TrailBrakingThrottleWhacker
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 7650
  • Whacking...n...Chopping Sliding...n...High Siding
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2017, 06:46:40 PM »
greetings...

if you dont wanna f with it you can take it to one of the best wheel guys in socal...

mackie...

in sierra madre...

6263557058

or

john...

in west covina...

7146304075

j o
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline CNRED

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 149
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2017, 08:04:05 AM »
I had a r1200gs alloy wheel fixed a Woody's Wheel Works in Colorado.  Wasn't that expensive, just a PIA taking the tire off the wheel, packing and shipping. 
Yopu could try to straighten it yourself, if you're not haooy with the results ship it to a pro.
  • Scottsdale, AZ
  • 1990 K75rt, 1992GSPD

Offline Billk

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 115
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2017, 10:48:38 AM »
I went through the same thing recently. I sent my wheels to
Woody's in Denver Colorado. It cost me $200 a rim. He did a
very nice job. He used to advertise in the BMW MOA magazine.
He specializes in BMW wheels, motorcycles. Total cost was a little over
$600 two wheels from New York to Denver and back. He's very
professional.good luck
Bill
  • NYS
  • Owned many BMWs and Harley's presently '95 75K and '14 V Strom
Presently own a 1995 K75 and a 2014 Suzuki DL650

Offline Billk

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 115
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2017, 12:30:06 PM »
 Forgot to mention it was $200 a rim.
The other expenses I incurred was shipping.
  • NYS
  • Owned many BMWs and Harley's presently '95 75K and '14 V Strom
Presently own a 1995 K75 and a 2014 Suzuki DL650

Offline alexis291

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 166
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #10 on: August 01, 2017, 04:41:55 PM »
The author of the post at the link in Reply #1 in this thread has experience in flattening these deformations. He asserts that these BMW wheels don't like heat.

What has been your experience, alexis?
A Masters degree and 30 years of automotive engineering, since you ask [emoji846]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
  • UK
  • K1100RS 1995

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10120
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #11 on: August 01, 2017, 04:44:09 PM »
A Masters degree and 30 years of automotive engineering, since you ask
I was referring to the repair of BMW alloy rims. :giggles
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Offline subforry

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 162
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2017, 04:45:14 PM »
Thanks all.

Johnny, thanks for referrals on the local shops - perfect.

The bike is stored away for a few days while building I live in is being painted.  Once a get it back I will give both rims a very close inspection.  I will likely give it a few wacks with the dead blow hammer and see what I get.

I will post back with my findings and results.
  • Hermosa Beach, CA, USA
  • 1996 K1100RS
1981 Suzuki GS850G
1990 Suzuki Katana 1100 (GSX1100F) - sold
1996 BMW K1100RS
2009 BMW K1300GT

Offline subforry

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 162
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2017, 11:35:52 AM »
Ok the building painting is done (at least where I park) and the musical parking spots is also done - not quite, I drove to work today so someone could use my parking spot.  Oh the joys of living in the city.

Back to rims.  I inspected the rim, no cracks, and only bent on one side of the rim.  This leads me to believe that I bent it when I changed the tire.  Wham, wham, wham with the dead blow hammer.  Didn't take the wheel off the bike.  It looked better.  I let the air out of the tire and wham, wham, wham some more.  Its not perfect but hard to see where it was bent.  I will address it again when I change the font tire, a few miles/years from now.
  • Hermosa Beach, CA, USA
  • 1996 K1100RS
1981 Suzuki GS850G
1990 Suzuki Katana 1100 (GSX1100F) - sold
1996 BMW K1100RS
2009 BMW K1300GT

Offline Martin

  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 4437
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #14 on: August 07, 2017, 04:55:46 PM »
Old tradesman's saying, if it's broken hit it with a hammer. If that doesn't fix it you need a bigger hammer. :hehehe
Regards Martin.
  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
  • 1992 K75s Hybrid, Lefaux, Vespa V twin.

Offline CNRED

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 149
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #15 on: August 07, 2017, 05:52:29 PM »
Old tradesman's saying, if it's broken hit it with a hammer. If that doesn't fix it you need a bigger hammer. :hehehe
Regards Martin.


