Bent My Frame

1827 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by OKTRX450R, Aug 17, 2006

Nut

Discussion Starter · Aug 14, 2006

I bent my frame in the same place Talon did I pretty sure. I came off a jump wrong, lost control and hit a tree. Stupid trees in the woods. The quad hit dead square on the front left tire, no metal contact at all. It bent the rim and instead of breaking anything, pushed the lower a-arm into the left frame rail, which because of the frame brace, bent the right frame rail also. So now the bottom frame rails look like an "S". I should have some pics to post in a couple of days. Now, I know this is my fault and I don't want people to pay for my mistakes, but come on, bending the frame before anything else breaks, or even bends. I agree with Talon that the frame should not be a replaceable part and this is a design flaw. I have not talked to the Suzuki yet but a person I know at the dealer said he's 99% sure they won't cover it because they have not seen this problem before. I'll keep you guys infromed as to what happens. Talon, what ever happened with your quad?

Save

1 - 5 of 5 Posts

YFZ450 Blaster Racer

· #2 · Aug 14, 2006

that sucks, thats why i'm staying away from trees now.

Save

Zookie183

· #3 · Aug 14, 2006

I bent my frame in the same place Talon did I pretty sure. I came off a jump wrong, lost control and hit a tree. Stupid trees in the woods. The quad hit dead square on the front left tire, no metal contact at all. It bent the rim and instead of breaking anything, pushed the lower a-arm into the left frame rail, which because of the frame brace, bent the right frame rail also. So now the bottom frame rails look like an "S". I should have some pics to post in a couple of days. Now, I know this is my fault and I don't want people to pay for my mistakes, but come on, bending the frame before anything else breaks, or even bends. I agree with Talon that the frame should not be a replaceable part and this is a design flaw. I have not talked to the Suzuki yet but a person I know at the dealer said he's 99% sure they won't cover it because they have not seen this problem before. I'll keep you guys infromed as to what happens. Talon, what ever happened with your quad?
[/b]

Your lucky your not severly hurt and that the bike hit the tree and not your body.

I don't know of any manufacturer who would stand behind impact into a tree. Whatever you do don't try to bend the frame back into shape, either replace the stock frame or if you feel stock it's not a good design wait for an aftermarket company to get you one. If you decide to have just have a welder cut and TIG weld a whole new tube, have the frame tested for strentgh. Usually any quality metal fabrication shop can do this for you so you can tell if the frame was weakened anywhere else from the impact. A buddy of mine has this done after every Baja event he runs. They found an extremely weak point on the frame just from running the race, and no crashes to explain it. I Just don't want to see you get hurt. Good luck!

Save

Nut

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 17, 2006

[attachmentid=1242][attachmentid=1243][attachmentid=1244]Well, here are some pics of my frame. It got worse the more I cleaned it. Top frame tubes look bent also. Still strange nothing else broke or even bent.

Save

OKTRX450R

· #5 · Aug 17, 2006

Great pics and really show the bend...maybe a little too big.

I am not sure I agree it is a design flaw...possibly. Appears to be physics to me! The tire is held on by the 4 studs, attached to spindle, 2 hardended ball joints, 4 attachments on the frame...the tire alone being hit is a long lever sticking out there...then you have the most bend at the end of the frame...A long lever itself sticking out there past the center strongest point...hmm...where would you brace the frame to stop this?

Could use heavier wall DOM but then the precious weight everyone already screams about would go up even higher...hmm, I will have to look at ours. We have a few friends here at work that are mech. engineers...I will try and get their input as well.

Save

1 - 5 of 5 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month