[Lower Haighter]

So, the time finally came where I experienced my first crash two nights ago. Sucked...a lot. Anyhow, apart from me being a complete gimp now, I'm slightly worried what to do with my bike. I completely cracked off the right side piece of the fairing (right side if sitting on the bike), including the turn signal and dented the exhaust. The problem is I am extremely poor and am about to move back east. I was hoping to sell the bike before leaving, however now I'm worried I'm not going to be able to with the bike messed up as it is.

Which brings me to my question...If you had two months before moving, little money, would you 1.) try and sell it as is for less money 2.) order parts online and try and fix it yourself (I'm no expert mechanic by any means) or 3.) take it in to a dealer and just eat the cost? Any comments/opinions would be appreciated!

Also, if anyone knows of a great link for instructions on replacing your own fairing that would be sick! Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Probably sell it as is. You could try to glue/bondo the fairing back into one peice. But if you have to buy new parts and paint it, you will be in way more money than you can get out of it.

Just my opinion,
Rich

 

[MrSciTrek]

What year & mileage is your bike?

A used stock muffler might be had for $50 or less (cross fingers), maybe by someone who went to a custom exhaust. Turn signal is likely available pretty cheap. If all the fairing pieces still jig-saw back together you could consider glueing it back together, sanding & painting.

How gimpy are ya? Road rash, or worse?

 

[Lower Haighter]

My bike is still relatively new. 2005 with only 5,700 miles on it. I appreciate the comments and I think I'm going to go the bondo route. That side fairing came completely off but in a really clean break. Do you guys have any tips for the whole process of this?

Aside from the fact that it took a 24 hours for my knee to stop bleeding, I think the worst part was being cramped up on an airplane for 5 hours immediatly after the crash. I totally was in the bathroom at the Dulles airport changing the bandages, yelling at my knee to stop bleeding. The leather jacket worked pretty bomb, it's just the jeans that didn't hold up to well against all that assphalt

 

[MrSciTrek]

I got an '05 w/ 3,000 mi off a pre-salvage title for $1600, missing the right side lower fairing from the headlight back, plus some scrape on the right gas tank, kinds bent brake lever & a tail light that's jammed on (Just a switch I'm hoping). Pricewise, I think fate was major smiling on me.

The fairing comes off easy: 2 nuts on each mirror, 2 nuts under the headlight, & 2 machine screws near where your knees sit. Unplug the headlight & wires for the turnsignals & it's off.

Doublecheck the framework that holds up the speedometer housing & surrounds the headlight. If it got a good hit it may've gotten bent. Look for cracks or chips in the paint. SIght down the metal tubes for straightness. Compare left & right sides for angles.

I put mine in a shop vice & used medium-hard wood pieces & slowly applied clamping pressure to straighen mine up... but it wasn't bent much. There's a company called Aerotech (?) that sells a new fairing for $200, unpainted & unprimed, but it doesn't have the supporting pegs/feet for the headlight built in. But some guys here have found ways around it (I think they attached the headlight to the frame w/ clamps- end of the problem).

DO a site search & you'll find a couple topics on fairings. See if you can do some sweat equity for a pro-painter who's "been in your shoes" & maybe save some dough.

And keep the skin wounds & dressings clean, y'know.

 

[bastard child]

I've ripped off both sides of my fairing. lay glass on the inside and bondo the outer skin to fill the crack. sand down smooth repeat the bondo if needed sand paint. when i tore the right side off i highsided and was down to one arm, my left when i'm a righty. turn signals can be picked up on ebay for cheap or from a bone yard. is for the dent in the muffler if it's not leaking and doesn't bother you who cares. the glass and filler can be bought from walmart, for about 20 - 25 all together. i used a cheap set of aftermarket signals that cost 12 bucks. whole process can be done in a couple weeks and thats taking you're time.

or depending what part of back east you moving to let me know i'd buy it and fix it, depending what you want for it.

Bastard Child

 

[Lower Haighter]

So this is the first chance I've had to look at my bike since the crash. I've been putting it off one, because I know that something is wrong with it besides the cracked fairing and two, I've just been so freakin busy.
So the deal is, when I crashed, I needed to jump my bike to get it to start again to even get it home. Taking a look at it again today, same thing. I needed jump it to get it to start. I let it run for awhile, until the bike was running steady as opposed to droping in rpms every seconds when I first started it. Then I shut it off and tried turn it back on again and there was absolutely nothing. No clicking, nothing. Anyone have ideas or a prognosis?

 

[MrSciTrek]

Well... I suppose the first thing to do is get the 500 manual & start reading.

Check over the charging & battery system... cables, wires, alternator output, drain on the battery.

 

[Guest]

I'm guessing you dumped your battery fluid during the wreck. When I got the Ninja from my brother, we jumped it a few times to see if it would run, but since the battery was dry, it wouldn't hold much of a charge.

 

[SoarAndEnvision]

bro you live in SF ? I'm in the inner sunset - replacing the fairing is really easy I can help you out of you want. Bro are you on BARF ? ( www.bayarearidersforum.com ) ?

your battery is dead dude, it happens all the time, you need to charge it.

also did you move yet?