Damn and F*ck it all - Help needed

**Str8 Jacket** · 8th July 2005, 07:43

So I get up this morning and go down to my bike to ride it to work . . . This is when I notice that the bike is lying on its left side (regretfully i have to leave it outside on the street), now I know the stand was up when I left it last nite and it was parked next to a brick wall so I don't believe that it just fell over . . . if ya get my drift. Anyway I have a quick look, it was dark so couldn't see much but the gear change lever and respective peg was a what I thought a "wee" bit bent. So I start the bike up changed into 1st and it all seemed good. However once I started riding it felt a bit funny, so when I get to work I have a look in the light and the f*cken lever and peg are quite bent - but working. What do I do now?! Can I "bang" the peg and lever back into place? Or should I just leave well alone and take it to the shop??

**riffer** · 8th July 2005, 07:48

FWIW, when I binned my FZR last year I was able to straighten the gear lever by using a ring spanner with a pipe around it.

Placed the ring spanner over the gear lever and sloooooowly pulled back on the pipe.

Luckily it didn't break...

**Str8 Jacket** · 8th July 2005, 07:53

Originally Posted by riffer

FWIW, when I binned my FZR last year I was able to straighten the gear lever by using a ring spanner with a pipe around it.

Placed the ring spanner over the gear lever and sloooooowly pulled back on the pipe.

Luckily it didn't break...

Cheers mate, will give that a go. I am pretty stoked that nothing was broken of, and everything still seems to be working! I almost cried when I saw it just lying there this morning . . . .

**placidfemme** · 8th July 2005, 07:57

Maybe you should park the bike inside from now on... if there is no concrete to park it on, park it on the grass close to your house... use a plank of wood to stop the stand from sinking into the soil/mud/grass. At least if it falls over there (less chance because it's off the road) it'll be falling on a softer surface...

Hope its not too hard for you to fix, or doesn't cost too much if you are going to send it in...

**ajturbo** · 8th July 2005, 07:58

sorry str8... but i hear the wind is strong down that way ... some times....

the ONLY way out i see for you is to... sell it to me for 1k and all your troubles will be gone!!! no more worring about your bike .. it will be safe up here in TGA..

no really matey.. it must have pissed you off no end and i'm sorry to hear about it.. can you park it in side your house???
i had a mate that had a bike he parked in the lounge.... he knew where it was at all times...... and who was touching it....

andy

**FROSTY:Me** · 8th July 2005, 08:10

the mighty GNU is a solid beast. -the gearlever is made of metan and will straighten just as Riffer described. The peg bracket might be a bit more difficult-just cos its so much heavier metal. You might need a bit of heat applied to coax it back into place. It may also have just bent the mounting bolts. My strong suggestion is before you try -do it at home where you have alternative transport.
Id also suggest--park the mighty bike on its main stand at night

**Str8 Jacket** · 8th July 2005, 08:19

Thanks for all the advice guy's. However Wellys being Wellys, where I live there is no alternative but to park the bike on the footpath. I live up about 25 odd steep stairs, and have no alternative. I had thought about wheeling my bike up the stairs, BUT my bike weighs 150+ kilos and I weigh about 50.
FROSTY - thanks, I will be putting it on its main stand from now on.

My mate from work who rides himself just went and had another look at it with me. THIS IS WEIRD . . . there are no scratches on the bike anywhere, so I don't quite understand whats hapenned!

**FROSTY:Me** · 8th July 2005, 08:21

If you can put up with it till monday/tuesday Ill be down there and happy to look at it for ya

**Str8 Jacket** · 8th July 2005, 08:26

Originally Posted by FROSTY

If you can put up with it till monday/tuesday Ill be down there and happy to look at it for ya

Cheers for the offer mate, I should be able to get someone to do it tonite. My workmate reckons it's fixable, hope he's right!!

**Paul in NZ** · 8th July 2005, 08:42

Bad luck....

At least I hopes it's bad luck 'cos I'd hate to think someone pushed it over (sorry - the world is full of haters and joy suckers.)

Let us know if you need a hand, I live up the coast but happy to help out if possible..

Cheers

**unhingedlizard** · 8th July 2005, 09:14

I agree with riffer, have done this numious times, most of the time it works, sometimes they break, but if they break doing this they are shaffed anyway.

Just remember to pull, not hit or tap. If it wont work, grab a bigger pipe.

**scumdog** · 8th July 2005, 09:19

How about a bike-cover, you know, the old 'out of sight-out of mind' thing.

If your area is windy it might not be such a good thing as it would give the wind something to 'catch' on.

Windy?? what was I thinking!! You're in Wellington!

**Str8 Jacket** · 8th July 2005, 10:56

Originally Posted by scumdog

How about a bike-cover, you know, the old 'out of sight-out of mind' thing.

If your area is windy it might not be such a good thing as it would give the wind something to 'catch' on.

Windy?? what was I thinking!! You're in Wellington!

Yep, I thought about getting a cover a while back, now i'm definately gonna get one. Because my stand isn't damaged it looks like it was put up by someone and there wasn't really much wind last night lots and lotsa rain but not wind. So im at a loss to explain - maybe ive pissed someone of! . . .
Im soo angry though the bike is BRAND NEW.

**ManDownUnder** · 8th July 2005, 11:03

Originally Posted by Str8 Jacket

Cheers mate, will give that a go. I am pretty stoked that nothing was broken of, and everything still seems to be working! I almost cried when I saw it just lying there this morning . . . .

Also.. heat is your friend. If yuou can them up to nice and warm, then bend them, then let 'em cool slowly it'll be MUCH less likely to fracture (invisibly or visibly).

Being Aluminium (I guess) it's hard to tell when it's hot enough though - no colour change so talk to a welding shop and ask them to draw on it with a thermal crayon (I think that's what they're called)... it'll change colour when at the right temp. They'll have the heating gear too...

Keep flames away from chain oil and fuel of course...
MDU