| Author | Message | ||
     Kttemplar |
I am really bummed. I was coming around a curve on one of the freeway transitions here in NY and hit a pothole. I was not able to avoid it and the bike felt odd afterward. Once I got a chance, I checked out the rim and found a small bend in the edge. The bike still rides fine at higher speed, but it is very noticeable at low speed and when braking. I only have 985 miles on the bike and now I have to put it down till I can get a new rim. The dealer said it will take 5-7 days to get the rim in and it is going to cost a few $$ to get it fixed. What a drag. Warning, even small potholes will bend your rim.  | ||
| Brad1445 |
Ow, that Sux. ON the Ulysses I even bought the tire rim insurance as I knew I would be mmmmm a lil rough on it. They did not cover similar damage because they said it was holding air. That was the first and the last tire/rim insurance I will ever have. Sorry, this sux. | ||
| Kttemplar |
I am glad that I did not buy that insurance, considering the fact that the tire is still holding air and that it would not cover it. Thanks for the info. | ||
| Krassh |
Yeah happened to me on my XB9S and another guy on a XB9R that lived up here on the mountain. Happened within days of each other and then I learned to avoid it until they filled it. Happened to my rear so it was not so noticeable. The other guy he hit it hard enough it broke the bead and his tire went flat. Truly sucks dude $360.00 for the rim I believe. | ||
| Xb9 |
Call the state road department and tell them where it happened and take pictures - they should reimburse you. | ||
| Bad_karma |
Mike There are places that can repair that wheel, last time I read cycle world they were advertised in the back. Joe | ||
| Sheridan_bueller |
With a properly shaped rubber hammer and well cut oak staves, you could repair that wheel. Just reduce (or raise) the pressure in the tire to 20-25PSI and massage it back to where it came from. Don't attempt it without air in the tire or you'll roll the bead right in. Take your time it'll turn out fine. Start with the inside of the wheel before trying to get the bead straight or it will end up bent the other way. Doinked the wheel on my old XB just like that and massaged it out nice and easy with the rubber hammer (not a mallot but a real rubber hammer) and carefully shaped staves. Couldn't tell anything happened afterwards. If you decide not to give the massage thing a try, would you like to get rid of it? I'll warn you now, I'm a cheap bastard!  JJ | ||
| Dano_12s |
Check the front rim/tire good.Iv'e sent a few to NH.for repair-ye olde wheel shop I think was the name.Good luck. | ||
| Zac4mac |
I used a dead-blow on the rim of my Shovel. Those skinny 21" rims on Wide Glides take a beating. That said, Aluminum like to stress crack when it's bent. Check here on BadWeB, I got a F&R set for 440 shipped. I think 4 or 5 of us, shifted our wheels to others for the same price. Personally I'd be leery of trying to repair the front wheel of something that might be going 150 mph... But that's me. Z | ||
| Doerman |
I had that same thing happen to the XB9R. Hit a sizable rock (caused a pucker moment). I was able to get the rim fixed for $50 at a local wheel shop (found in Google search). | ||
| Kttemplar |
Thanks for all of the helpful info. I do not think that just bending the lip back in will help because the rim has a dent in it below the lip across the center of the rim toward the other side. It does not show up in the picture, but I saw it when I was contemplating applying some of the great suggestions you all have given me. I am just going to get a new rim and have it changed out. One of my problems is that the bike is, for the most part, my primary means of transportation and I can still ride it right now. Although it is a little annoying at slow speeds, during heavy breaking and on right turns. I think I will keep the wheel and try to get it fixed just in case this happens again. The streets here in NY are so smooth and all. Thanks again for all of the great suggestion, info and support. I am glad that I found this board. Mike | ||
| Ratbuell |
