Framed fix

or should I say "fixed frame" ?

One of the common issues with dropped R1100S is frame craking. Not that the frame is particularily thready, but it has its weak points when badly treated. The steel subframe, which is where half of the exhaust system hangs, is bolted straight on the aluminium frame through tiny support holes.

If you're a heavy biker or if the bike falls down when it has its luggage kit on, those little holes are likely to be from weakened to completely cracked. But don't panic, because although it looks it's a total loss, this issue can be fixed. You still got to find a pretty good welder though, so he can TIG back the subframe support ears.

I happen to know a talented welder. Since I met Didier back 8 years from now, he's been involved in pretty much any of my track bike projects which means about 6 motorcycles. He not only knows how to weld, but he also straightens bent frames and subframes. One really worthy contact to keep in my address book. Plus he's a really good chap which makes him a very precious bloke.

Here's what he's done on the current track bike projet. He saved my frame and so the whole project ... again.

Straight to the welder

While the strip off has begun by drilling the seat lock (see picture), there are some good and bad news already. Let's start with the good ones : the bike comes with a couple of welcome options such as the genuine 5.5" rear rim that can be mounted with a 180 rear tire or the straight pipes that replace the huge standard emission box. It not only removes weight, it also brings a tasty rattling noise. I had one like that on my 98 and the engine felt rather ... liberated.

Now for the bad ... As I was stripping the bike off of its seat unit panels, I found whole seat unit was strangely moving from up and downwards like something was losely tightened. Then I noticed the oddly wide distance between the front of the saddle and the tank fairing. That wasn't suppose to look like that. Looking underneath the rear unit gave an immediate answer to what is wrong ...

The frame happens to be cracked. Damn ! Not really what I had expected as a start. I'm only owning the bike for 3 days and already having serious problems. Wandering the internet to see what others said about this, the frame's disease appears to be fairly common : the back of the frame has 4 tiny casted ears to support the subframe mounts. The problem mostly comes from the fact that the subframe is pretty long and has to support a lot of weight on its far end (the exhaust canisters hang there). Having said that, the casted ears look a bit weak.

So I guess I'm gonna be heading to the welder pretty soon to have those ears TIGged back on the frame.

5 engines, 2 electrics ... which one is taking more rounds ?

Un peu de démontage

Un peu de démontage s'impose pour aller faire redresser la boucle arrière. Cette pièce s'est en effet vrillée lors d'un chûte de la machine. Une autre solution aurait bien sûr été de s'en procurer une droite d'occasion et de la remplacer, mais, dans les propositions qui m'ont été faites, soit la pièces était trop chère, soit le port exhorbitant.
La solution retenue est de faire travailler le roi du redressage (de cadres, de disques, mais aussi un bon soudeur sur alu), celui à qui j'ai déjà confié 4 motos pour des rectifications diverses : Didier de chez Big Moto ("Ben, c'est Big Moto hein", spéciale dédicace).

Sur cette dernière photo, on voit bien le problème. Retour du CBR tout droit : dans une semaine.