Tear in frame...is it dead?

So parking on the street in chicago comes with certain risks. Earlier this week I went out to my bike to find the side covers gone and the bike upright, but just barely. It had clearly been knocked/pushed over and all the gas was gone. Other than missing side covers, the steering was now off and there is one big BIG issue.

Where the side stand is welded to the frame on the lower left under the engine cover, the frame tube has actually torn when the bike went over. My initial impression is that

1. The bike is totally unsafe as the frame has now lost structural integrity.

2. The thin tubing is probably not weldable and even if it was, probably not advisable to ride on a repaired frame.

3. The bike is now a parts bike because the time and effort to move everything to a new frame is too much.

Please PLEASE, can anyone with experience on this help let me know waht my options may be? I love this bike and have poured a lot of time and energy into it. This was the bike whose electrical issue filled over 200 posts in a thread earlier this year. I can scrap or part it, I just want to make sure that's the only option.

When a tube framed aircraft gets damaged they weld in splices, and it sees more stress than a bike. Get a good welder to look at it, I can see no issues fixing it.

I agree with OKC_Kent. Find a reputable(Spelling?) welder and he can fix you up!!

dnpurdy wrote:

.....The thin tubing is probably not weldable and even if it was, probably not advisable to ride on a repaired frame.
....

...this might come as a surprise to chopper owners...

I realize I'm showing my inexperience here

Anyone got suggestions for finding someone who can do the work in the chicago area?

Man that really sucks. Someone must've backed into it and didn't even realize there was something stopping him/her and kept going which forced the tear. Wish I knew a good welder for bike frames around here. There must be a few around, with all of the customs I see rolling.

dnpurdy wrote:

I realize I'm showing my inexperience here

Anyone got suggestions for finding someone who can do the work in the chicago area?

Start with the Yellow pages. Or ask at some bike shops who they may recommend.

I'd get it patch welded and handle with care... and then I would get a frame off of Ebay and do the Kosman mod.

have a welder put a section of tubing which will cover the damaged area and weld it to the frame, then weld the stand bracket back on, it will be just fine and stronger than the origonal frame

On one of my 750 twins I just bent the busted piece of the frame back in place by applying pressure to the kickstand and welded it.

Nothing special about welding it, it's just mild steel tubing.

Steel hit it on the head.

Just get someone to weld it.

Doesn't need special treatment, not like it's titanium or something.