Written-off bike - re-registered

[Wired1]

I don't believe they take a bike apart to do the re-vinning, if it was a broken weld on the steering head they may not find it if it was under the tank or fairing etc. It is a bit of a worry if they allow a written-off bike to be re-registered without a thorough mechanical inspection. On most bikes the original frame number is hidden behind the fairing/tank/headlight on the steering head and it may be hard to read without dismantling the bike. It also depends on the bike - there are plenty of damaged and rebuilt vintage bikes out there, all safe and sound thanks to small engines and good repairs.

[jonbuoy]

I had another call about it a couple of nights ago. I don't know enough about Vinning and frame repairs to be able to say its safe or not. But if I had two choices a straight bike and a repaired bike I'd know where I'd spend the money.

[texmo]

I don't believe they take a bike apart to do the re-vinning, if it was a broken weld on the steering head they may not find it if it was under the tank or fairing etc. It is a bit of a worry if they allow a written-off bike to be re-registered without a thorough mechanical inspection. On most bikes the original frame number is hidden behind the fairing/tank/headlight on the steering head and it may be hard to read without dismantling the bike. It also depends on the bike - there are plenty of damaged and rebuilt vintage bikes out there, all safe and sound thanks to small engines and good repairs.

They take all the fairings off to do a vin... trust me I worked at a vinning station. and Yes its fine I was going to get it but got somethign else instead.

[Wired1]

Awesome, finally a government system that actually works!

[oldguy]

You cant make a weld as good as a factory, do you know how to heat treat a frame like them?

wrong there are guys out there that would easy do as good a job if not better that factor welding,

[imdying]

wrong there are guys out there that would easy do as good a job if not better that factor welding,

I agree about the welding, although the robots do a pretty nifty job, but I think it was more the heat treating he was worried about.

[texmo]

I agree about the welding, although the robots do a pretty nifty job, but I think it was more the heat treating he was worried about.

What he said

[Wired1]

Do they heat treat frames? I wouldn't have thought so...

[imdying]

Do they heat treat frames? I wouldn't have thought so...

I can't give you an answer to that, that isn't mostly rumor and supposition I'm afraid. Having said that, from what I've 'heard' over the years, some aspect of a frames 'heat treating' is a key reason why they're difficult to repair (weld). I do have a vague thought going around in my head from I can't remember where, that this applies mostly to 'beam' type frames, those that use aluminum extrusions as their frame members. I have no idea whether it applies to the trellis style frames used on dukes, or the die cast styles frames, as used on something like my SV. Something nagging at me, something perhaps in a book I've read, makes me think that is was the extruded aluminum ones that were the problem, a technique that is used in GSXR frames. I've no idea whether that applies in this case, and no idea how localised heating can cause problems however (i.e. whether engine mounts, which are on cast sections, can be fixed). I realise that bugger all of that helps, sorry.

[Shaun]

Frames are not heat treated when built at the factory, the welding process is done by robots in a jig!

If you got any brand new bike and took it to say F1 engineering, I could all but gaurantee you the frame will not 100% True.

Top professional teams that race SB and so on, strip there frames out, send them to a chassis alingment expert, have them checked and pulled or pushed or what ever is required and then send the frame to the Baker to relieve any potentuall stress in the chassis.

As far as Vin;s go, it is just as Texmo said, they want the fairings removed, and if there is any documented history of frame welding needed to be done, they will want an engineers report with proof of the welding procedure, as well as proof that the welder is ticketed to do such a job.

A weld if done correctly is stronger than the parent material !

I would ride/race any bike that has been trashed and repaired, as long as the above procedure was done.

Some people have even gone as far as running over Factory welds with the Tig Tourch with a view of stress relieving the frame, each to there own I guess.

[imdying]

There ya go then

What does 'send the frame to the Baker' mean?

[geoffm]

You cant make a weld as good as a factory, do you know how to heat treat a frame like them?

I think you will find the factory frames are a self hardening 7000 series ali, so they don't need post welding heat treatment. You would have to use the right filler rod and be a good welder. I woudln't do it.
Performance Bikes had an article by the late, great John Robinson on the material used in swingarms, including an analysis and tests of aftermarket swingarms. This was back when PB used to be a decent mag, not a boy racer bling sheet.
Geoff

[Loose Nut]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=100141260
The same bike is back up for auction. Buyer beware.

[Mully]

That's interesting, I saw this bike the other day.

Different guy selling it though, he may not know it's history. There is no feedback between the old seller and the new seller.

[wildcat_lgf]

If its an insurance written-off bike, it is de-registered as "written off by insurer" they assign the claim number to it and so it is flagged when you go back to get it re-vinned.