Run an angle grinder with a nylon abrasive pad over it (as in will take paint off but won't eat metal).

It would be very unusual for a tube to crack in such a straight length along its length.

 

Why?

1. It's right at the weld joint.

2, From the looks of the damages from the main hit, the force would want to pull the weld apart and up towards the tranny. This cross piece may have been hit before. It's pretty common to bend them.

I've seen a number of failures like this before when the weld has been stressed / twisted. The main purpose of this piece is to tie the 2 frame rails together so they won't spread as the swingarm donuts are under compression..

 

I will admit that a talented welder/metal worker could make changes ("upgrades") to a Harley frame that would indeed be a plus....

...BUT...

I don't think a potential customer, insurance company, or liability attorney would accept any modification made to the OEM frame of any motorcycle, without reams of test data, and consider it a plus...

I know I would automatically run away from a potential purchase if I either saw, or the the prior owner pointed out, a modified frame on a production motorcycle.

I also wouldn't want to be the guy who admitted to modifying the frame if it were ever involved in an accident with a fatality....

In this case, I'd let the insurance company total the bike or replace the frame, per their claims guidelines... then I'd re-evaluate what I would do next...

 

How man guys are running around on 23" or 26" "Transformer" bikes with raked neck and not dying like lemmings?

FUD, my friend, FUD*. Free yourself from it.

Remind me when the open season for shooting parasitical attorneys is. They are killing this country/sport/ingenuity.

Beside which, stock frames are perfectly good enough at killing yourself with (death wobble), so why fear an upgrade?

* Fear Uncertainty Doubt.

 

On your bike .... do whatever you want to do......

Your anecdotal "evidence" and chest thumping aside, I was just pointing out for the OP that messing with a frame can lower a bike's value and make it harder to sell and/or insure....

That's why most insurance companies will either pay for a total frame replacement or consider the bike a total loss. Most won't consider a frame repair...

Do/believe what you will.....

 

What you are saying about re-sale value is fair enough, but only because of the mass mentality, that is based on willfully and deliberately uninformed FUD.

Frame re-construction is fine, society is bent out of shape and increasingly unfixable/stupid. Seemingly there's no jig to set it on.

Insurance companies under the influence of aggressively parasitical attorneys? What an equation for non-sense, leading to the idiocy of trashing perfectly good frames for no reason.

Of course, the general glut mentality of consumer society has a lot to add to it too, too much chuck and buy. Be thankful for the strength of the dollar that you can afford it.

I think there's a sexual angle to this and Dr Freud would have a field day.

Everyone wants to marry an untouched virgin, even if they all end up overweight, sagging and handling like a b*tch, whereas the best ride is generally to be found in a mature and experience woman, with a few miles under her belt, who has had time to resolve some of her issues, and learn a few tricks.

But, hey, no problem with the former, you just throw her away when she's used up, and get a new one.

I'm sorry, I've had bad experiences with both insurance companies and attorneys and they are getting worse in my opinion. Of course, "the market" is just fine with that ... throw it away, take out credit, and buy a new one.

What makes me a bit sad is, it is also kill a whole heap of skills and trades as the production element of it is all offshored overseas.

 

well after a considerable time, I finally got my bike back it seems HD in York was backed up and it took them a considerable amount of time till they got the frame done and vin matched. I had held up on some other work that I needed when I had it in for service. I needed a sprocket and drive belt. also, it was really starting to start hard and loud. I thought it might have been the stator but it turned out to be the compensator so that had to be done too. starts so much easier now. so, now comes the daunting task of putting everything back on it like my gps, fork lowers, heated seat and heat trollers to name a few. cant wait till it gets back up to 40-45. going to have to take it out for a spin.....or up to the stealers for a test ride on an M-8......lol
thanks for all the feed back guys. once the frame got in, it only took two days to swap it out. glad I went that way as it takes a little of the worry out of the equation.

 

Wow Cass, glad all worked out for you and you were able to share your story with us. Glad you had the skills to ride it out and hold the hell on. Well done sir.

 

Yeah, you kinda left us hanging for a few months.

Did you talk to your insurance BFF, and what did he say that made you choose repair over total? Did your rates go up or was it considered a road hazard? How much did it finally cost and how long did it take?

Hopefully members can learn something from your experience, and it’s resolution.

 

Well, they wouldn't total the bike. They gave me a check for the estimate of around 6 grand because the bike was valued much higher....I can't remember if it was 12 or 16. Anyway, I went up to Annapolis Rommel with the intention of taking the $6000 offer with the busted frame and giving them the $6000 check putting $12000 on a new M8. When I got there, there were no bikes on the floor that I liked so I decided to keep it and get the frame fixed and if I want to, I could trade it later. I didn't need a new bike and I didn't want to settle. The only thing I don't like about my 2013 FLHTK is the heat factor come summer. I had a stage one done but it didn't seem to help much. I had just put on a DK tank lift before I tore it up. that helped a little. I had a wards fan and that didn't impress me much. felt more like a hot air being blown on my leg so after one of the fans went, I never put them back on. I have a zumo 665 with Sirius so I have xm and the gps mount is in between the two windshield bags so its like a heads up display. I've only got 65000 so I have lots more to go. oh, did I mention a heated day long seat by Russell and heated gear to extend the riding season.
So, those are the reasons I didn't total or trade. I might with a 2019, if I like the colors.....lol.