Newbie - crashed bike, bent fork, anything else to fix?

[bryanska]

Hey everyone,

About three hours after my wife and I brought home our 2001 Elite SR50, we crashed it. Any advice on what to check out?

My wife ran into a curb after the bike slid out from underneath her. (The tires were WAY overinflated by the seller...)

I drove the thing home and it pulled HARD to one side. Pretty undriveable.

Anyway, I think the front fork is bent and I'm pretty sure the front wheel is out of true. I suppose the shock linkages and wheel axle might also be bent too but don't know how to tell.

I have a bunch of feelers out, trying to find a fork and wheel.

Some questions:

1) Are the Elites pretty similar to the Sprees, in that the forks are interchangeable?

2) What models have my same front wheels?

3) I have a service manual for a 1988 SA50. I found it free on the web. Will it work pretty well for my 2001?

4) Is it possible to DIY the fork install, including the bearing races, etc, without special tools? I have built bicycle wheels and am familiar with bearings like these.

Any help is appreciated. We had fun for a few hours, and I really want to get it back.

Also I am looking for body panels, any color, as long as they are intact. PM me.

[Kenny_McCormic]

Some questions:

1) Are the Elites pretty similar to the Sprees, in that the forks are interchangeable? Nope, completely different design

2) What models have my same front wheels? dont bank on this but im pretty sure, All elites except the SB50 which use spree suspension, 85-87 aero.

3) I have a service manual for a 1988 SA50. I found it free on the web. Will it work pretty well for my 2001? They are almost the same bike.

4) Is it possible to DIY the fork install, including the bearing races, etc, without special tools? I have built bicycle wheels and am familiar with bearings like these. Yes

Any help is appreciated. We had fun for a few hours, and I really want to get it back.

Also I am looking for body panels, any color, as long as they are intact. PM me. LOL, good luck.

[bryanska]

UPDATE -

I have found several sources of forks, most over $100 and new. I did find one 1994 SA50 being parted out on Ebay. I have bought the fork and have a bid on the front wheel.

I'll try and post pictures of the forks to compare them.

It seems like the biggest issue is having the right tools to dismantle the fork bearings. I hope my sockets/wrenches aren't too short/thick, etc. and I also hope I don't have to buy any Honda-specific tools.

The front tire was at 32 PSI. It should have been 18...

I am going to take the opportunity to weld & paint the body plastic if I have time. Again, will post pictures.

[ALOW1]

3) I have a service manual for a 1988 SA50. I found it free on the web. Will it work pretty well for my 2001?

This one should work better for you.

http://hondaspree.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2677