Hello To All.....

It's been a long while since I've posted so I wanted to check in. Back at the beginning of June I was in a near-fatal accident on the bike which had a definite way of slowing me down for a bit. It happened on a Wednesday going home from work and I remember nothing of the accident itself. Next thing I did remember was coming to that Saturday in the trauma center and having a trauma nurse pull up a chair and explain to me what had happened. In any case I was in surgery for 15 hours and another 15 hours in recovery. So, between the time I was in the trauma center, followed by the time spent in a rehab hospital and then followed up with being stuck at home in a hospital bed, that had a way of keeping me at a much slower pace then normal.

Anyway, the reason for this post is to try and get some information in regards to replacing the frame on the '05 Road King Classic. I was able to work it out with Progressive so I could keep the bike. After fighting them a bit I was paid a good settlement and will not require a salvage title. The bike still fires up and runs great. The majority of the damage is the front end and the down tubes on the frame are bent.

I have done some research and it seems to be quite a hassle in regards to getting a Harley frame without going through an actual dealer or registered shop to do the work due to the whole VIN situation. I will be doing as much of the work myself as possible and will be stripping the bike down to a rolling a chassis if I do need to go the dealer / shop route for the frame.

I would like to go with an original Harley frame but is that really needed? Would an aftermarket be just as good? If so what would I do about the VIN placement on the frame? If I were able to get either a Harley or aftermarket frame and do the swap myself, what would I do in regards to aligning the frame / trans properly in the frame. I understand it's difficult to even get your hands on the alignment tool.

I would greatly appreciate any and all advice you could give me. I've got the insurance cash and want to start working on the bike and have it ready to go ASAP....definitely for next year.

Thanks much,
Brian

 

either you can purchase a new frame where you cut off the neck & buy from the MOCO, buy an aftermarket frame where it would never have a correct vin number on the frame and in the case where the MOCO searches (e-Bay), and can not be sold as a HD. There is many instances where HD states that only a HD frame can be sold as a HD. They can be sticky on this but maybe they have layed off this practice. You can also go to a real frame straightening shop such as ours and the frame maybe straightened without removing the drive train, just the sheet metal. In the case of a HD frame, if the castings are not broken your frame can be re-bent back into straight and within specifications. I believe that your motorcycle should be completely disassembled, either purchase a new frame or have yours straightened than heat treat & powder coat. Your choice.

 

Why not just buy yourself a used FL model with a blown engine. As long as the frame is straight you will be in good shape. You could use the title of the used bike for DMV. You may even be able to find a rolling chassis with a clean title that you could just switch everything over from your bike onto.

Me personally.....I would buy a new frame from the MOCO. Then cut off the steering head/neck from my old frame to send back to them, and be done with it.

 

Thanks for the input......

I am definitely more towards buying a MOCO frame and dealing with cutting the head to send it back for the VIN verification. I guess I just need to figure out the best place to buy the frame through. A lot of places I've talked to won't handle ordering the frame for me unless they are doing the work.

 

Straightened & re-powdercoated two frames so far, no problems. Look at my pics, both Deuces were rebuilt w/insurance $$, major upgrades for no additional expense. Do as much of the work as you feel comfortable doing yourself and you'll have an awesome custom when you're done. Plus, it's a great time to color match the frame which, in my opinion, will really set the bike apart from the rest. Glad to hear you're on the mend and enjoy the build.

 

I had curbed mine last year and had to replace both down tubes. I did the work myself and then talked to one of the techs at the local harley shop and one of our independent shops and found out between the 2 how to make sure the frame was straight before i welded it up and i did and then welded everything up and then had the hole frame powder coated. It runs straight and i still have the original title. I just used the insurance money to buy a donor frame from a wrecking yard.

 

Sorry Guys.....

I completely forgot to mention that the steering head is also bent. With the bike sitting on the jack the front forks (what's left of them) are definitely sitting ****-eyed. It's not from the forks themselves but from the steering head assembly and where everything is assembled at the frame. Guess I'll start making some phone calls - LOL.

Brian

 

Does anyone know where to get info on how to straighten a frame yourself? Maybe a book or website. I found the beginning of a great article on motorcycle.com but could never find the rest of it. Thanks, Jim

 

Sounds like your recovery is going well, since you're planning on working on the bike yourself. Glad to hear that! One thing that you WILL need is the genuine HD service manual, not Clymers or some other crap. You mentioned that you were concerned with aligning the engine-transmission-swingarm assembly without the proper tools. The factory manual describes an alternate method which does not require any special tools and if done carefully- I believe- results in a better job.
I don't know if Harley used the special tools when they built my '07 RKC, but it sure wasn't straight when they delivered it! Whatever you decide to do, good luck with your project.

 

Glad to hear you're ok. Totalled my '07 Ultra in July. Though my injuries wheren't as extensive as yours , recovery is taken a long time...as u may well know.

Local HD quoted me $2,000 for a new frame with my vin. That was my original plan. After money internet search hours and a few phone calls....found a guy 4 hrs ( Central
MN ) from me who can fix for at 1/3 the price. Very reputable with great referances.....which is important.

so i stripped bike down to frame,engine ,tires. Many many digital photos, documented every piece good or bad with any stamped part numbers. Silver Sharpie to mark all the electrical conections. The frame guy wanted to pull & reinstall the engine/tranny himself to assure that everything is perfect alignment wise.

Good luck. Take time to research your local area for hidden HD guys who live to fix this kind of stuff