Can I race with a bent radiator

HungryHungryMoto
Edited Date/Time 10/3/2022 6:14pm
Took a mini digger this past weekend and tweaked my bar mounts and my left radiator. This happened half way through Moto 1 of a 4 Moto day in 2 separate classes. I didn’t catch the bent radiator until Monday afternoon bike wash/prep. I obviously finished that Moto and 3 more motos at race pace but am I pushing my luck to race again this coming weekend? I thought I read in here somewhere you can run a screwdriver through the screw hole mounts and gently tweak it back. I won’t have time to mail them off between now and this weekends race. Any input or experience with this appreciated and yes now I’ll buy mounts and probably guards. Peace ✌🏻
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HungryHungryMoto 10/3/2022 3:00pm
10/3/2022 3:00pm
HungryHungryMoto wrote:
Took a mini digger this past weekend and tweaked my bar mounts and my left radiator. This happened half way through Moto 1 of a 4...
Took a mini digger this past weekend and tweaked my bar mounts and my left radiator. This happened half way through Moto 1 of a 4 Moto day in 2 separate classes. I didn’t catch the bent radiator until Monday afternoon bike wash/prep. I obviously finished that Moto and 3 more motos at race pace but am I pushing my luck to race again this coming weekend? I thought I read in here somewhere you can run a screwdriver through the screw hole mounts and gently tweak it back. I won’t have time to mail them off between now and this weekends race. Any input or experience with this appreciated and yes now I’ll buy mounts and probably guards. Peace ✌🏻



Gravel
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Gravel 10/3/2022 3:04pm
10/3/2022 3:04pm Edited Date/Time 10/3/2022 3:05pm
If it’s not leaking, I’d run it until I got a new one.. I’ve raced with worse.. but I have a history of bad decisions behind me..
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PNWMXer
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PNWMXer 10/3/2022 3:20pm
10/3/2022 3:20pm Edited Date/Time 10/3/2022 3:23pm
In addition to the above, I’d also pull it and verify that it flows. But as long as it flows and isn’t leaking you’ll be good.

Edit, just saw the pictures…guessing you’re fine. Only thing I’d check is the dent in the lower elbow, to make sure it’s not blocking the flow too much. Looks fairly shallow though.
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davis224
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davis224 10/3/2022 3:31pm
10/3/2022 3:31pm
I crashed and bent a radiator, ordered a new half with braces, and got the one radiator and one brace on before I decided I'd rather go shred a few laps before I put the other brace on, then promptly fell over in a low speed turn and bent my other radiator. It's still bent.
Sheriff245 10/3/2022 3:52pm
10/3/2022 3:52pm
It doesn’t look too bad. As long as air glows through it, coulant flows inside and there is no leak, there’s no problem riding with it as is.
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Motoxdoc
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Motoxdoc 10/3/2022 3:57pm
10/3/2022 3:57pm Edited Date/Time 10/3/2022 4:00pm
I laughed hard when I read this thread title. I have probably raced more races with bent up radiators then I have with straight ones. Put your shrouds back on and sign up.
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MotoChris
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MotoChris 10/3/2022 4:17pm
10/3/2022 4:17pm
As said above, if air flows and no coolant leaks I wouldn’t worry about it. I also wouldn’t try to get aggressive with trying to straighten it because you could create a leak.
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sandman768
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sandman768 10/3/2022 5:14pm
10/3/2022 5:14pm
That radiator can be straightened out to look pretty good in about 30 minutes… Utube it….
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HungryHungryMoto 10/3/2022 5:57pm
10/3/2022 5:57pm
MotoChris wrote:
As said above, if air flows and no coolant leaks I wouldn’t worry about it. I also wouldn’t try to get aggressive with trying to straighten...
As said above, if air flows and no coolant leaks I wouldn’t worry about it. I also wouldn’t try to get aggressive with trying to straighten it because you could create a leak.
Thank you for that. I figured getting bananas with trying to fix it would only fuck it up more. I may try to just gently partially straighten it for ease of mounting plastics back in n. Thanks big dog 🐕
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S.Loyer
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S.Loyer 10/3/2022 6:05pm
10/3/2022 6:05pm
If its not leaking, you're fine.
MotofactioN
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MotofactioN 10/3/2022 6:05pm
10/3/2022 6:05pm
Mine always end up bent somehow lol. My Suzuki I always had 1 shroud that was sticking out more than the other 😂

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