Striaghtening Crash Bar

[jtreg]

I have to straighten the engine crash bars on the KZ1000-P before rechroming it. Does anyone know a reasonable and decent place in or near London that can so it. Its not a major job just needs a proper tube bending setup, thats all...

[RALPHARAMA]

All you need is a blow torch and some muscle!

Better still take the ugly, pointless things off. If you have a crash a) the bloody things will probably crush your leg b) at our ages after a crash the last thing I give a shit about is my bike. At 19 when I very nearly lost my life and was especially lucky to keep my left leg all I could think of was my bike. Those days are gone, my life and various attachments are far more important now ... I can always buy/build another bike.

The only form of crash bar that has any merit at all are the small 'D' bars that protect the casings either end of the crank. These can save the casing in the event that you drop it off the stand etc. The bigger crash bars usually do sod all except self desruct and if they are secured well enough and are man enough to save any part of the bike, they usually fuck the frame by putting loadings on it that it was never deisgned to cope with.

Sorry to be negative.

[jtreg]

Thats interesting vduk but the KZ1000-P uses the crash bar to tie the bike together, the fairing bolts onto it and I really need to find someone to remedy the small (10 degree bend) on one side of it. Anybody?

[RALPHARAMA]

If you clamp the last straight bit in a vice and heat the bent bit to red hot using a plumbers blow torch you will be surprised how easily it will straighten. If you don't have the confidence I am sure if there are any Z1OC lads near you, one of them will probably have the know how. If you fancy a run to Somerset I am sure I could help.

Regardz

[rickman CRR]

Any local garage that has access to gas welding gear should be able to straighten the bar out. Even your local Quickfit tyre shop might do it for a packet of biscuits!!

Police model had crash bars as standard so refitting is perhaps justified despite the general concerns over their usefulness

[jtreg]

Hey Ralph thanks for the advice, I will give it a try. I also joined the club today as it is a bit cheeky not joining and asking for help!

Hopefully I can meet up with a few of the Z1OC soon, that would be really nice too.

All the best

James