Stolen crashed bike, broken frame - next steps?

[Supermofo]

Awww fuck- I missed this, that is a killer, @Taipan - I feel for you matey and I reckon I would be punching walls, or probably myself- Bastads!

Tis a serenity prayer moment for sure!

That's a kicker

[Supermofo]

Sorry about your bike Beany that's bloody rubbish, hope you can get something sorted.

[Beancounter]

Sorry to hear that mate, had no idea!

Not really sure what to advise - I've never been in that particular situation. Physically changing the frame might not be that hard*, but the legal side of it would give me heebie jeebies

* although you are opening yourself up to endless trouble-shooting afterwards because of all the little bits that don't like being disturbed getting moved around.

No worries mate, I didn't mention it to anyone until now for a couple of reasons - 1. Embarrassment and, more importantly, 2. I wanted to tell Pippa first given this was Sloth's old bike.

Maccecht did say that swapping a frame isn't the hard part, it's getting everything, especially the wiring loom, back into the correct place that's difficult.

Awww fuck- I missed this, that is a killer, @Taipan - I feel for you matey and I reckon I would be punching walls, or probably myself- Bastads!

Tis a serenity prayer moment for sure!

I tried to be philosophical about it and was doing well until the bike was found, even said to the copper that I hoped the thief wasn't injured in the bike crash. Then I saw the snapped frame. I now hope he's mashed his ankle and leg up so bad that he needs a blue badge for the rest of his days.

Get @maccecht to weld it.

As usual, he's been a massive help and all round good sport with advice and repair options. He did say first option should be frame repair, then break it and last resort is a second hand frame. He's on hols just now in the south of France and is still checking in every couple of days on progress.

[Beancounter]

Any suggestions on how to start the engine?

The ignition barrel is goosed, key doesn't fit and there is a strange cylinder dangling loose which I assume is part of the ignition circuit...

IMG_20220804_175821.jpg (768.48 KiB) Viewed 695 times

IMG_20220804_175833.jpg (1.23 MiB) Viewed 695 times

[Bustaspoke]

Don't know anything about Aprilia's but I found this on google,hopefully it'll help you;.
https://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/sho ... tch-Repair
Should be some Aprilia specific knowledge on there

[Big Red]

Any suggestions on how to start the engine?

The ignition barrel is goosed, key doesn't fit and there is a strange cylinder dangling loose which I assume is part of the ignition circuit...

IMG_20220804_175821.jpg

IMG_20220804_175833.jpg

Screwdriver in the centre slot of the dangly bit and you should be able to click it round into its on and start position, reverse to switch it of.

[Gregor]

Any suggestions on how to start the engine?

The ignition barrel is goosed, key doesn't fit and there is a strange cylinder dangling loose which I assume is part of the ignition circuit...

IMG_20220804_175821.jpg

IMG_20220804_175833.jpg

That’s shit mate, sorry you’ve been targeted

I’m wondering how the actual fuck do the thieves get bikes running when the ignition should be disabled without the key with the immobiliser chip present. Surely it’s not as easy as ramming a screwdriver in the lock.

[Taipan]

Any suggestions on how to start the engine?

The ignition barrel is goosed, key doesn't fit and there is a strange cylinder dangling loose which I assume is part of the ignition circuit...

IMG_20220804_175821.jpg

IMG_20220804_175833.jpg

That’s shit mate, sorry you’ve been targeted

I’m wondering how the actual fuck do the thieves get bikes running when the ignition should be disabled without the key with the immobiliser chip present. Surely it’s not as easy as ramming a screwdriver in the lock.

Look on ebay or facebook marketplace, you can buy immobiliser bypass boxes for about £30.

[Beancounter]

That’s shit mate, sorry you’ve been targeted

I’m wondering how the actual fuck do the thieves get bikes running when the ignition should be disabled without the key with the immobiliser chip present. Surely it’s not as easy as ramming a screwdriver in the lock.

Sorry Gregor, missed your post initially. Appears to have been as easy as that - screwdriver in the ignition and off they went. The ignition barrel is so mullered now that it doesn't turn at all. Not that that matters given they removed the actual switch from the barrel to make it easier to start.

Not much has happened in the last five months. The bike has been safely locked up in a vacant industrial unit an hour away from where I live so it's been very much out of sight, out of mind. Went to see it at the weekend and with a fully charged battery and fresh fuel the engine started without any problems. No worrying rattles or knocks either. Will still drop the oil before doing anything else but I'm confident the engine is sound.

I contacted a few local welding firms before New Year but haven't heard back. Either the job is to small for them or the job is too aggy for them. This has led me to wonder if it's something that could by me at home. I've never welded but it's something I'd like to learn and given this is my commute bike, the finished product doesn't have to look good, just be functional...

[David]

Any suggestions on how to start the engine?

The ignition barrel is goosed, key doesn't fit and there is a strange cylinder dangling loose which I assume is part of the ignition circuit...

IMG_20220804_175821.jpg

IMG_20220804_175833.jpg

The cylinder is the switch...small screwdriver will turn it on.

[David]

Beaten at the interwar again...by 4 months!

