Buggered gear shifter :(

[newbie]

Somethin shit just happened!

As I was pumping tires on the hornet for the first time, the Kick stand went up as i was wheeling the bike back but i didnt hear or feel it - so as i was putting it down and the stand wasnt there it slowly dropped, fortunately it didn't slam cos i was still holding it, so it hit the ground very slightly and i pushed back up immediately. No damage to the eye but as i drove off i couldnt click gears up. The gear shift has bent where the bike was briefly resting on the floor. Anyways ive bent it back a little bit and can now click up - nearly had a heart attack! i don't wanna bend it any more in case it snaps. What a plank!

Questions.

1) Should i get a new gear lever and try do it myself or is replacing it a tricky job and warrants a garage?

[billinom8s]

not a tricky job, usually a 10mm spanner and some common sense ( i import mine it's cheaper)

if one comes along at a good price it's worth replaceing or even just keeping in the garage for piece of mind.

[jam]

Is it made from ally or steel? if it's steel then just bend it back, if it is ally then bending it cold is likely to fracture it. Get a blow lamp and heat the thing up use a piece of bathroom soap and wipe it on as you heat it up when the soap turns black as you wipe it on then it is hot enough to gently bend it back, then allow it to cool on it's own. Same process for bending clutch/brake levers back if they bend.

[newbie]

not sure, how can i know if its steel or alloy?

thanks

[Banditmax]

Alloy will be usually unpainted and look like a very light silver whereas steel will usually have been zinc plated and look darker and a bit patchy in colour, or maybe plated.

[jam]

It's pretty obvious an ally one will be a lot lighter than a steel one and non magnetic whereas a steel one will weigh a lot more and also be magnetic.