Motorcycle Repair: Straightening handle bars, motorcycle safety course, handle bars

Question
QUESTION: Up until today, I have had an intellectual belief that locking up the front wheel
can have unsatisfactory results. Today, I know in my heart of the
unsatisfactory results: actually, in my right shoulder, right elbow, right knee,
and right ankle. Fortunately the only things hurt were the faring on the bike,
my wallet (I fell in the motorcycle safety course), and my pride. Now, I need
to know how to straighten my handle bars.

ANSWER: Sorry Art, if you had asked me about what would happen if you locked the front brake I could have told you....bad things happen.  Well, it easier or harder depending on which side is bent.  If it's the right side you have to take the throttle and switch off.  Get a piece of pipe and put it over the end of the bar.  Have a buddy hold the bike and put your weight on the pipe.  If the bars aren't creased, it will straighten pretty well.  If the bars are creased at the bend, you need to replace the bars because most likely the bar will break when you try to straighten them.

Regards
Rich

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I used the wrong terminology. The handle bars aren't bent, they are just out of
line with the front wheel: when the wheel is straight, the handle bars are
pointed to the right a bit. How do I re-align them?

Thanks.

Answer
Oh that's even easier.  Find a telephone pole somewhere and put the side of the front wheel up against the pole.  Give the handlebars a good twist to align the wheel and bars.  Nothing to it.  Some other large immovable object will work as well as the telephone pole.  

Good luck
Rich