[Gregor]

That’s shit mate, sorry you’ve been targeted

I’m wondering how the actual fuck do the thieves get bikes running when the ignition should be disabled without the key with the immobiliser chip present. Surely it’s not as easy as ramming a screwdriver in the lock.

Sorry Gregor, missed your post initially. Appears to have been as easy as that - screwdriver in the ignition and off they went. The ignition barrel is so mullered now that it doesn't turn at all. Not that that matters given they removed the actual switch from the barrel to make it easier to start.

Not much has happened in the last five months. The bike has been safely locked up in a vacant industrial unit an hour away from where I live so it's been very much out of sight, out of mind. Went to see it at the weekend and with a fully charged battery and fresh fuel the engine started without any problems. No worrying rattles or knocks either. Will still drop the oil before doing anything else but I'm confident the engine is sound.

I contacted a few local welding firms before New Year but haven't heard back. Either the job is to small for them or the job is too aggy for them. This has led me to wonder if it's something that could by me at home. I've never welded but it's something I'd like to learn and given this is my commute bike, the finished product doesn't have to look good, just be functional...

Just stick a broom handle through the frame...............sorted

There's a place called Bigfoot Custom and Blasting in Hartlip nr Sittingbourne that does welding and fabrication, not used him myself but seems to have an excellent reputation.

[mangocrazy]

I've come late to this, but getting the broken part of the frame built up with ali weld, then grind back to an approximate shape, then drill and tap for footrest mounts seems favourite. This is what my tame local welders did for me on a 350LC cylinder that had half of the exhaust flange broken away:

What the barrel looked like before:

DSCF0941.JPG (1.04 MiB) Viewed 486 times

After being ground back and built up with weld:

DSCF0970.JPG (909.25 KiB) Viewed 486 times

And after machining:

DSCF1005.JPG (1012.03 KiB) Viewed 486 times

So it's definitely doable, you just need to find someone who is capable of doing it (and the subsequent machining)

[Beancounter]

There's a place called Bigfoot Custom and Blasting in Hartlip nr Sittingbourne that does welding and fabrication, not used him myself but seems to have an excellent reputation.

Thanks mate, called Bigfoot, not able to help because it's a cast aluminium frame but they suggested Maidstone Motoliner. Spoke to MM and they think it can be done. Have sent them the photos but won't hear back until next week.

I've come late to this, but getting the broken part of the frame built up with ali weld, then grind back to an approximate shape, then drill and tap for footrest mounts seems favourite. This is what my tame local welders did for me on a 350LC cylinder that had half of the exhaust flange broken away:

What the barrel looked like before:


DSCF0941.JPG


After being ground back and built up with weld:


DSCF0970.JPG


And after machining:


DSCF1005.JPG

So it's definitely doable, you just need to find someone who is capable of doing it (and the subsequent machining)

Thanks, that gives me some hope the problem is not insurmountable.

[mangocrazy]

From what I gathered from 'my' welders, half the job is getting lots of heat into the cast ali. Aluminium is very efficient at moving heat away, so you really need to soak the part with heat before welding. I've walked into their place and seen a large butane torch directed at some heavy duty ali they need to weld and they won't start welding until the piece is uniformly up to temperature.

[Gregor]

I’d forgotten about Maidstone Motoliner, they have an excellent rep.

[Beancounter]

I’d forgotten about Maidstone Motoliner, they have an excellent rep.

A rep which continues... Just spoke to them, they reckon they can build up the frame and insert some new threads for the foot pegs to mount to. No availability for a few months but that gives me time to clear and clean the area around the frame. He reckons about £150-£170 plus VAT but he hasn't seen the bike in the flesh so could be slightly more.

Feeling a bit more optimistic about this now.

[Skub]

I’d forgotten about Maidstone Motoliner, they have an excellent rep.

A rep which continues... Just spoke to them, they reckon they can build up the frame and insert some new threads for the foot pegs to mount to. No availability for a few months but that gives me time to clear and clean the area around the frame. He reckons about £150-£170 plus VAT but he hasn't seen the bike in the flesh so could be slightly more.

Feeling a bit more optimistic about this now.

Make sure everything electronic is disconnected or removed from the frame before welding,lest bad things happen.

[Beancounter]

I’d forgotten about Maidstone Motoliner, they have an excellent rep.

A rep which continues... Just spoke to them, they reckon they can build up the frame and insert some new threads for the foot pegs to mount to. No availability for a few months but that gives me time to clear and clean the area around the frame. He reckons about £150-£170 plus VAT but he hasn't seen the bike in the flesh so could be slightly more.

Feeling a bit more optimistic about this now.

Make sure everything electronic is disconnected or removed from the frame before welding,lest bad things happen.

Thanks Skub, hadn't thought about that. I'm guessing just removing the battery isn't enough?

[Count Steer]

Thanks Skub, hadn't thought about that. I'm guessing just removing the battery isn't enough?

On The Long Way Round a backwoods welder fritzed the ABS etc on one of the bikes doing a frame repair. TBH, if Maidstone Motoliner are as good as reported, they know this stuff.