Possible Fork Damage!

[acebobby]

OK I am going to struggle putting this into words,

As I was doing some routine maintenance to my bike I noticed that one of my fork bottoms was slightly bent, these are upside down forks and if you imagine the cast bit at the bottom of the fork where the brake calipers bolt onto, there is a part at that section which sticks upwards purely for bolting the front mudgaurd onto, this seems to have bent slightly inwards probably as a result of one of my earlier lowsides, it only appears to have reduced the clearance between itself and the brake disk. I have been riding the bike without issue not knowing about this but now that I know it makes me wonder if it is ok. should I remove the forks during the winter and send them to a specialist (K-tech) to get checked out?

What do you guys think?

 

Bobby

[fossilfuel]

Hi Bobby,

THe part you see that is bent is part of the cast aluminum that the fork tube is recessed in? The part that holds your brake caliper and fender? you are saying that the aluminum piece is bent not the fork tube itself. if there is no damage to the tube, no leaks coming from around the seal, the movement from bottom to top of stroke is not impaired. Take a rubber mallet and beat it back into place.

Or, pull the forks and drain the oil as you should periodically and examine your forks. Sometimes damage can occur to other parts of the bike during as well so it might be a good idea to examine your triple clamp and steering head. check for to much play around the bearings to make sure that is ok...shouldn't be to big of a deal.

[Darren sweetman]

I would be very sceptical about beating it back into place as aluminium is likely to break if you bend it back again without the proper precedures etc.

 

My 2cents, if it is all working ok etc. I would leave it.

[acebobby]

Thanks for the replies guys, I thought it might be a bit dodgy trying to knock it back, the forks themselves are fine and have no leaks, they can travel down to bottom out and feel smooth throughout the travel! I think its just the psychological point of knowing about it that got me, I like to keep my bike maintained and prepped to a high standard so found this annoying more than anything else, probably a good idea to use fork protector's in future!

 

Thanks

 

Bobby

[johnnyrod]

As Kiwi says, if that's the only damage then best to just leave it alone. not sure which fork protectors you mean? Some of these things are a waste of money, like the little carbon fibre shields that go on the front edge of the can.