Whether you are a weekend warrior or you use your bike for daily commutes, a motorcycle offers one of the most exciting experiences you can ever have. However, it can also be quite dangerous if you are not careful. Even when you’re on top of your safety game, a crash can still happen. While a minor dent caused by an accident won’t affect the performance or safety of your motorcycle, structural damage can cause big problems. That’s why we have provided some handy information here so you know how to check your bike’s frame and get it back in shape if you find some issues.

If you need any help with repairs, Biggs Harley-Davidson has skilled mechanics ready to get your motorcycle up and running. Schedule an appointment with our service department at our San Marcos, California location and see what we can do for you.

Assess the Damage

The first thing you need to do after you get in an accident is to assess the damage. Check the frame, engine case, kickstand, footpegs, forks, brake lever, brake pedal, etc. Make sure nothing has come apart. As you do a visual inspection of your bike, you may notice some repairs that are a little out of your scope. Maybe you don’t have the know-how to fix it or the tools. Either way, at that point, you’ll want to determine whether you need professional assistance, or you can do the repairs on your own. These are key factors you want to address before going any further.

Check the Bike’s Alignment

A high-speed accident will most likely result in more significant damage to the motorcycle frame. Riding with a misaligned frame or other major issues can be extremely dangerous. If you want to check whether your bike frame is aligned properly or not, there are some simple steps to follow. First, make sure that your motorcycle is on an even surface. Wrap a thin rope around a solid object, like a boulder, and then tie it to the rear wheel of your motorcycle, and then back again to the boulder. If the rope doesn’t touch the rear tire, it means that your bike’s frame needs to be aligned properly. While riding your bike if there’s a wobble, poor alignment is often the reason for this. We’d recommend that you should always get a professional inspection sone after a crash before you ride again.

We hope that these tips have been useful. If you require assistance in getting your motorcycle repaired, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Biggs Harley-Davidson. We are located in San Marcos, CA, and we welcome all our patrons visiting us from San Diego and Oceanside, so stop by today!