Griso 8V + NJ roads + pothole = crap :(

[et]

Riding to work Wed last week (ie Thanksgiving Eve) my Griso 8V and I hit a pothole in Somerset NJ.
I was riding into the sun and changing lanes. And what appeared to be a patch in the road was actually a large pothole.
The shock of running into the pothole was so violent; that the suspension bottomed out, I was bounced out of the seat by a couple inches, and I almost lost control.

Parking in the parking lot at work I immediately saw the following on the front wheel:


A couple days later I noticed the following on the rear wheel:


And just yesterday I finally remembered to bring my camera (Blackberry not have zoom) to work and photograph the pothole:






I very carefully rode the motorcycle home that day, replaced the front tire the following day, and inspected for further damage.
I did not find any further damage. (ie no broken body work, nothing else appears to be bent, no frame cracks, no fluids leaking, etc ..)
I plan on sending out the wheels to get repaired in the next couple of weeks.
Until then; I am currently still riding the motorcycle everyday and it appears to be running fine.
Although since it's nearly Winter and cold; I'm not leaning over too far in the corners.
However; the front suspension appears to be soft and more prone to bottoming out.
But that may just be me being gun-shy now. I'm not certain because the Griso's stock suspension is under sprung and over damped.

Is there any other damage I should look for on the motorcycle ?


Thanks;

--ET
(Shamelessly cross posted on on GuzziTech to get as many opinions as possible.)

[veefer800canuck]

Try contacting the local government and your insurance company to see if you can get them to cover the damage.

Glad you didn't go down.

[bomber]

If the wheel is still holding air (as seems to be the case), I would posit there is no further damage . . . . bottoming the suspension isn't as catostrophic as it feels . . . . . .

[Rincewind]

Bummer.  If the municipality pays, I'd get them straightened.  I have had a ding like that before that held air and I didn't have repaired.

[Indefatigable]

I have had luck in past using a block of wood and a hammer to fix a damaged wheel like that.  

[Pete Roper]

The wheels are dead. Junk 'em. They are such a vital safety issue you can't afford to cut corners.

Sounds to me like an ideal excuse to get a set of wire wheels and upgrade the suspension. I just had my forks rebuilt, re-valved and set up by my local suspension wallah and fitted a custom built Matris shock. I'm still fine tuning but its made a world of difference to the machine.

Pete

[bisbonian]

Christmas is almost here.

Ask for a set of these:

http://forum.guzzitech.com/forum/208/9997.html

[et]

OP here,

Today I went to same shop I always use for adjusting my suspension on my street and track motorcycle. To have them recheck the sag in the front suspension.
And the verdict is that there is absolutely no difference in sag. It is exactly where is was when we setup the suspension back in February.
So the feeling of the front suspension being prone to bottoming out after hitting the pothole.
Appears to have just been all in my head.

I really would like to buy new rims.
Because I've had a chrome rim for my pickup repaired in the past; and wasn't very satisfied with the results.
But I simply don't have the money at the moment.
(Driveway needs repaving, garage needs a new roof, 80 yr old Maple tree threatening house + garage needs to come down, etc ...)

Since I've ridden several hundred miles with the rims being bent.
And have not experienced any ill handling; nor died a fiery crash due to a failing wheel or demounting tire.
I'm re-thinking about repairing the rims; and may just wait until I have $$ to buy new rims.

IF I do decide to repair the rims as I first thought.
Then I'll probably use M.C. Wheel
I'm currently waiting for them to reply to my email; asking them how they inspect for cracks.

Thanks everyone for the replies.
I'll keep this thread updated as things pan out.

--ET

[Daniel Kalal]

I'll keep this thread updated as things pan out.

--ET

Frankly, ET, I'd be unnerved riding on those wheels--particularly if I were in a long sweeping curve where you're depending on the bead.  They look steel; but, I can't really tell.  Are they?  If you put a cast aluminum (or especially  magneseum) rim through that, you'd have broken parts already.

[Jetpilot5]

I had a very similar ding to the front wheel on my last BMW.  I had it straightened by these guys.  Their website sucks but they do nice work.  There was absolutely no evidence the wheel had ever been dinged or repaired when I got it back, indistinguishable from new.

http://www.framestraightsystem.com/Alloywheel.htm

[Pete Roper]

Where do you want us to send the flowers?


