You should have a glossy "Part II" of your extended warranty contract. To quote: "TIRE AND WHEEL COVERAGE (Optional Surcharge)* WE will pay for COSTS to repair or replace the original equipment or like replacement tires and/or wheels of YOUR MOTORCYCLE that fail due to contact with a road hazard (pothole or debris on the road surface such as nail, rock or tree limb). YOU do not have to pay the DEDUCTIBLE under this coverage. Pickup, rental and travel lodging benefits apply to covered tire and wheel claims. Exclusions to this coverage include: normal wear, damage due to collision (except road hazards as described above), overloading, dry rot, fire, flood, vandalism, acts of God; abnormal wear; failures of tires or wheels when tires have less than 3/32 of an inch of tread. This coverage is not available for police motorcycles. This coverage begins on the CONTRACT SALE DATE and expires at the end of the CONTRACT TERM. *State restrictions may apply. See the back of Part I for specifics." I found no state restrictions for NY. I spoke with my service manager - damage is damage, regardless of whether it's holding air or not. Holding air means they only have to replace the wheel, and not the tire. As long as it was "road hazard" and not "accident", and your tire has the required 3/32" of tread...you should be covered with no deductible. Go to your dealer and ask again. If the writer does not help you out, ask to see the manager. If the manager does not help you, call the service center at 800-527-7665. | ||
| Slypiranna |
DO NOT attempt to repair this wheel, period. While there are some repair professionals out there, it is not recommended or supported by the manufacture to do this. If the posters' that recommended this above had any common sense of mechanical principles then he/they would not be posting such ill comments...with mallet/2x4/hammer in hand! Bad recommendations from a safety standpoint. If only folks could see the worse that can happen in a failure situation due to shit head, back yard attempts...then they might think twice before being part of "that" accident population. Get another one, new. Whether it costs you or not is irrelevant as YOUR life must be worth at least the cost of a new wheel. I'm sorry to the literate out there that must read this but ill or unsafe recommendations completely piss me off when another could be harmed by accepting such advise. P.S. I won't response to anyone wanting to argue THIS post. To do so would be beyond my patience level. | ||
| Doerman |
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| Pizzaboy |
...i was wondering how long it would take for someone to post the 'its incredibly unsafe' reply!!! i would probably second the just buy a goddam new rim already philosophy. and furthermore your dealership is filled with a bunch of douchebags if they wont replace your rim for free if you have rim insurance... thats complete BS... go to the next closest dealership. i weld on, bend and scratch the crap out of my steel rims on my jeep... but my jeep goes 1/4 mile per hour through 5 foot tall boulders. i would not attempt to fix a cast or mag type wheel, when theyre bent, theyre trash. bending them back significantly weakens the wheel ON TOP of how much it has been weekend from the inital damage. | ||
| Pariah |
Rim repairs (at least for cars) require special licensing. I've had a repair done to a forged alloy wheel for my car by a reputable shop in Houston. However, the repair was not perfect (you could still perceive evidence of the bent lip). How did these specially licensed people verify the repair? The tech said, "Well, it's holding air, so it should be good." This did not give me much confidence, but I figured I've got two wheels holding up each end. I agree with Sly that this shouldn't be taken lightly, and however it is paid for, you ought to get a completely new wheel. | ||
| Kttemplar |
Ordered the new rim, now just waiting for it to show up. Thanks again to everyone for all of the suggestions and info. Mike | ||
| Spatten1 |
This stuff is funny to me. Don't mis-match tire brands, don't have wheel fixed. Even in the 80's few people I knew had enough money to even consider buying everything new. We would switch to a new tire brand one tire at a time. There were plenty of wheel repair shops in the back of Cycle News (no internet yet). Our culture has changed quite a bit, the economy has been GOOD. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I'm not saying to take it lightly, especially on a Buell wheel, which are pretty light and thin in the first place. However, has anyone here heard of a motorcycle wheel fixed by a reputable specialty shop failing? I never have. | ||
| Doerman |
Scott ... shhh! Slyp.. could get upset!  | ||
| Rdmwc |
well, to kinda tie into the rubber hammer theory... if they want to say they wont fix it cuz it holds air, bend her a lil more with the rubber hammer so i doesnt... my uncle "extends" starred chips in his windshield in his car so the insurance will cover the cost of a new one... if that works, hammer to rim should work. ;P |
