straightening a bent front rim...

[LoneRonin]

is it more cost effective than trying to find a new one? Not having too much luck, finding one for 08+ Ninja 250....
What type of shops do something like this? Its not that bad, half an inch inwards at the most and the ride is not affected, but I need a new front tire soon and I don't think it will be able to get mounted...

 

[frekeyguy]

tires can be mounted on a rim with a bent lip.

IF you get the rim fixed, it will be weaker at that particular spot and MIGHT eventually bend again.

Best solution would be to get a new rim or leave the one you have alone if its not causing a wobble or leaking air.

 

[LoneRonin]

IF you get the rim fixed, it will be weaker at that particular spot and MIGHT eventually bend again.

it only got bent because I jumped a curb at about 70-80kph, don't ask why, but needless to say I doubt I'll be doing that again...

 

[caboose56]

Most of the places that used to did bent wheels don't do it anymore. Maximum Cycle in London still does but for about the same money you could get a used one off the intwrwebs.

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[RockerGuy]

ebay??

 

[ENIAC]

tires can be mounted on a rim with a bent lip.

IF you get the rim fixed, it will be weaker at that particular spot and MIGHT eventually bend again.

Best solution would be to get a new rim or leave the one you have alone if its not causing a wobble or leaking air.

I am curious to know why a fixed rim is weaker as I am in a same situation: Slightly bent front wheel with no air leak and don't want to fork out huge $ for new wheel if I can get away by fixing it.

 

[caboose56]

I am curious to know why a fixed rim is weaker as I am in a same situation: Slightly bent front wheel with no air leak and don't want to fork out huge $ for new wheel if I can get away by fixing it.

It's called strain hardening or work hardening.

As the metal is worked (bent and then straightened) the grain boundaries within the metal become further entangled. The more the metal is worked the more the grain boundaries become entangled. This changes the mechanical properties of the metal and makes it more brittle and prone to cracking.

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[sircastic]

I am curious to know why a fixed rim is weaker as I am in a same situation: Slightly bent front wheel with no air leak and don't want to fork out huge $ for new wheel if I can get away by fixing it.

A fixed rim is weaker because the metal where the bend in the rim was has now been bent twice. Just like if you bend a twist tie back and forth until it breaks, same sort of thing.

 

[RockerGuy]

A fixed rim is weaker because the metal where the bend in the rim was has now been bent twice. Just like if you bend a twist tie back and forth until it breaks, same sort of thing.

I think wheels are also cast aluminum

 

[sircastic]

I think wheels are also cast aluminum

I was avoiding stating that they're cast, though I think all are these days, because someone would state that they have forged rims and so it doesn't apply. Metal fatigue affects all repaired rims, cast being the worst. I'm impressed that people are able to straighten them without snapping a piece off.

 

[Scary]

OP look for a new (to you) rim that's not bent. I went through this with one of my other bikes and it was more cost efficient to just go new. Unless the bend is an 1/8" or less, chances are likely that the rim won't return to normal without cracking or snapping, especially if it's cast.

 

[LoneRonin]

^^yea, I actually just went to a guy today who fixes bent rims but he mentioned the same thing...these newer rim are more likely to snap and its minimum 160-200. He said I'm best to just look for a new one and keep the old one if ever want it fixed as a spare. Problem is, the bend is by the spoke which makes it much worse, he said if it was in the middle it would have been a lot easier and taken half the time.