Really.












Your life, your choice.

Pete

[Jetpilot5]

It's certainly up to each individual to decide if he's comfortable riding on a repaired wheel.  That said, I would think a place like Frame Straight that repairs wheels on a daily basis would have a solid understanding of what can be repaired and what can't.  Obviously their repaired wheels aren't failing and killing some one on a regular basis.  They also state that if they feel a repair would be questionable or dangerous they won't do it.  That's good enough to satisfy me but I understand others may not be as comfortable.

[littlefield]

Ask the wheel straightening outfit if they can do a before and after liquid dye penetrant test. If they are capable of doing it without having to call in an outside firm the cost should be low, they may do it without you asking. If you can detect cracks caused by the pothole or by the straightening process you should think twice about using the wheel. If it's holding air is the straightening just for aesthetics?

[Jetpilot5]

In my case I wanted the tire bead to have full contact with the rim.  I only had about an 1/8 of an inch of bead touching the rim, you could plainly see where the bead was pulled away from the rim once the tire was off, it held air just fine but I wouldn't want to continue to ride it that way.  Plus your wheels look better when they're round.

[coucours grad]

http://www.woodyswheelworks.com


They've fixed several ST1300 wheels and are very recommended on the ST site I frequent

[et]

Op here:

It turns out I have a co-worker that previously worked for the town where the pothole exists.
He gave me their phone #. So I called them.
They were very efficient (as in they're very familiar with filing claims for potholes causing damage) in telling me what form I need to fill out at the municipal building.
I went in yesterday at lunch time and got the form.
I'm assuming I'll have to wait months to get reimbursed; if at all. BUT it's worth a try.

I've also asked Guzzi dealer for price and availability for new wheels.
And surprise; wheels are on back order with no ETA.
I assume it could be months until I see the wheels.
So I ordered them. The long wait will give me time to come up with the $$.
Dealer is also checking with sources other than Guzzi for new wheels.
They'll get wheels from whichever source provides wheels soonest.

Next week I'm attending job related training and certification in King of Prussia, PA.
Meaning I won't be commuting via motorcycle to Somerset, NJ.
So I plan on sending the front wheel to M.C. Wheel this Friday.
They say they should be able to get it back to me before the end of next week.
Assuming the wheel comes back in better shape; I would feel more at ease using it while waiting for new wheels to arrive.

I'll let everyone know how things work out.

[Aero]

Is the rear wheel damaged as well? In this kind of incident it's usually just the front that gets bent, but if both are damaged that must have been one hell of a pot-hole! Glad you kept it upright.  

[MisterSmooth]

Christmas is almost here.

Ask for a set of these:

http://forum.guzzitech.com/forum/208/9997.html

Ooooooooooooooh.       I want some of THOSE!  


Lemme see now.  If my kid flunks out of college I could afford a set of these wheels, a Guzzitech pipe, and a shiny new adjustable rear shock.  And be money ahead!  

[et]

Op here,

As stated in an earlier post; the wheels are on back order with no ETA.
So the plan was to send the front wheel out to be repaired.
And ride the Griso using the repaired wheel while waiting for new wheels to arrive.

On Friday 12/14/2012; I had sent the front wheel out to be repaired.
M.C. Wheel received it on Monday afternoon.
To their credit; they had it repaired and had it back in the mail by Monday night.
It was on my porch Wed afternoon.
Excellent customer service !

The repair is exactly how they said it would be.
Other than the paint being chipped form the repair process; the wheel appears to be back to normal.





So I mounted a tire and installed the front wheel that Wed night.
But come Saturday morning the front tire had lost nearly 15psi.  
I'm assuming valve is bad.
However; after taking the Griso out for a ride. I noticed the left fork tube was now leaking oil.  
So that means there was more damage than just two bent wheels.  

So at this point the Griso is at Europa Macchina to have them inspect for all damage that had occurred from hitting the pothole.

[st2sam]

I ride every weekend with mostly the same group, about six guys on average, and five of us have dents in our wheel(s).
PA and NJ roads are about the worst in the nation. Not only are we constantly scanning for deer ect., but potholes as well. It goes with the territory.
If the State or Municipality pays for the damage I'll be pleasantly supprised.  Good luck.

If you have "comprehensive" on your insurance policy maybe it'll cover the damage?