Topic: fork swaps: why do people do them?

[Retro Rocket]

I just wonder what hub everyone uses if you want to stay with spoked rims.

I'm having a custom front hub made....

[jason41987]

i see harley narrow-glide wheels used often, they use a simple 40-spoke two-rotor hub and a 19 inch rim, but theoretically i guess you could just use the hub with the original rims if you chose to, and new spokes... but i think the 40-spoke narrow glide two-rotor hubs would be the best way to go

[jason41987]

it would seem the forks i would be after from a CBR would be a 2005+ CBR600RR front end, in which they used 41mm inverted forks... does anyone know the distance between one fork and another where the axle is at, to determine the maximum width for a hub?...

also.. it would appear honda made a number of bikes that used 41mm diameter forks.. including the 1990s honda nighthawk, and a number of their cruisers... doesnt the nighthawk use standard handlebars? or were those clip ons as well?.. im thinking perhaps i could use a nighthawk triple tree with the 41mm showa forks which should give me the front suspension of a CBR600, and keep my old handlebars and riding position.. if so, thats the route i think ill go

[Retro Rocket]

I think you'll find the nighthawk front end is "right side up" and the CBR is "upside down" so the CBR forks will be a lot bigger at the clamps, its the tube that measures 41mm not the actual fork legs.... Make sense..?  The night hawk will have 41mm clamps and the CBR will have 48 - 50mm clamps...

[Xnavylfr]

I have not done the swap to inverted forks but I have swapped Goldwing frontends to CB750.  Gives a wider front stance and larger diameter tubes and is almost a direct swap. I beleive to change to a SPORTBIKE inverted forks you'll have to have the stem changed so you still use the 750 stem!!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[jason41987]

retro.. im thinking of doing the swamp to non-inverted forks to maintain the classic look of the bike... make it look closer to original while making it perform like new... so im thinking right now if using the nighthawk or CB1000 triple tree with normal looking forks, but still fully adjustable cartridge forks....

since i doubt the CB750 nighthawk of the mid 90s had fully adjustable cartridge forks, i would need only its triple tree, and find a set of conventionally shaped adjustable forks to fit this, and be around the same length as the standard 550 forks to retain the original look of classic front end, but offer me sport-bike performance

so does anyone know of any newer honda bikes that would have fully adjustable 41mm cartridge forks?

[dave500]

you aint going to get sport bike performance unless you swap the forks and the swing arm and the frame and the engine for sport bike ones.

[crazypj]

you aint going to get sport bike performance unless you swap the forks and the swing arm and the frame and the engine for sport bike ones.

LOL

[Retro Rocket]

you aint going to get sport bike performance unless you swap the forks and the swing arm and the frame and the engine for sport bike ones.

 , you'd be surprised Dave....

[Lostboy Steve]

i see harley narrow-glide wheels used often, they use a simple 40-spoke two-rotor hub and a 19 inch rim, but theoretically i guess you could just use the hub with the original rims if you chose to, and new spokes... but i think the 40-spoke narrow glide two-rotor hubs would be the best way to go

Right but how do you attach that to a gsxr or similar front end?

[Bailgang]

you aint going to get sport bike performance unless you swap the forks and the swing arm and the frame and the engine for sport bike ones.

Yeah but we can dream though can't we? I have a nephew who had the idea of putting a spare Kaw H2 engine of his in a modern sportbike frame however I don't think the project ever made it past the "idea" stage.

[jason41987]

twisted, in the guide i seen they used a GSXR triple tree as well, needed to change the bearings so theyd fit.. i think thats all they did... i changed my mind on going with inverted forks off a sport bike though because id like the final product to look more original to the 550 and inverteds just werent common if at all used then..

so if i could find proper length 41 or 43mm forks, id probably just go with those so long as they were adjustable... sometimes the roads where im at can get pretty rough and it would be nice to switch to a stiffer suspension more like an offroad bike when needed

however, dave did remind me of one good point... its kind of pointless to do this to the front if i cant do the same to the shocks on the rear, so those would probably have to be upgrades as well if i could get my hands on a set of adjustable rear shocks...

but does anyone have a recommendation for 41 or 43mm adjustable cartridge forks that arent going to be too long or too short for a 550?

[phil71]

http://www.paioli.com/eng/prod.php#

[Retro Rocket]

but does anyone have a recommendation for 41 or 43mm adjustable cartridge forks that arent going to be too long or too short for a 550?

I am using GSXR1100K {1989}  43mm forks, {on 2 bikes} they are longer than other GSXR models and should work out fine. The stock offset of the GSXR's triple clamps is 35 mm, this will add trail to the front end slowing down the steering and make the bike feel like its falling into corners, it is advisable to stick to the correct offset or close...  I am having 2 sets made with a 50mm offset...

[jason41987]

hmm.. thats interesting, however, i just dont have enough data on available forks and front end components to even begin to figure out what forks i should use with which triple tree and front wheel... a lot of this seems to be trial and error fitting and im really going to have to rely on the knowledge of others for this one... what kind of forks are the GSX forks you speak of?... and im thinking id like to find 41mm forks and go with the CB750 nighthawk tree if i can

[shinyribs]

Gixxer forks work well on Cb750's cuz of the length and the stem. It's easy to adapt the Cb stem into the goxxer lower clamp and the length works out a 1'' drop in ride height. FWIW , my gixxer forks are Showa and I'm pretty sure Honda bought out Showa yeeeears ago. Something about getting rid of some competition???....

[Retro Rocket]

hmm.. thats interesting, however, i just dont have enough data on available forks and front end components to even begin to figure out what forks i should use with which triple tree and front wheel... a lot of this seems to be trial and error fitting and im really going to have to rely on the knowledge of others for this one... what kind of forks are the GSX forks you speak of?... and im thinking id like to find 41mm forks and go with the CB750 nighthawk tree if i can

They are the last of the "normal" style right side up forks. Its not really trial and error at all, there are fairly strict numbers {rake and trail} which dictate the offset, if the forks and wheel equal the stock length of the Honda front end then you are looking for an offset of between 50 to 60mm on a 750 to give you trail of around 3.8 to 4 inches which is good for a street bike, around 4 inches of trail on an old Honda is ideal.... Usually, changes to rake or trail need to be offset with small changes to the swingarm length to keep the bike balanced. For instance, you wouldn't want to slow down the front end response {more trail} and have the rear still wanting to turn in quickly, more trail in the front {slower turn in} would be best offset with a slightly longer swingarm for the same effect at the rear.  If you really want to know any more try googleing motorcycle geometry and have a read....