Topic: GL1000 Front End: Alternate Triple Trees?

[CG2000]

I tried fitting up a '76 GL1000 front end on my '76 CB750F Frame today. The top triple tree is pretty weird looking with those extended handle bar clamps.

Can anyone suggest alternate triple trees that are compatible with the GL1000 fork diameter and wheel width?

Here's a list of all the bikes with the same fork diameter, but I have no idea of the fork spacing or stem design compatibility:

37 Honda CR-80R (96-98)
37 Honda CR-80R (99-02)
37 Honda CR-85R (03-04)
37 Honda CR-125R "Elsinore" (79)
37 Honda CR-125R "Elsinore" (79)
37 Honda CR-125R "Elsinore" (80)
37 Honda CR-125R "Elsinore" (80)
37 Honda CR-250R "Elsinore" (78-80)
37 Honda CR-250R "Elsinore" (78-80)
37 Honda NX-250 (88-90)
37 Honda XR-250R (81-82)
37 Honda CMX-450C (86-87)
37 Honda CX-500TC (82)
37 Honda FT-500 "Ascot" (82-83)
37 Honda VF-500C "Magna" (84-85)
37 Honda VT-500C "Shadow" (83-84)
37 Honda VT-500C "Shadow" (85-86)
37 Honda XL-500R (82)
37 Honda CB-550SC (83)
37 Honda CBR-600F "Hurricane" (87-90)
37 Honda CB-650SC "Nighthawk 650" (82)
37 Honda CX-650T "Turbo" (83)
37 Honda VF-700C "Magna" (84)
37 Honda VFR-700F "Interceptor" (86)
37 Honda CB-750F (81-82)
37 Honda VF-750C "V45 Magna" (82-83)
37 Honda VF-750S "Sabre" (82-83)
37 Honda VFR-750F "Interceptor 750" (86)
37 Honda CB-900C "Custom" (80-82)
37 Honda GL-1000/K "Goldwing" (75-79)
37 Honda GL-1000/K "Goldwing" (75-79)

This list except is from: http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=1090.0



Cheers, C.

[chewbacca5000]

Alot of people mill those risers off and go with clip-ons.  It is fairly easy to do if you have access to a mill or machine shop in your area.  Some maker spaces or hacker spaces have machines as well.

Cognito moto has some really nice top clamps as well.

[Old Scrambler]

I milled mine to the base of the bar-mount............that left sufficient material to tap and mount for possible future needs.

Not on the list but with slight machining the CBX1000 triples are same or near the stock CB750 width.......and have the advantage of an alloy lower with double pinch-bolts.

[flybox1]

Tarozzi clip-ons without that really aggressive riding position...

http://www.fastfromthepast.com/clip-ons

[CG2000]

Great, thanks for the advice. Flybox, those look like nice clipons, thanks for the link.

Scrambler, CBX1000 clamps idea sounds good. I'm trying to match the fork spacing to match the GL1000 wheel, axel etc, rather than the CB750's. Any idea if the GL1000 fork spacing is the same as the CB750's?

I like the idea of machining the mounts off drilling for new ones, but forks are also too long and will sit up in the way of the axis of the bars right? Anyone had a go at shortening the GL1000 forks? I guess that'll have a number of knock on effects to the springs / internal workings of the fork which might not be too much fun.

[seanbarney41]

GL forks are spaced wider than cb750...tubes are properly and easily lowered with shorter springs and pre-load spacers.

[Djfob]

Tarozzi clip-ons without that really aggressive riding position...

http://www.fastfromthepast.com/clip-ons

The high rise is just what I'm looking for

[Old Scrambler]

Sean is correct................I used a spacer to compress the springs but also pushed the tubes up about 1.5-inches above the top tree.  A low-profile rear tire and a 1.5-inch longer swingarm brought the rake and trail back to stock for good handling. The 4-bolt axle-caps keep everything aligned without the need for a fork-brace if your running a custom fender.

[6adan]

I believe the CBX 1000 has 35 mm tubes.

[CG2000]

I believe the CBX 1000 has 35 mm tubes.

You're right. It does.

[CG2000]

GL forks are spaced wider than cb750...tubes are properly and easily lowered with shorter springs and pre-load spacers.

Do you mean simply installing shorter springs and preload spacer without modifying the tubes?

[seanbarney41]

GL forks are spaced wider than cb750...tubes are properly and easily lowered with shorter springs and pre-load spacers.

