Help - have a bent ...
 

[Closed] Help - have a bent my forks ?

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Sounds a silly question but.....

1st commute to work on my new to me Kona Dew Deluxe....

It was very fast - so fast that I rode straight into the wing of a VW Golf (totally my fault - I was on the pavement he was pulling out of his drive)

My wheel crumpled like a piece of paper - well folded in two really...

Had to get a wheel built - its 700c disc, now I thought the fork would be fine as its a Kona P2 steel fork - how easily do these bend ?

I picked up the new wheel and put it in today, but it won't spin properly - tinkered with the brakes but no luck....

Looking at the bike the angle of the fork looks wrong - also when turning the bars toe clearance has suddenly become a big issue

Have a bjorked my fork as well ? I thought it would be indestructible ?

yours feeling very stupid

Justa


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 7:31 pm
 Andy
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Sorry to increase your worries but are you sure its not the frame? 🙁


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 7:34 pm
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erm - how would I tell ?


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 7:37 pm
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Any visible damage to down tube? paint flaking or owt? Post a pic up.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 7:39 pm
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hummm - just checked a photo on the kona website - it really doesn't look right 🙁

The fork looks like its been pushed back (which would explain the toe clearance problem)

[IMG] [/IMG]
[IMG] [/IMG]


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 7:56 pm
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pwned


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 7:58 pm
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helpful


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 7:59 pm
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I think you'r emissing a bit of rake on those forks now... 🙂

looks like a good bump. You OK?


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:00 pm
 aP
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Just get a prybar and bend the forks back to more or less where they were originally.

On second thoughts, just get some new forks.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:00 pm
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new bike time


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:00 pm
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forks ****ed.... 🙁


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:01 pm
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I'd check the frame really, really carefully.

not wishing to take advantage too much but;

can I interest you in a set of Pace Rc31's 420mm a-c - see my ad in the classfieds


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:01 pm
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racing ralph or maxlite whatever your name - it changes so often but you remain a t**t - thank god my children don't get taught by you...

stoner - I am fine thanks - bit of a sore wrist but no change there eh ?!

So fork is the problem then - I presume they can't be fixed ?


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:02 pm
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yep, that's exactly what a buggered fork looks like!

I'd also run your finger over the top and bottom of the top tube and down tube to feel for any ripples.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:02 pm
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Justa - i may be a **** but you are still uptight


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:03 pm
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Oh dear!!! 🙁


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:04 pm
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If I were you justa, i would be giving the front of the frame a very careful look over - flaky paint, funny cracks or patterns on the paint. Also feel and look for dents, 'non straight' tubes (you can use the edge of a ruler to check all round along each tube). Also eye it up from the front to make sure the headtube is still in line with the seat tube as you look from the front.

If you are unsure, take it to LBS and pay a few quid for a proper look.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:15 pm
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I dont think he is uptight, his forks are definately bent from that picture.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:18 pm
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as above, check the frame very carefully 🙁


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:20 pm
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sorry to ask but why were you riding fast on the pavement?

hope it didn't hurt too much!


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:20 pm
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thanks folks - I have checked the frame carefully - pointed my Hope LED at it...

There are no cracks, creases, bits of flakey paint - it all looks normal ?

cheers matt - I'll try that too

acjim - just coming off a cyclepath onto a road - the traffic was queueing up so I thought 'i'll just pop down the pavement' old giffer pulls out of drive....

i know it was stupid and I am learning my lesson


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:27 pm
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Though the tubes look fine (its only a picture - so I can't tell), the headtube looks like its bent back a LOT
In the pic from konas website the head and seat angles are about parallel
In your pic of the crashed bike the head angle is significantly steeper than the seat angle.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:33 pm
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Glad you're ok Justa. Is there any kind of crash replacement policy from Kona? Definitely need new forks, those are scrap, as long as you're happy with the front end, then you should be ok.

Be careful out there 🙂


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:34 pm
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I've a set of P2s disc specific, yours for postage, i'll check length of headtube. Hope your OK.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:35 pm
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oops! did you have far to walk?

Bunny hop it next time 😉

oh, and I agree that the head angle looks off - possible bend in the top tube?


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:37 pm
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Glad to hear yer ok Justa..

Yup.. looks like new forks time.. 😕


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:42 pm
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I did that once turned out I cracked the steerer just under the headset race. I didnt realise at first and even rode some flights of steps on it. It was when I started riding home and I realised that my tyre was rubbing on my mud guard.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 8:44 pm
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thanks folks for the kind words 🙂

I'm worried now though - i think/hope the head tube angle looks odd because the forks make it look odd ?!

kevonakona ? really that would be fantastic !!


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 9:13 pm
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Frame angles look ok to me, give it a good going over though to make sure, forks are definately for the skip though. If it was me I'd go for something other than p2s as I am not a fan of them.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 9:22 pm
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I hit a car a few years back - I was on a Specialized Hardrock. The wheel was fine, but the forks AND frame were written off. I'd get that frame down to a knowledgeable dealer and get it properly checked out.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 9:29 pm
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Looks like just a bent steerer to me. Slap some new forks in, job done.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 9:31 pm
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heres a photo with the fork off - i don't think it looks anywhere near as bad...

[IMG] [/IMG]


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 9:32 pm
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[IMG] [/IMG]


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 9:38 pm
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There's usually visible damage if the frame is bent, compare it with a good one.

Think you need to chill out a bit TBH - you know Rob and he's just having a laugh.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 10:04 pm
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thanks Al - all looks ok

and you are right about Rob but sometimes.....


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 10:06 pm
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lol, cmon justa could be worse dude!! You could have a Ford Focus to sell!


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 10:07 pm
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true 🙄


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 10:12 pm
 Andy
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A good way to check the frame is to run your fingers along the underside the seat/down tube near the head tube. If its bent you will feel some slight bumps near the welds, and also probably see cracked paint. If you dont and its a steel frame you are probably Ok. If you are still worried get a decent LBS to check it.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 10:15 pm
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cheers Andy - can't see or feel anything odd

its an alu fram although it does look like a steel one

i should probably take it too my lbs though


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 10:17 pm
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does anyone know where exactly i measure the length of the fork ?

axel to crown ? where is that exactly ?


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 10:34 pm
 jonb
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Looks from the picture like it's just the forks. On the shop photo there is a slight forward bend just below the head tube. On your's the forks are straight.

Axel to crown.

The axel is the axel, measure from the middle of the dropouts.

The crown will be from the bottom of the crown race. This is the bit immediately below the headtube. If you have your forks out its the bottom of the steerer tube.


 
Posted : 25/02/2009 11:15 pm
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The headtube is fine the reason the frame angles look different is because your photo was taken from further towards the front of the bike, and you haven't used such a flat projected lens as Kona did.


 
Posted : 26/02/2009 1:22 am
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kevonakona - any luck with the P 2's ?


 
Posted : 26/02/2009 7:19 pm
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a good frame uilder will have a jig for perswading forks like that into shape i youve not already got replacements.

mercian in derby will do it for £25, obviously that depends o how borked the forks are.


 
Posted : 26/02/2009 7:33 pm
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i would bring it the the lbs and get them to check to see if its bent ( the frame i mean) they have a funny tool for checking thease things.


 
Posted : 26/02/2009 8:41 pm