Bend in wheel?

[billy bee]

I found an RT that I think I am gonna buy...although an RT-P from the CHP may still catch my fancy. The seller says there is a slight bend in the front wheel from a pothole and that it does not affect performance. He owns a lot of bikes and I know the mechanic who has worked on the bike. So, it seems like credible information...but I cannot imagine how a bend, even a minor one in the lip, would not affect the balance of the wheel.

 

Thoughts?

 

bb

[nrp]

Four years ago, I bent both of mine on my 2000 R1100RT in a pothole, but it still ran smooth and held air. The flanges were distorted about 3/16 inch. I straightened both of them in a humongous vise such that the flange run out cannot be seen anymore. There is a shop in Sacramento CA that does this too.

[notacop]

David Moore 760 240 24590. In Apple Valley Calif. good price and good service. Dr. Jons in Orange Ca. but priceir by a lot.

If you are on the east coast, good luck. I have a extra set of straight rims. PM me!

Once a good guy straigtens them you won't know the differmence.

[billy bee]

I am in CA. I'll have it straightened. Done that with car wheels; never occurred to straighten a m/c wheel. Bet i could do a decent job of that myownself...a little heat and a little sustained pressure

 

Thanks,

bb

[mbelectric]

Go to craigslist SF - motorcycles-bmw

 

Saw one there for a good price.

 

MB>

[billy bee]

Go to craigslist SF - motorcycles-bmw

 

Saw one there for a good price.

 

MB>

 

Thanks! Saw that, too. It is for an '02 - '04 model. Different style and I thought the ABS ring might be different. But you are right...good price.

 

Anybody know if the newer style wheel will fit on an older RT? the one I am looking at is a MY '97.

 

bb

[Deadboy]

2x4 and a hammer.....but then again my rear one has been bent for a long time and I have never bothered to fix it. Makes no difference when I put it on the balancer....

[ESokoloff]

Welcome Billy

 

You might find some good info here.

[nrp]

Billy - Whatever you do - Unless this bike is a POS, don't try to fix it with a hammer as this would be too uncontrolled. Don't heat it to help re-deform it. Those rims are probably already heat treated, in which case, post-heating may make them get unusually brittle.

 

MN Mech Engineer (retired)

[NonComp]

Check any company that services mag wheels for cars. I found a local company that professionally straightened my rear wheel for $125, which included mounting and balancing a new tire at the same time. It came out perfect and was well worth the money. This is one area that I would not DIY.

[Fugu]

My front wheel has a "dip" in it.

 

Doesn't affect balance a bit. Takes a single weight to balance any tire I've put on it. Doesn't lose air. Doesn't make the tire out of round. I don't know when it happened but it's been like that for 10k miles at least.

 

I'm not messing with it. If this RT you are looking at is in a similar state, I'd use that as ammo to lower the offer you're making on the bike, but not fix it. No reason to.

 

 

[Jerry Johnston]

Approx. 5 years ago I had a slight bend (1.4" to 3/8") bend in my front wheel when I hit a rock. I let the air out of the tire, laid a 1 x 2 board across it and hit it with a hammer. It must of had a memory of position because it was perfect afterwards. I still have the same wheel and it looks and works fine. If the wheel were bent vertically I would have sent it off to be straightened.

[NonComp]

It probably won't effect balance - no mass change. But mine, even thought it was a gentle bend, cased a bit of a tire bulge at the bead. Didn't like to leave it that way.