Motorcycle Repair: Bent fork, handel bars, honda rebel

Question
I have a 1999 Honda Rebel.  Took a spill and find that the fork is probably bent.  It travels smoothly up and down the shocks.  It is just that the handel bars and top of fork are not aligned with front wheel.  It is out about 10 degrees.  My friend Bob who has some mechanical skill and 39 years experience with motorcycle says that they can be straightened and do not need to be replaced.  Do you know if this is true?  How do I go about finding a shop to straightend the forks.  Would rather not replace them, as the cost is probably going to be more than the bike is worth.

Answer
Hi John.

Bob is correct. What you are describing sounds exactly like the front end needs realignment rather than bent forks that need replacing. Oftentimes, when you drop or lay a bike down, the front end gets twisted a bit and needs to be straightened.

 There are 2 ways to do this, but you need a way to measure how straight the assembly is as you straighten it out.

The first method, aka the tree method, is simple;

You take the bike over to an immovable object, such as a tree or building.  Then you whack the wheel hard against it to straighten it out.  I do not recommend this method, but it has been known to work, after a bit of time.

The second methd, while not as easy, is less time-consuming but requires tools.

1) Put the bike on the centerstand and put a support or jack under the front of the engine so that it will not be able to drop when you loosen the fork mounts.

2) Loosen the fork mounts.

3) Align the front end.

5) Tighten the fork mounts to the correct tightness (You need a torque wrench for that), remove the support and take the bike off the centerstand.

6) Go riding.

7) Have fun.

(steps 6 and 7 also apply to the first method)

Try one of those.  I, personally, suggest the second method.

Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON