Deer Strike Damage 2012

[Pterodactyl]

A few days ago a deer ran into me. I was doing about 60 MPH when it hit me on the left front side. I managed to stay on two wheels and the bike was rideable; I put over a 1000 miles on it before getting home from Canada. The front fender was destroyed and the light bar for my auxiliary LED lights was mangled; b[/img]oth are easily replaced or repaired. The one bit of damage that has me concerned is the forward mount for the front fender on the left side. The bottom of the fork consists of a cast steel part that functions as a cap for the fork tube, axle support, caliper mount and fender mount. The fender mount element of this part was bent inwards about an inch or inch and a half at the top. It appears that the cast part is not available as a separate part and one must buy the entire fork tube. I intend to attempt to realine the fender mount. Other than applying heat are there any other techniques that will reduce the chances of the part cracking? I'm told by several that cast parts cannot be bent without cracking, but the deer certainly managed to do so.

The part in question is in the lower righthand corner of the picture below.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Heat increases ductility, so while it may still break you will reduce the likelihood. If it cracks, castings can be welded.

Or you could snag the one that is on EBay right now!

 

[Pterodactyl]

Following up. I had a friend take a look at the bent part. He is knowledgable about metallurgy and all things mechanical. He surmised that the part is most likely an aluminium alloy, but in any case would be safe to bend without heat. He used a couple of adjustable wrenches and within ten minutes had the piece back where it should be. Once I get the new fender I can make any final tweaks required to get things lined up.