[highestdc5]

I hit a pothole way back before and I just noticed today that my front rim is bent. I havent noticed any loss of pressure on the tire or vibration when I am on the road but how safe am I to ride it anyway?
when I go to the shop to get it fixed will they replace it or just fix the rim?

 

[Michael]

Mechanics are more fitters than engineers these days. Chances are they will replace it rather than repair it.

 

[LaCarolus]

Mechanics are more fitters than engineers these days. Chances are they will replace it rather than repair it.

The front wheel is roughly $108.24. I am all for fixing stuff but am not sure I would want them to try to repair a cast wheel. As you said most techs are not engineers and even those who are probaly aren't metalurgic engineers.

 

[jkv357]

There are places that will straighten a bent wheel if it's not too bad, but for around $100 you may be better off buying a new one.

Most likely there will be additional labor with buying a new one (compared to fixing the original), and maybe additional parts as well. The brake rotor will need to be swapped and the new wheel may not come with wheel bearings (which you'll also have to pay to have installed).

You'll have to completely price it out in order to know the best way to go.


Jay

 

[pricelister]

Not a fan of fixing a wheel. Structural integrity is unknown.

 

[jkv357]

Not a fan of fixing a wheel. Structural integrity is unknown.

There are plenty of shops that repair alloy auto and cycle wheels without any problems.

It depends on the severity of the damage, but yes, there is always a possibility of compromising the integrity.

If it were mine I'd most likely buy a new one or find a good used one - but that may not be very easy with the CBR as it would with cycles that have been in production longer.


Jay

 

[highestdc5]

I am still riding it around. I just hope I dont get into an accident like tire coming off the rim or something.

 

[MotoMike]

The front wheel assembly is sold with bearings and seals, and valve stem. Install the brake rotor, mount the tire and re-balance and you're good to go. The wheel assembly sells for $103.32 at cyclepartsnation.com...(full retail price is $154.29). For what its worth, I wouldn't even mess around with trying to have it repaired. I'm amazed at how inexpensive parts are for the CBR250R, compared to other motorcycles. Front wheel assembly for the '12 CBR600RA... $697.38, and thats the discounted price. Ouch!

 

[LaCarolus]

The front wheel assembly is sold with bearings and seals, and valve stem. Install the brake rotor, mount the tire and re-balance and you're good to go. The wheel assembly sells for $103.32 at cyclepartsnation.com...(full retail price is $154.29). For what its worth, I wouldn't even mess around with trying to have it repaired. I'm amazed at how inexpensive parts are for the CBR250R, compared to other motorcycles. Front wheel assembly for the '12 CBR600RA... $697.38, and thats the discounted price. Ouch!

Yeah the price of stuff on this bike is insane! I looked up a new rear seat to basically trash so that I could mount a GIVI box to it....$29.85?! When I priced out some of the maint. parts-i.e. the valve cover gasket $4.48?! I had to pay over a hundred for a recent inline four one. Brake lever to cut and weld in a more appeasing way for me....$6.68!? I am in modding heaven. Hell crash the crap out of this bike and have to replace the frame ($210.26) Front forks about $150 a side. This honestly has to be about the cheapest to fix bike I have ever seen. Clutch basket $72. Heck I have even looked at modding the passenger grab handles ([email protected]) into a platform. You are VERY RIGHT this bike is cheap seats compared to about any other!

 

[somebody5788]

Another vote fore replace. Unless a shop has the equipment to properly repair a wheel I wouldn't want to mess with it. You need a proper oven to get the wheel up to a more malleable temperature and then ideally you would ultra sound or x-ray (I can't remember which one it is) the wheels to be sure there are no micro fractures in the metal that could get bigger over time. Anything less isn't "truly" safe.

Mechanics replace things these days because it's cheaper for the customer then the labor it would take to repair it would be.

 

[nb_mitch]

I hit a hole once with a bike, I was able to keep the bike upright, but the seat popped off and both wheels were bent. I lost all air in the tires. I would not even consider repairing the front wheel, just not worth the safety risk at the price.

 

[roberthood]

unless you ride around at 20-30 miles an hour..just replace it. Bent rims aren't something to mess around with. You could get a nasty wobble at higher speeds which can cause a very nasty crash. Or get uneven tire wear which, you will have to replace it anyway.