front fork advice needed asap!!!

[benny hedges]

ah, mmmmhh

right, looking at the bike when it's propped upright, it's clear the mudguard has gone cos it's been twisted, but the fork stanchions LOOK straight.
without removing the fairing and wheel, forks etc i can't tell if they are slightly bent.

but with the wheel pointing dead ahead, the bars and yokes are at 1 o clock.
with the front brake on, sat on the bike, if i pump the forks down they seem normal and the wheel doesn't twist to the side etc...

one (vfr) bar has moved a bit on it's clamp, but apart from that, could it just be that the stanchions have moved and twisted slightly in the yoke clamps, and all i need to do is undo the bolts and twist them back straight???

reason i need to know is i have an assessor coming tomorrow so i don't want to remove or adjust anything until he's seen the damage, but there is a good set on ebay due to end in 8hrs.

also, if it comes to replacing the front end, i might as well fit a fireblade set for the better handling, unless you can suggest something better that will go straight on...

i want to keep the bike but if the forks, yokes, frame, swing arm and subframe are all gone, as well as the fairing, tank, mirrors, indicators etc, it's looking like it's a lost cause and maybe i should just ride the cbx until i get weighed in and get myself an sp, which is what i wanted in the first place....

oh i dunno!..

main point is, are the forks just out of alignment in the yokes and can they be twisted back?

any help gratefully noted.

[tony.mon]

Probably too late now, but I found that it's really difficult to see whether the fork stanchions are bent slightly until you strip them off the bike- then it's really obvious!

It's possible that the yokes have twisted out of alignment, and if so you can just re-align them- favourite is with the springs out so that they're on max compression.

They always seem to bend just below the bottom yoke, so it's possible to straighten them without affecting the travel.
Not sure if I'd trust straightened ones on a heavier bike, though.

Sounds marginal as to whether it's going to be repairable through insurance with the damage you've listed, good luck anyway- whichever way you'd prefer it to go!

[benny hedges]

well the ebay item will end before i get the bike assessed so i decided to just buy the new forks anyway.
if it turns out i don't need them i can always put them back on ebay.
ive ordered quite a bit off the same breaker and he's agreed to do combined post so no biggy.
just i'd rather have everything i need to rebuild it rather than be stuck waiting.
normally these go for £200+ a set (used) so assuming they don't go up much it's a bargain.

if i was assessing it myself, independantly, i'd say write off, uneconomical to repair and will need going on a motoliner etc, some parts unavailable, £100 a hr in a dealer's workshop...

quick quote on honda list price for some items... left fairing unsprayed, £724
decal set £169, front mudguard £119, fork stanchions £279 each lol, fuel tank unsprayed £415,
rear subframe £512, indicators £41 each, that's just the tip of the iceberg lol
add that up and the grand total = write off!

i'll keep the wreck and it will be back on the road for less than £500 including full paint job.

[tony.mon]

Last time I looked David Silvers had fairing panels stickered up and in the original colours for less than £200.
Worth a check before you order second-hand.

[benny hedges]

yes i'll have a look m8, thanks, but already got paint and decals for complete colour change, seeing as there's a new tank going on, headlight surround etc...

might end up in a skip yet

paint btw is polar white with black decals