So I recently took the bike to a playground for sand riding - Beachport, South Australia for those who know it - with another inmate around here (Dandydisco) and others. The riding was great and the sand very soft. Needless to say, the bike was laid down several times - sometimes pretty heavily into firmer sand. I had the BR Moto pannier racks bolted on - they are nice sturdy racks! On my return, in the process of cleaning up the bike (damn that sand gets everywhere!), I found that the subframe has been bent at the RHS pillion peg weld. Futher examination showed that the whole subframe when viewed from behind is canted to the side and has a slight twist. What appears to have occurred is that the impact of dropping the bike on a firm surface has caused the rack to transfer the impact to the subframe which has bent at the weakest point - where the rack mounts to the pillion peg mount. While wiser heads around here know all of this, it demonstrated clearly to me the potential downside of luggage mounts that are too strong - or at least stronger than the subframe they're mounted to. On the other hand, if I had had my soft panniers attached at the time, they would likely have softened the impact. Either way, I managed to find a subframe at a reasonable price from one of the TRs currently being parted out. Here are a couple of pics that show the damage.
Hehe...that sorta stuff happens with Greg around... Made you redline the sucker all day long, too? Here's a subframe fix for the cheap-arses....still riding that thing 6 years later and she's been down the track a few times in between. After all, a bolt-on subframe isn't a vital part of the core-structure. Tools required....some old rags to prevent scratches, a block of wood or 2 and a 6ft. crowbar. And a pack of fruitloops/Vitabrits in the morning for some extra mumbo! :-) Before: Don't hold back with the foul language and a bit of sweat now. 10 mins later.... Nip up the 4 subframe bolts again and all's sweet. Footpeg hanger brackets are coaxed into place with a 2lbs mallet and a piece of 2x4. Can't remember the number of bikes "straightened" that way....different story when the subframe is an integral part of the frame, though!!! (like the 800 Tigers etc)
