Help - ZZR1100 Frame Integrity
Discussion
Don't post in her very often but really looking for some advice on this one.
I recently sold my ZZR1100 via ebay. Got what I considered was a fair price but the buyer has since contacted me regarding some damage to the frame.
On the off side just where the top fairing meets the side panels the frame has a large dent - about the size of the plam of your hand.
Now, in circumstances like this it's easy to claim no knowledge of it - but I'd never had the panels off so it's all news to me.
Needless to say the buyer is a little anxious about this and although I sold the bike in good faith it's plain to see he is a little unhappy about the situation.
I drove down to see him tonight and offered to take the bike back if he wanted to, but he's already paid to have his alarm fitted and done some other work on it so needless to say we'd do well to reach happy conclusion.
The dent has been filled with what looks like ordinary body filler to a depth of about 10mm, we gouged through the filler to determine this, lord knows how it happened but the fact remains there is a problem here.
On examination it doesn't appear that the filler has broken way - so in my mind the frame is still ok and not stressed at this point.
So -
Anyone know if these frames are hollow or honey combed filled? Like I said ther doesn't appear to be any other undue stress in the area and it looks like its been filled just to allow the fairing to align properly. The back of the frame (inside edge) feels fine, though it's difficult to really see without removing the airbox.
There seems to be another 'frame' structure that runs up the inside this main beam, to me looks like it is the main load bearing structure, so I wonder if the 'inner frame' is more important that the 'outer' beam that runs up from the main frame.
Does anyone know of an engineering firm in the Kent area that might take a look and offer some advice - I'm thinking that maybe if all the filler could be cut out and then either a plate fitted or maybe just some ally welding could fill the dent and restore integrity.
The guy seems happy enough to keep the bike if we can come to some sort of arrangement to fix this problem.
Any advice?
many thanks
best
Ex
I recently sold my ZZR1100 via ebay. Got what I considered was a fair price but the buyer has since contacted me regarding some damage to the frame.
On the off side just where the top fairing meets the side panels the frame has a large dent - about the size of the plam of your hand.
Now, in circumstances like this it's easy to claim no knowledge of it - but I'd never had the panels off so it's all news to me.
Needless to say the buyer is a little anxious about this and although I sold the bike in good faith it's plain to see he is a little unhappy about the situation.
I drove down to see him tonight and offered to take the bike back if he wanted to, but he's already paid to have his alarm fitted and done some other work on it so needless to say we'd do well to reach happy conclusion.
The dent has been filled with what looks like ordinary body filler to a depth of about 10mm, we gouged through the filler to determine this, lord knows how it happened but the fact remains there is a problem here.
On examination it doesn't appear that the filler has broken way - so in my mind the frame is still ok and not stressed at this point.
So -
Anyone know if these frames are hollow or honey combed filled? Like I said ther doesn't appear to be any other undue stress in the area and it looks like its been filled just to allow the fairing to align properly. The back of the frame (inside edge) feels fine, though it's difficult to really see without removing the airbox.
There seems to be another 'frame' structure that runs up the inside this main beam, to me looks like it is the main load bearing structure, so I wonder if the 'inner frame' is more important that the 'outer' beam that runs up from the main frame.
Does anyone know of an engineering firm in the Kent area that might take a look and offer some advice - I'm thinking that maybe if all the filler could be cut out and then either a plate fitted or maybe just some ally welding could fill the dent and restore integrity.
The guy seems happy enough to keep the bike if we can come to some sort of arrangement to fix this problem.
Any advice?
many thanks
best
Ex
Sorry but technically the bike is a write off, the design of the frames means that it is a stressed load bearing component any dents or damage should not be repaired as it obviously alters the mechanical properties, (offical party line) However I've run several race bikes and a couple of road bikes with the odd dent and never had a problem. One possible solution is to give him a new frame, I know this sounds expensive but if you buy one through an official dealer they are subsidised by a large degree and I would expect circa £400-£500, however its a pretty mamouth task to repalce one hence they get written off due to labour costs. The reason frames are cheap is they get number stamped by hand at the dealer before sale (hence look shite) but a new frame is actually cheaper than that of a rung bike with a log book.
Possibly try MotoLine in Maidstone as they will jig straighten twisted frames but I suspect you might have to be hard and shrug off your ebay friend with a "sorry bought as seen, buyer beware" it is after all exactly what happened to you.
Possibly try MotoLine in Maidstone as they will jig straighten twisted frames but I suspect you might have to be hard and shrug off your ebay friend with a "sorry bought as seen, buyer beware" it is after all exactly what happened to you.
thanks Mel, Dave.
All as I suspected - and not really what I wanted to hear
I know you are right - still if we could find someone to plate or fill the dent then he might be happy that it is safe.
Sickening really as I've ridden this bike pretty hard without any problems at all.
Even looking at the damage - there are no stress or fracture marks around or in the filler - so it certainly looks like the frame is still ok and not flexing around that point.
At the moment he is waiting for his insurance company to come back with a buy back offer on his trashed bike - also a ZZR1100 - the frame on that is ok - but as you say it's a monster job to move everything over.
I feckin hate being the good guy sometimes.
best
Ex
All as I suspected - and not really what I wanted to hear
I know you are right - still if we could find someone to plate or fill the dent then he might be happy that it is safe.
Sickening really as I've ridden this bike pretty hard without any problems at all.
Even looking at the damage - there are no stress or fracture marks around or in the filler - so it certainly looks like the frame is still ok and not flexing around that point.
At the moment he is waiting for his insurance company to come back with a buy back offer on his trashed bike - also a ZZR1100 - the frame on that is ok - but as you say it's a monster job to move everything over.
I feckin hate being the good guy sometimes.
best
Ex
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