Meatball wrote:Im assuming that once the tubular frame has been kinked, the integrity is compromised to the point of requiring the addition of a structural brace.
I don't recommend taking Spree off jumps. Frame can't handle it, and cantilevered wheel and engine casting isn't designed for it either.
There's no tube "kink" per se in this kind of failure, whole thing's just folded up a bit and frame is stressed evenly; in this case handlebar was 2" too close to seat IIRC. If this scooter, once repaired like this, is ridden on road with normal size rider, it should never see this failure again. The real challenge is getting the right dimension... I had another Spree to measure at the time. Weak point is where tube meets the clamshell rear frame, and main bend at floor.
If main tube was visually kinked the handlebar would be at seat. In that case, I'd jack it out to same position and sister a tube over the kinked portion, welding the sister in place and taking it out of the equation structurally. Still wouldn't be strong enough for jumps but would be street rideable.
Braces are best for stiffening up frame for things like drag racing, maybe track racing.