FIRST POST! front end impact damage question?

[Bueller04]

Hello to all,

First off this is my first official post on buellxb.com even though I’ve used these resources extensively to solve many questions relating to my bike.

So I hit a very large dog Saturday on my XB12R at 60 mph head on almost exactly perpendicular to the road. Luckily the impact only (maybe) caused my upper triple tree to snap right behind the steering tube bolt. I never stopped and given what little damage I sustained still allowed the bike to be ridden home with the front tire still inflated and no unusual vibration.

Has anybody had experience with a similar impact and sustained damage beside the upper triple tree? Maybe steering tube, bearings, axle's etc? I can’t see anything else damaged unless like I said its internal allowing for a more in-depth inspection.

The reason I’m asking is I want to order all the parts today so Ill have everything in by thanksgiving break. Its said because I’m actually excited about getting to tare my bike apart!

A picture of the damage is shown below;

Thanks!

 

[agfish18]

did you at least stop to see if the dog was alive or not?? I have never had anything like that happen even when I have been in wrecks where the bike was un-ridable after... so, sorry, but cant be much help. I would assume that if you arent noticing any unusual vibrations or if you arent seeing anything else damaged, that you should be good to go. I wouldnt ride it until the Triple tree is fixed though.

 

[mowgoli84]

hit a huge dog and you didn't go down.. i'd say your lucked out!

 

[93fee]

don't even think to ride a bike with such a damage.
also check steering tube bearings.
start from changing upper tripple tree.
if everything is ok after that - you're done with it.
btw - you're lucky!

 

[03Firebolt9R]

First off, welcome. And props for not going down. Either really lucky our really good...anyway, my thought is, and I am no expert at all, but if it generated enough force to crack your triple tree then I would bet you have damage unseen elsewhere. Maybe in the fork tubes. Does it bind at all upon compression. It us just a guess but I would think they would have bent some as I have no experience with hitting anything like that. Glad you are ok.

 

[WALLSXB]

That must have been ONE HELL OF A DOG to do that , is it possible it may have already had some hidden stress cracks going on? Congrats on not going down after the impact .

 

[Bueller04]

Thanks for all the responses....

It was crazy and yes I do feel extremely fortunate for saving the bike after such a forceful impact head on. Just after impact the handlebars went all the way left for a split second....I pushed the front tire for about 10ft(judging by the marks left on the road) and then quickly snapped the bars back straight as soon as the dog was released off the left side. It all happened so fast but the good ole Buell kept tracking straight and never wiggled once even with the wheel locked left lol.

The sound that bracket made was extreme…it was like a rifle went off! Can’t believe my tire stayed up and my front wheel survived either.

But yeah Im going to get a new upper and check the steering bearings. Just didn’t know there was anything else I needed to look out for besides the obvious

 

[vanson1200r]

After you get your new clamp installed I would have my bike put on a jig and check it for alignment. Your lucky you did not go down! I hit a small deer, well bambi sized and I went flying! Totaled my Triumph and broke my hands. Also if not mentioned above check the area around your steering stem because that is designed to break away in a frontal impact in order to prevent the fuel tank from rupturing.

 

[Thaloc]

Forks. Check them. I would also check your front engine mount and isolator.

Good job keeping her shiney side up.

 

[Bueller04]

Forks look straight and don’t appear damaged. They still cycle without binding and like I said the bike felt fine while being ridden the remaining 5 miles bike to the house (very slowly I might add lol).

Is there another way to check besides what I’ve said above?

Let me know if you want to see any pictures of the front end...maybe you guys can catch something im missing. I’ve never seen the upper clamp break like that on a bike before, sorta weird that would be the only thing broken.

 

[wiznut]

Make sure to check the steering stops on the frame, They can get dented in when the bars hit hard to a side.

 

[RT Performance]

I would just get a set of head bearing i think there only about 25 bucks.
check the wheel bearings.

You are very lucky i hit a 80# dog on a 500 virgo
completly colasped and bent the bike broken collar bone and some road rash.

 

[delta one]

I’ve never seen the upper clamp break like that on a bike before, sorta weird that would be the only thing broken.

from what I understand its an engineered weak point, its designed to be the first thing to break before bending fork tubes or other hard parts start to break.

 

[twobuells]

If the new upper clamp fails to line up with the forks and stem the lower clamp is also bent.