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A while back I used a height limit restrictor to take the bike off my roof rack...
As a result the forks now have a couple of small dents near the top of the stanchions. The deformation is an area about the size of a five pence on each tube, and about 0.1 to 0.2mm deep at the deepest point; it would be very hard to see if the black anodising(?) wasn't marked, but you can feel it when you run your finger over it.
There hasn't been any adverse effects to the forks as far as I'm aware, and the dents are around 40mm from the top, so they only pass the seals on big hits.
However, it's coming to that time to give the forks a service, and wondered if I should fork out and replace the stanchions too? I imagine this will cost me in the region of £250, so would rather not if I don't have to.
First time I'm having a go at the fork service, but as I'd like to have a go at it, it's already damaged, plus I'm a tad embarrassed to hand over the bike shop.
I'm not the best spanner operator, but I'm thinking Youtube and the [url= https://sram-cdn-pull-zone-gsdesign.netdna-ssl.com/cdn/farfuture/hZYzdZ9U2Df4S43hqyfPt1mx-UoDJ28-MrHuZTbnEl8/mtime:1471624854/sites/default/files/techdocs/gen_0000000004461_rev_e_2014-2017_pike_service_manual_english.pdf ]service manual[/url] will guide me through the service.
Am I likely to find a mess in there due to the dents carrying in muck etc that would result in needing more than a service kit like [url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rock-Shox-Pike-Upgraded-Service/dp/B0171KXA9E ]this?[/url]
The problem with those dents, is they will allow dirt to migrate past the wiper seals. This means you'll get stanchion wear, and possibly start to bugger up the internals.
The options for me would be:
1. Run the forks into the ground, service them regularly and accept at some point they will die, and be worthless - so you'll need a new fork.
2. Replace the stanchions, but also have the internals checked - as there could be damage there already
3. Buy a brand new fork now, and sell the current fork for bobbins
Me - I'd probably got option 3, as I can't be bothered with the performance dropping off, or the chance they'll fail when in the middle of nowhere - or on a foreign trip
Other people I know, who ride more than I do - They'd go option 1
Cheers
Ricks
I'd not even ride them! Tubes are incredibly strong, until you dent them. I'd be happy with dented frame tubes but fork tubes would give me the heebiegeebies.
What model are they? If it's the all singing and dancing models then by the time you've serviced them and bought the CSU etc you might find it cheaper or not much more to buy some cheap OEM Pikes (or I think the 2018 revelations share the chassis?) and just transfer the damper.
I know this doesn't help, but why did you put a height limit restrictor on your forks??? I thought they were just for reverbs?
I think he means a car park barrier...
I think he means that the bike was on the roof of his car, and he hit one of those hight limit warning bar things like you get in car parks and such. 😉
What rick says, I'd go with option one. If they're not giving you grief I wouldn't worry.
Interested in seeing the damage tho
Cheers Ricks - I think I'm going to take a look inside, and probably stick with option 1 until I see a bargain set of 26" forks.
thisisnotaspoon - understood, and I was nervous to start with too.
mjsmke - oops, I think I was maybe too cryptic... I drove into this car park on an off the cuff thought of I'll go explore... didn't even see the height restrictor.
In my fluster I nearly made the mistake of putting the bike back on the spare bike rail, and driving back out 😯
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4509/37301187094_d36fdb07f0_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4509/37301187094_d36fdb07f0_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/YQbknq ]Height Limit[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/123339003@N04/ ]LittleNose[/url], on Flickr
Interested in seeing the damage tho
I'll take some photo's to post later
Bit of a stealth barrier that, any warning signs on approach?
no signs that I'm aware of - and like you say a little stealthy
I was impressed with how well the bike survived it - the car was unscathed, but bike rail was totalled though.
I would be more worried about stress on the steerer tube and head tube than the stanchions. If you hit the barrier hard enough to rip the bike off the car, then all that force has been transferred to the bike through the forks and headtube. Damage may not be visible, but if the steerer or head tube fail, you will have a major accident.
Thanks guys for all the input. I took a few photos this afternoon :
The forks :
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4473/24163814448_71120b004f.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4473/24163814448_71120b004f.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CPgSbu ]IMG_3814[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/123339003@N04/ ]LittleNose[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4476/24163814328_cd564f51ff.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4476/24163814328_cd564f51ff.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CPgS9q ]IMG_3814[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/123339003@N04/ ]LittleNose[/url], on Flickr
And the bottom of the steerer tube has had the paint knocked off... with what looks suspiciously like a crack running through :
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4479/24163814578_49c23a8dc3_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4479/24163814578_49c23a8dc3_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/CPgSdJ ]IMG_3814[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/123339003@N04/ ]LittleNose[/url], on Flickr
I'm wondering if this is now a write off - damn shame as this bike has brought the smile back to MTB riding for me in the last year 😥
I think I'll take the fork and headset out to have a look from inside next weekend.
I wouldn’t ride that..... the forks have taken a big smack and deformed a bit. Hard to tell on the headtube
I'd be much more concerned about the head-tube than the forks. Those dents are in thick tubes but the head-tube and the steer attached to it might be more of a concern. I'd get that stripped down and look for cracking under the headset cups and steer tube fork junction
Would it not be worth seeing if you could get the frame x-ray'ed?
Yeah - I've been in denial for the last year or so, but maybe it is time to go and see [url= http://carbonbikerepair.co.uk/ ]the guys[/url] in Leatherhead
Can you claim on your insurance? If so I'd be going for a new bike.
it's over a year ago that it happened, I'm guessing I'm a little too late for insurance... At the time I just figured what a right twonk I am sometimes
it'll be fine
it'll be fine
can I quote you on that? Oh, just have 😀
Run like that for a year you say? That would explain the ano wear around the impact site where the tubes are deformed. I should think there's an equivalent wear area on the bushes too.
If you were going to save them, you should have done it straight after it happened. I'd run it and service it as you would a normal fork and accept that when is dead, it's dead.
I should think to put it right you're going to need a new CSU and lowers - AFAIK, rockshox are still doing non-replaceable bushes in their lowers.
Given that, I can't see throwing any money at it is sensible.
Not having a van = fail. I would be using that as an excuse to buy a new bike (and a van)