Or,
   Don't force it, get a bigger hammer.
  • Scottsdale, AZ
  • 1990 K75rt, 1992GSPD

Offline subforry

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 162
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #16 on: August 07, 2017, 07:10:08 PM »
In house construction we had the "adjuster" and the "little adjuster", 10lbs and 5lbs sledge hammers.
  • Hermosa Beach, CA, USA
  • 1996 K1100RS
1981 Suzuki GS850G
1990 Suzuki Katana 1100 (GSX1100F) - sold
1996 BMW K1100RS
2009 BMW K1300GT

Offline bocutter Ed

  • ^ SuperNatural Motobricker
  • Posts: 707
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #17 on: August 07, 2017, 11:07:00 PM »
Old tradesman's saying, if it's broken hit it with a hammer. If that doesn't fix it you need a bigger hammer. :hehehe
Regards Martin.
And if that doesn't fix it you have an electrical problem ...
  • Toronto, Canada
  • '61 Puch DS60 - '66 Puch 250 SGS - '87 BMW K75s

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10120
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #18 on: August 07, 2017, 11:33:25 PM »
And if that doesn't fix it you have an electrical problem ...
... which—after all that earnest hammering—could come as a shock.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Offline subforry

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 162
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #19 on: November 04, 2019, 03:03:00 PM »
I am dragging up my old thread because I never posted the result and now I have a new problem.

On the K1100RS, I was not happy with the hammer it out results and took a chance on an eBay front rim, and man did it make a difference.  The bike has never handled this good.  In fact the CHP pulled me over because I was going a little too fast on a freeway transition ramp.  He was cool and let me off.  I think the rim has always been bad.

New problem, my 2009 K1300GT hit some vehicle destroying pot hole on the 405.  Now its rim is bent.  I have full insurance coverage and my deductible is $250.  I expect the shops recommended in this thread can fix it and would charge about $200-300 to fix mine.  Any recommendations, have the dealer install a new rim or fix the old one?  BTW the new rim is ~$1300.

Thanks
PS I got to pet a  :dk on Sat.
  • Hermosa Beach, CA, USA
  • 1996 K1100RS
1981 Suzuki GS850G
1990 Suzuki Katana 1100 (GSX1100F) - sold
1996 BMW K1100RS
2009 BMW K1300GT

Offline johnny

  • TrailBrakingThrottleWhacker
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 7650
  • Whacking...n...Chopping Sliding...n...High Siding
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #20 on: November 04, 2019, 03:16:23 PM »
call mackie in sierra madre 626-355-7058...
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline subforry

  • ^ Proficient Motobricker
  • Posts: 162
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #21 on: November 04, 2019, 03:33:35 PM »
Mackie has retired.  He did suggest Grant Matsushima at 909-549-2070.  I left a message and will keep this thread posted on the outcome.
  • Hermosa Beach, CA, USA
  • 1996 K1100RS
1981 Suzuki GS850G
1990 Suzuki Katana 1100 (GSX1100F) - sold
1996 BMW K1100RS
2009 BMW K1300GT

Offline johnny

  • TrailBrakingThrottleWhacker
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 7650
  • Whacking...n...Chopping Sliding...n...High Siding
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #22 on: November 04, 2019, 03:34:19 PM »
why didnt you say so...

maybe getts a new honda monkey or stop whacking hoes...


* Screenshot_20191104-143817.jpg (31.27 kB . 768x521 - viewed 375 times)
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10120
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #23 on: November 04, 2019, 03:40:46 PM »
my 2009 K1300GT hit some vehicle destroying pot hole on the 405. . . . the new rim is ~$1300.
I'm hanging back in the twentieth century where it's cheaper. :-)
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
  • Administrator
  • ^ Quintessential Motobricker
  • Posts: 10120
Re: Bent Front Rim
« Reply #24 on: November 04, 2019, 03:54:41 PM »
maybe getts a new honda monkey . . .
It's got a USD fork! All that's needed is an Acewell, BEP and strap-ons.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Tags: