The bike has been dropped or crashed

After a fall, some damage is obvious (broken lever, scraped panel) and some is hidden (bent fork, cracked rim, twisted handlebar, damaged brake hose). This check helps you decide if the bike is safe to ride home slowly, or must be transported and inspected.

Is it safe to ride?

Not until you have done the checks below. After anything more than a slow tip-over, have the bike inspected before riding normally.

Quick checks first

• Look after yourself and others first. If you hit your head, do not ride.
• Turn the engine off. Lift the bike with help, bending your knees.
• Look and smell for fuel, oil, brake fluid or battery acid leaks.
• Electric bike: if the battery pack is dented, hot, swollen, smoking or smells, move away and see Battery pack is dropped, dented, swollen or wet.

Diagnose it step by step

1Is any fuel, oil or brake fluid leaking?

• Yes: do not ride or start the engine near the leak. Fuel: Fuel is leaking or dripping. Brake fluid: Brake fluid is leaking. Arrange transport.
• No: go to step 2.

2Do both brakes work: firm lever and pedal, wheel locked when pushed with the brake on?

• No: do not ride. Check levers, hoses and the master cylinder (Brake or clutch lever is loose, bent or broken).
• Yes: go to step 3.

3Does the throttle snap shut at full left and right lock, and is the clutch lever usable?

• No: fix before riding (Throttle sticks or does not snap shut).
• Yes: go to step 4.

4Stand in front of the bike. Is the handlebar square to the front wheel, and are the fork legs parallel?

• No: the forks are twisted in the clamps or bent. See Handlebar is not straight, Fork legs are twisted or uneven. A twist can sometimes be realigned (Align the front wheel, forks and handlebar); bent parts must be replaced.
• Yes: go to step 5.

5Spin both wheels. Do they run true, without dents or rubbing?

• No: Check a wheel for runout, Rim is dented or cracked.
• Yes: go to step 6.

6Do the steering turn smoothly lock to lock with equal angle each side, and do pegs, pedals, gear lever and stand work?

• No: inspect the steering and the frame (Check the steering head bearings, Inspect the frame after a crash).
• Yes: go to step 7.

7Do the lights, indicators and horn work?

• No: fix them or ride only in daylight to a repair point (Test a lighting circuit).
• Yes: ride slowly home or to a workshop. Watch for pulling, wobble or new noises. If any appear, stop.

8After a hard crash, or if the bike pulls or feels different:

• Have a workshop inspect it: Inspect the frame after a crash. They measure frame and wheel alignment, axle bend (K-Light 125 limit: 0.2 mm) and rim runout (K-Light 125 limit: 2.0 mm).

Causes, most likely first