I don't know how it happened, but I lost my balance while moving the monster in the garage, and I dropped it on its left side!   

The damage:

The clutch lever is bent (but luckily is still working) and the left instrument block slides around the handlebar (I tried tightening the screws but it didn't help).

The worst part is this: there is a screw in the steering head base that is supposed to hit a small lid on the frame to stop the handlebars from turning too far; the small lid on the frame is bent (by about 1/8"), so the handlebar is now free to turn left too much and slam in the tank!

Bending back the lid on the frame seems impossible - it's too thick... I don't even know how it got bent in the first place... It would seem easier to turn the screw on the steering head base so that it protrudes an extra 1/8", but the darn thing feels like it's welded in place, I couldn't move it!!

Anybody has any advice?

Thanks
Giordy

Quote from: giordy on December 03, 2008, 04:44:01 PM
I don't know how it happened, but I lost my balance while moving the monster in the garage, and I dropped it on its left side!   

The damage:

The clutch lever is bent (but luckily is still working) and the left instrument block slides around the handlebar (I tried tightening the screws but it didn't help).

The worst part is this: there is a screw in the steering head base that is supposed to hit a small lid on the frame to stop the handlebars from turning too far; the small lid on the frame is bent (by about 1/8"), so the handlebar is now free to turn left too much and slam in the tank!

Bending back the lid on the frame seems impossible - it's too thick... I don't even know how it got bent in the first place... It would seem easier to turn the screw on the steering head base so that it protrudes an extra 1/8", but the darn thing feels like it's welded in place, I couldn't move it!!

Anybody has any advice?

Thanks
Giordy

Dropping the bike in the garage is more likely to bend the bars than the steering stop.

Quote from: ducpainter on December 03, 2008, 04:52:10 PM
Dropping the bike in the garage is more likely to bend the bars than the steering stop.

The bars don't seem bent, at least not obviously so. The steering stop is definitely bent, I can even see the paint flaking where the metal was bent...

Get a good 6-point wrench or socket on the nut, sometimes they're hella tight.

Quote from: giordy on December 03, 2008, 04:55:30 PM
The bars don't seem bent, at least not obviously so. The steering stop is definitely bent, I can even see the paint flaking where the metal was bent...

Wow...

I've crashed my monster 3 times and dropped it twice...

and never bent a steering stop.

I'd use a heat gun to loosen things and adjust it.

You did loosen the locknut correct?

Ouch!  that sucks big time   The adjusting screw has a lock nut, loosen it first. Might need to lengthen the set screw to get it out far enough.

Hind sight - leave the kick stand down when moving the bike around from the right side.

Ok, with some elbow grease I was finally able to loosen the locknut and get the screw out far enough... now the handlebars stop more or less in the right place.

Do you guys think that this is good enough, or should I be worried because of the bent stop? Maybe I should have it fixed somehow - I don't even know if it's possible?

Quote from: ducpainter on December 03, 2008, 05:06:04 PM
Wow...
I've crashed my monster 3 times and dropped it twice...
and never bent a steering stop.

Hey, when I make the beast with two backs up, I do it well!

Quote from: Ducnial on December 03, 2008, 05:19:23 PM
Hind sight - leave the kick stand down when moving the bike around from the right side.

Lesson learned...

Quote from: giordy on December 03, 2008, 05:32:29 PM
Hey, when I make the beast with two backs up, I do it well!

Mine is the older style frame.

I don't know what you're riding.

Quote from: ducpainter on December 03, 2008, 05:35:02 PM
I don't know what you're riding.

Sorry, it's the 696. The frame is different, maybe the steering stops on the 696 are weaker.

bent mine going down at 3mph.

personally i always straddle the bike when I'm moving it, much less likely to drop it

Quote from: DucatiBastard on December 03, 2008, 07:40:14 PM
personally i always straddle the bike when I'm moving it, much less likely to drop it

It's the opposite for shorty folks.

And for the OP: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=3151.0

Quote from: Ducnial on December 03, 2008, 05:19:23 PM
Hind sight - leave the kick stand down when moving the bike around from the right side.

+1  I'm 'cack handed' and approach a motorcycle from the right hand side, I allways leave the side stand down when maneuvering