1100GS front end problem?

[Possu]

Yesterday I test rode an accident damaged 1994 1100GS. Back end was clipped by a car, sending it sliding down the road on it's l/h side. All this was not at high speed, maybe 40-50mph max.

The clocks, screen & headlight are smashed - possibly due to sliding into a kerb? L/h pillion peg snapped off also. The front subframe that supports the oil cooler is also a little out of shape on the l/h side & the plastic tank is scraped.

The bike rides well in a straight line & also turns well. The only problem I can feel is a "twisting" feeling from the front wheel, it seems to want to pull to the left? There appears to be no damage to the Telelever A arm - no dents, creases or even cracked paint. The forks are undamaged & the suspension works as well as you'd expect a 10 year old shock to work.

Tyre pressure seems okay without actually measuring it. Tyres are Tourances with plenty of tread.

Any ideas?

The accident happened a while ago, bikes been sat outside doing nothing. All I can think is that as the problem only manifests itself under braking is that one caliper is partially seized, causing the bike to pull to one side?

I'm tempted to buy the bike as it's for sale at what is IMO a very good price & deal with any problems if & when they arise. It also comes with a pair of system panniers & keys that were not on the bike at the time of the accident.

Thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[Mick Fagan]

It's quite possible that the wheel is sitting crooked in the forks and steering one way under drive whilst when braked it goes the other way. I had this many years ago on a Honda Dream.

There are many, many reasons why it would steer wrong and quite a few of them could be very expensive.

Having pulled the top triple clamp off my own 1100 GS I know just how strongly built it is. Which means that if the frame behind the triple clamps and under the tank is bent I doubt whether you would be able to straighten that part.

Possibly all that is required is to loosen the front wheel completely and then rock the forcks up and down a few times then re-tighten and see if that has done the trick.

Parts for the instruments won't be too cheap but an illuminated push bike speedo is really all you need to get you on the road.

You can run without the top beak which would save on finances.

I would also look closely at the ball joint and just behind it for creases on the telelever.

Mick.

 

[Steptoe]

if the backend has been clipped by a car, take a look at the swing arm/rear wheel , i've a bike here with the gearbox/swingarm mounting points a bit "deformed",


the twisting feeling is because the wheels are out of alignment, you've just got to find out where, it won't be the front brake brake binding.

Try what Mick said, loosening off all the front end, thats wheel, forkbrace, top fork clamp bolts etc, bouncing/compressing the suspension, then retightening .

 

[Possu]

Thanks Mick

I thoroughly checked the Telelever arm & found no creases. If there were any, If the Telelever was bent or creased, I'd notice it at all times when in fact the bikes handles alright unless braking.

I think I'll take the tank off & check the main frame though. I don't think it suffered a heavy frontal impact even when sliding as the beak itself is relatively undamaged. I think the front subframe got bent when the clocks & headlight hit the kerb?