The Hodaka Club Forum

So here's a M94 that used to be a screamer until the motor grenaded. It had 7 1/2 motos on it racing open class MX on an SX track with VMX lines (avoiding all the "do-or-die" stuff). Still, on the tabletops, the faces are modern SX sharp so 5-6' of air is typical. Progressive rear shocks and braced stock front end. Stripping the bike, I noticed a significant crack developing along the right gusset/up-tube interface and attachment to the rear loop portion of the frame. By the supersensitive method of tapping the frame with a screw driver, there are no funky-sounding dull spots. I have two questions:

1) As a loop frame, where would be the most likely place to expect sympathetic stress/damage. Nothing seen on gross inspection but the bike is not completely stripped yet.

2) Where are the most important points on the frame to reinforce/gusset/brace/reweld. This bike will be raced again. Hard.

Thanks guys!

Steering head area and gussets (see Service Bulletin or Hot Tip)

Look closely where backbone tube joins front of seat loop. (this one is definitely a distant 2nd to the steering head area)

Ed

Thank you, Captain. The steering head area is going to be a bit tricky. Its not a stranger to a pretty good welder - on a couple occasions. Maybe time to grind down for an inspection/re-do.