Broken Rear Subframe

On my recent 10/10ths, my first 2 days were supposed to be taking my ‘09 up to Woodstock, GA to Traxxion for some front end service. (AK20 and steering head) On the way there (Taking a lengthened route) the rain was intense. On one of my fuel stops, the off ramp had a Huge hole that I hit. Once at the gas station, I inspected for damage. Rims seemed OK, but plastics were broken and rear end was sagging. I shortened the ride to Traxxion and had service done.
The daylight and seat removal revealed the full damage: The handrails were broken as was the subframe.

We snap tied the back end of the bike and I took the shortest route home. I stopped off the ‘09 and completed the 10/10ths on my ‘18.
When I got home, I did a cheap/quick fix to hold it over until I could swap the rear subframe with the ‘08 that I was considering parting out. It wasn’t a pretty fix, but it is holding up… so far.



I swapped out the handrail and side plastics with my ‘08.

Hopefully, the JB Weld will hold up until you can do something more permanent.
How much weight did you have in the topcase? Must have been a pretty hard hit to break all that stuff.

RossKean said:

Hopefully, the JB Weld will hold up until you can do something more permanent.
How much weight did you have in the topcase? Must have been a pretty hard hit to break all that stuff.

Click to expand...

The topcase had only a log book in it. I did not even have the side cases on the bike at the time. I wanted it stripped down so the Traxxion guys wouldn’t be delayed.
The hole was huge and I am surprised the rims weren’t affected.

That was a gnarly thud to break so specifically and bilaterally. And to snap a hand rail too!

If the JB doesn't hold I'm going to forsee a new used subframe with some beefing up in your future?

I have my ‘08 sitting in the garage that I have decided to part out. It looks as if the rear subframe is fastened with bolts and not welded, so I should be good. This bike is headed to Texas next week and hopefully Mexico City in October, so a temporary fix was used.

I think people have had some luck with welding subframes.
Garauld stiffy kit would help, if you can find one. Givi SR357 rack replaces the original grab rails and helps reinforce the subframe as well if you are using a compatible Givi case...

The Givi set up was moved to the ‘18.
I’ll post up on the transfer of the subframe when it happens. I will definitely consider reinforcing the frame before installation.

Not that I'm an expert, but most of the failures I have seen are loaded with a case or something and not using the OEM Heavy Rack (or Givi, or others). The Heavy Rack creates a lot of structural integrity. Without it, there is flex. It is my theory that it is the flex that kills it. I'm sure weight plays a part, but I think the constant flex creates the failure and added weight just makes it happen faster.

Also… I do not inspect my bike often. The hole was probably just the straw that broke the subframes back. It could have been cracked prior and that hole (Which nearly took me down) was just the final hit.

I can relate to the hole story. There are some terrible ones in the Nashville area. I don't see how a giant piece of concrete breaks out in all three lanes of the freeway. In Some states they don't let semi-tractors with trailers in the fast lane or Number 1 lane of traffic so that was always the safest lane to avoid pot holes, especially at night where they are harder to see. Not the case here. I'm sure many of you who live in more harsh climates probably have even worse stories.

Glad that you are safe and that the hole didn’t put you down. I hit a similar hole in Atlanta years ago on my ‘12. I was on I-285 at night in the rain, and couldn’t even see the hole, but the bike swayed and wobbled for a moment before I caught it and we continued home. Daylight revealed a bent rim, which I eventually replaced, though the tire wasn’t damaged and I reused it.

Even if you don't want to use the GIVI top case, you can use the Givi SR357 mounting, which you can bolt a flat plate to for you Pelican mount to bolt to (or other system). The OEM grab rails are plastic and really do nothing for support.