Posted: 5/21/2017 2:25:28 PM EDT
|
A couple years ago I had ridden my 2008 KLR650 to Juneau, AK (with the help of the Alaska Marine Highway System).
While riding to the end of the road, I was gawking at the scenery and not the road. I hit a Yugo-sized pothole, and this happened: Rear: 
Front: 
Not being the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, I have been riding the bike around like that ever since. My question is, how stupid is continuing to ride around with wheels like that? How bad is the risk of the tire(s) coming off the rim(s)? Is there any "fix" to it? I gave it a few experimental whacks with a big hammer and got nothing. Presuming I can't fix it, where is the best place (besides my local dealer) to buy the wheels? eBay? Some awesome motorcycle parts store? Thanks. |
|
There are tons of KLR's out there, so extra wheels shouldn't be hard to find. EBay is probably your best bet. You have tubes in the tires, so I don;'t think a tire coming off is a big issue, but I wouldn't be able to handle the thumping riding down the road. Hope your kidneys have healed. That must have been quite a jolt.
P.S. Rode my 09 up there on 2011. Keep an eye on your oil level. The 08's are known for blowing through oil quite fast. |
|
Those rims are most likely a double-wall extrusion. All of them are surprisingly tough. As you noticed, it takes a pretty good whack to bend them , or bend the flange back.
If you are handy with a hammer, and have a solid, non-metal bench edge, you might be able to get it partially back to original form. Only a custom wheel shop would be able to make it look like new, you could replace it for less $ than they would charge. Remove the wheel from bike, and tire/tube from rim.You can carefully place the rim sideways against a sturdy wooden (bench or ?) edge, placed so the flange with the bend is on the top of the surface, support should be on the flange before and after the bent area leaving the bent area unsupported to receive a strong hit or three from a heavy, soft, hammer- LARGE rubber mallet or large plastic dead-blow hammer would be best. If you use a metal hammer, the flange will deform at the point of impact more than it will bend. This will likely weaken it more than the current situation. If you choose to try straighten it this way, be very conservative, the metal is stretched, it will not return to the original shape, although you should be able to close up the considerable gap at the tire bead. Have you considered looking for a replacement wheel from a M/C salvage yard? They aren't as common as automotive , but they are out there. Ask around at the local shops, a helpful dealer will probably know something. Better yet a small shop, they deal with more DIY customers than the dealerships, and may know of some "off the grid" hoarders of motorcycles. The KLR 650 is a very common and popular bike, hasn't changed much over the years should be some stuff out there used. Maybe even Flea-Bay? I haven't dealt with them for a while, they are kinda screwed up, but if you need it, . . . . |
|
Quoted:
Dang Son... You getting vibration or wobble? Quoted:
Have you priced new wheels from Kawasaki?  Quoted:
This is subtly the most KLR question, ever. Is duct tape or a milk crate involved? Quoted:
There are tons of KLR's out there, so extra wheels shouldn't be hard to find. EBay is probably your best bet. You have tubes in the tires, so I don;'t think a tire coming off is a big issue, but I wouldn't be able to handle the thumping riding down the road. Hope your kidneys have healed. That must have been quite a jolt. P.S. Rode my 09 up there on 2011. Keep an eye on your oil level. The 08's are known for blowing through oil quite fast. Hitting that pothole was a scare. I was doing 50-60mph, and nearly came off the bike. ATGATT! 7mm Stalker, Canoeguy and Hellbringer, thanks for the opinion. There's a rear wheel on eBay now for $150 that I'll probably grab. Edited to add: Thanks to all for the input. |
|
I've seen this place mentioned on Advrider but I have no experience with them.
Woody's |
I bought OEM wheels from this place for my Yamaha at a very reasonable price. Fast shipping too. https://japan.webike.net They came built including brake rotor, sprocket, bearings, etc.... Gratuitous bike pic 
|
|
Look into rim repair places(for cars).
I've bent and cracked forged 19/20" rims that would've been $1-1.5k each to replace, had them bent back true or cracks welded for under $50 a wheel. Only issue I see is the bike wheel being way thinner and their machines wouldn't be compatible. Just a guess. |
|
Quoted:
While riding to the end of the road, I was gawking at the scenery and not the road. I hit a Yugo-sized pothole, and this happened: You are seriously silly to continue to ride your motorcycle with rims as bent up as those ones are. Send a picture of the rims to Woody Wheels and ask him if he wants to repair them |