Rode hard, put away.. broken!

Energy One
ZeDevil

ZeDevil

Member
This will surely amuse some of you and maybe frighten a few others.
Went on a 600 mile trip last weekend with some friends and at some point I remember 1-2 miles of "road" that resembled more like a dirt bike track.
Add a few pot holes taken at highway speeds here and there and you get a cracked frame, like i did.
See pictures.

Yes, I will weld that sucker and ride the hell out of it over and over again, untill there's nothing left to ride, in case you were wondering :)
 

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ZeDevil

ZeDevil

Member
pknowles said:
Looks like it has rust on it, if so, it' probably didn't just happen.
Click to expand...
Believe me, it did just happen.. I felt the frontend go loose when braking or going over little bumps in the road. The bike was literally arching every time I had to stop. I had to ride it like so for about 150 miles back home.

Donno where the rust came from, maybe from the rain I had to ride through, or maybe it's "surface" rust, beneath the paint only.

Top engine mount also cracked and gave up holding the frame.
Also I was about to change the fork oil after this trip because I felt the fork a little stiff (lost some oil maybe).
All this, plus the holes in the road contributed to the crack you can see in both downtubes.

Took the bike to a guy that knows his welding and since he's a busy dude, I'll have to wait until next week. He's going to reinforce it, not just weld it back. I'll post some pics when it's done :up:
 
Blackie

Blackie

08’ RIDGEBACK
Troop Supporter
Supporting Member
Dammnnnnn!...I feel your pain too having a Hardtail Ridgeback. Never broke the frame yet although I am constantly checking it after "rough" rides like yours. good luck brother! :up:
 
pknowles

pknowles

RETIRED
ZeDevil said:
Believe me, it did just happen.. I felt the frontend go loose when braking or going over little bumps in the road. The bike was literally arching every time I had to stop. I had to ride it like so for about 150 miles back home.

Donno where the rust came from, maybe from the rain I had to ride through, or maybe it's "surface" rust, beneath the paint only.

Top engine mount also cracked and gave up holding the frame.
Also I was about to change the fork oil after this trip because I felt the fork a little stiff (lost some oil maybe).
All this, plus the holes in the road contributed to the crack you can see in both downtubes.

Took the bike to a guy that knows his welding and since he's a busy dude, I'll have to wait until next week. He's going to reinforce it, not just weld it back. I'll post some pics when it's done :up:
Click to expand...
How is he gong to reinforce it? on the outside or inside. Just curious.
 
ZeDevil

ZeDevil

Member
pknowles said:
How is he gong to reinforce it? on the outside or inside. Just curious.
Click to expand...
We've talked a bit and as far as I can tell, there's gonna be some extra material around the crack area (on the tubes) and also some steel plate between the top of the frame and the downtubes, if that makes any sense. He'll also weld again the lower side of the neck, where the downtubes join.

So yeah, the frame won't look the same, but I'd rather have a safe ride than a pretty but deadly frame.
 
Dawgboy

Dawgboy

Active Member
Crack could have been there for awhile just finally let go. That would explain the rust.

You know who made the frame?
 
ZeDevil

ZeDevil

Member
Dawgboy said:
Crack could have been there for awhile just finally let go. That would explain the rust.

You know who made the frame?
Click to expand...
You might be right, but no crack was there last year when I re-painted the frame. Right now it doesn't matter much if the crack was there before or not.

The frame is made by Rolling Thunder, as far as I know, and it has their logo engraved.

Again, notice the original welds are still strong, there was no fabrication error, it was just hard riding and the tubes gave up, not the welding.
 
K

krkostecki

Active Member
Just curious, but how often was your bike in the rain since you've owned it? That's some scary stuff right there. Can't believe a frame for a motorcycle would/should ever do that just from a few pot holes or such. Best of luck with repairs.
 
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