Bent front rim

I recently acquired my 2003 VFR800. I only just now noticed that my front rim looks like it is dented. See attached pic. You can see where the rim meets the tire there is a gap.

How unsafe is this? Is this something I should have repaired (who does that, honda?), or do I most likely need to replace?

I have my first trackday next weekend, is this a show stopper?

Thanks for all the help

 

Here's my $0.02. While shopping for my VFR I met a guy with a '94 VFR750, turns out he had a bent front rim (worse than yours) but still the bike was solid when we rode around, and we even hit speeds ~100 mph. So good news is that it should be ok to ride on at least in the short term, though I'd be leery taking it to the track.

The bad news is that it's probably not repairable and a new front rim runs ~$800, and who knows what damage the suspension sustained during that impact. I'd get that checked out next time you take it in.

 

Yeah, I haven't been liking the suspension. I never adjusted the Sag, so I am hoping to do that next weekend. Now you got me thinking though, about possible suspension damage. I am not sure who to take it too, to check that thoroughly out. I guess Honda could. I wonder based on the size of the ding, how bad of a hit it was, and how likely the suspension would have an issue. I looked it up, and I think new wheel is like $450 MSRP. So I could probably get it for close to that, several on ebay (straight) for like $200-250 but a big worn looking, I may just buy new. sucks

 

I had a bent rim and couldn't find anyone to fix it. There are plenty of rim repair places around but as soon as I said motorcycle rim they said they don't work on motorcycle rims. I'm assuming it's more liability than they want. Honda will just try to sell you a new rim for $400 or whatever it is now. If you can't find anyone to work on it then your best bet is ebay. although you take a chance of getting a bent rim so buy from a reputable seller. 5th and 6th gens are the same rims. (Colors vary) As far as how safe it is, hard to say. I wouldn't want to do a track day with a bent rim and i would imagine it wouldn't pass tech. Depending on your type of riding and how many miles are left on the tire you might ride around on it till you get a new/used rim and new tire mounted to it and then just swap them out when it's time.

 

I had the stock front rim on my Ducati 900SS straightened at MC Wheel in Swanzey New Hampshire after some goob at work removed it from the bead blast cabinet one night and dropped it which bent the lip on one side. I sprung for the extra $20.00 to have it straightened to race specs when I had it done so the total cost was $140.00 + shipping,turn-around time was just over a week.

They did a good job on it. Before we shot any Red paint on that rim we went over it with a fine toothed comb and mic'd the thing up at least eight ways from Sunday and couldn't find any fault at all with it.
I've been riding on that rim for almost 7 years now and haven't had any issues at all with it.

Just a heads-up Signal,the rim will most likely need to be refinished after they straighten it.

MCWheel website. Click me.>>>>>mcwheel wheel repair for alloy car and motorcycle wheels, straightening, motorcycle wheel repair, motorcycle wheel straightening, bent motorcycle wheel, bent wheel, bent motorcycle rim, bent rim.

 

That is a sexy SS there Stoshmonster :love: I should married to an Italian :wink:

 

Signal check the air often to make sure it is not leak. Look to me it is not that bad I said you can still ride them but don't ride like Rossior Marquez you can find a used rims for around 150 to 200. Check with the member with the name angry bear eat my bagel he is part out his 6th gen.

 

Give this guy a call to see if he still have the rims
Parting out a 2002 red VFR/abs - VFRworld Classifieds

 

I have a smaller bend in my front rim. I have been waiting until it's time to replace the tire to do something about it.
I haven't had any issues at speed due to it so I haven't worried about it.

 

Signal, my rim got way more bent than yours. Here is the post where I talk about it.

I rode for over 5000 miles with it just like that because I needed the bike every day (I have no car) and had no time to repair it. Seemed like everyone I'd run into out on the street would issue dire predictions that I'd have a wobble (I didn't), or that I'd throw Earth off its axis if I kept riding like that (we're still here!).

Your wheel is VERY repairable. If you must have the bike in working order (like I did) all the time, buy a used wheel on ebay (5th and 6th gen VFR wheels work on your bike...1998-2009, I believe) and have your shop swap it out. You might do this while getting a fresh front tire, if you need one. Then, you have your wheel off and you can get it repaired. Pricing will likely be between $100 and $150. I paid $165 with tax, but that was in PA, it might have been a little less in Texas.

If you don't mind having the bike down for a week or two, then just remove the wheel and send it off, but keep in mind that most shops don't want tires or rotors on the wheel when they get it. They may charge extra to remove and reinstall these.

Finally, if you're happy with the new front wheel, you can sell your bent front wheel on ebay and let someone else worry about repairing it.

I'd play it by ear for track use. If there is ANY weirdness at all up front, I'd skip the track.

 

Some shops that do these repairs:



FrameMan - Motorcycle frame straightening, Sacramento, CA

Motorcycle Wheel Repair Motorcycle Frame Repair

CARLSONS ALINEMNT SERVICE

 

FrameMan trued my bent wheel to .002 TIR and they had it ready in a couple days. I highly recommend them.

Jose

 

Before a track session, get the bike up and check headset bearings for excess looseness or detents. How many miles on the bike ??

 

Just have the wheel straighten. I had a VFR wheel straighten at MC Wheel, similar to Stoshmonster. I just had is straighten to ":normal" specs and the wheel did not need to be refinished. I've run it the last 10K miles without vibration or issue.

If the wheel is holding air, I think it is probably safe to ride on but I think you will fail tech inspection for your track day.

 

Bike has 30.5k miles. New rubber was on the bike when I bought it. The bend in the rim is subtle, and there are no scratches, almost like they ran over a 2x4 or something.

I don't know much about bikes. Checking headset bearings, triples, forks..........not sure if honda is the best place for this, almost like you would want someone experienced in this, a body or suspension shop maybe? I have to dismount the front wheel, something I have never done, and take it too a local shop. Hopefully its $150 or less, otherwise i will look to mail it out to one of the reputable places on the internet. I really want someone to look over the suspension now to give me the confidence.........anyone know of someone in South Florida that can help me out?

 

PM ridervfr or candyred, they are in Florida, It is not hard to inspect if you follow to instruction.
Let start a new thread and tell us what you want to do so we can chimp in and tell you what to do.

 

Rims don't seal on the edge rim, they seal on the inner bead, so small dents are fine. Alloy is fine if bent once, to return it to shape normally requires heat stress relief to restore its strength. If it does not cause any handling issues then ignore it. I hit a concrete curb stone that was thrown in the road once at 40mph, it was hard enough to explode the block & put a huge dent in the rim, so much that it rubbed on the inside of the fork. The piece off the block hit my foot & badly bruised it through my MC boot. But the Tyre did NOT deflate ! The rim was trash it was so far beyond repair, comparatively yours looks fine.

 

I see that Frameman in Sacramento has already been mentioned here. I used him when I had a dip in my front wheel too. It worked great and the price was reasonable. See you on the road!

 

Subscribed. We have a bent rim on the CBR F2 that will need to be looked at whenever new rubber is needed. I'll be sure to check out Frameman in Sacramento.