Do you mean simply installing shorter springs and preload spacer without modifying the tubes?

yep, allows the tubes to settle further down into the lower...also, according to my measurements, the gl fork is only about 1 inch longer than a 750k2-k6 frontend and there is room to slide the forks up in the stock trees that much using standard mounted handlebars...just to put that out there.  I don't necessarily think that is the best way to adjust the length.  Lots of guys will buy shorter, custom length fork tubes.

Also be aware that the GL triples have less offset, and that needs to be figured into the whole rake/trail picture, and also necessitates modifying the steering stops or the tubes will hit with a stock k0-k6 tank.

[754]

Check. These out..only set on the planet..built by Paul Brodie of Brodie bikes..

[Djfob]

GL forks are spaced wider than cb750...tubes are properly and easily lowered with shorter springs and pre-load spacers.

Do you mean simply installing shorter springs and preload spacer without modifying the tubes?

yep, allows the tubes to settle further down into the lower...also, according to my measurements, the gl fork is only about 1 inch longer than a 750k2-k6 frontend and there is room to slide the forks up in the stock trees that much using standard mounted handlebars.

So same length as k7-k8 forks.

[Djfob]

Check. These out..only set on the planet..built by Paul Brodie of Brodie bikes..

Frank I'm assuming these would never be for sale then lol

[CG2000]

There's also these for $129, if you like that sort of thing: http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-steering-parts-billet-aluminum-gl1000-top-triple-tree-12-2145.html

[Djfob]

Finally pieced together a gl1000 front end myself. Milling would be the cheapest but that billet piece is slick.

To anyone that has the tarozzi high rise. How comfortable is it?

[6adan]

Would lacing a 17'' wheel to the GL hub being it back close to stock rake & trail? I had planned on doing this and was wondering if anyone else had done it.

[seanbarney41]

Would lacing a 17'' wheel to the GL hub being it back close to stock rake & trail? I had planned on doing this and was wondering if anyone else had done it.

don't forget, the stock gl1000 already has a 17" on the back...really probably need to run all the numbers and see how things come out, the main factor being the difference in triple tree offset

[Retro Rocket]

Would lacing a 17'' wheel to the GL hub being it back close to stock rake & trail? I had planned on doing this and was wondering if anyone else had done it.

don't forget, the stock gl1000 already has a 17" on the back...really probably need to run all the numbers and see how things come out, the main factor being the difference in triple tree offset

And the fact that a 17 inch wheel steers faster, so i gives the sense of reduced trail, and the smaller wheel will lower the front, effectively reducing rake, which reduces trail, not a good combination on a bike that already has a small trail number.... Don't guess when doing these swaps....

[Badluckhonda]

The gl1000 has a 45mm offset which increases trail. Just in case you didn't know that already haha

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

There's also these for $129, if you like that sort of thing: http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-caferacer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-steering-parts-billet-aluminum-gl1000-top-triple-tree-12-2145.html

I used this top triple on my 750 with a 1976 GL front end.  I also used new Forking by Frank fork tubes and pre-load adjusters made by Voxonda.





I recommend against the Tarozzi high-rise clip ons.  I tried using them, but they do not hold their position well, no matter how much you torque them down.  You will get movement if you end up pushing all of the bike's weight on the bars, especially when loading or offloading the bike on a ramp.  I ended up using some Vortex clip ons. 

[JWExperience]

To anyone that has the tarozzi high rise. How comfortable is it?

I've got 1.5" rise tarozzi clip ons and like them a lot. Adjustable angle too.

[FunJimmy]

I used this top triple on my 750 with a 1976 GL front end.  I also used new Forking by Frank fork tubes and pre-load adjusters made by Voxonda.





I recommend against the Tarozzi high-rise clip ons.  I tried using them, but they do not hold their position well, no matter how much you torque them down.  You will get movement if you end up pushing all of the bike's weight on the bars, especially when loading or offloading the bike on a ramp.  I ended up using some Vortex clip ons.

Don,

This is a beauty. I love the front end.
I've always liked the look of bar end mirrors installed on the inside of the controls but they just don't work. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I used this top triple on my 750 with a 1976 GL front end.  I also used new Forking by Frank fork tubes and pre-load adjusters made by Voxonda.





I recommend against the Tarozzi high-rise clip ons.  I tried using them, but they do not hold their position well, no matter how much you torque them down.  You will get movement if you end up pushing all of the bike's weight on the bars, especially when loading or offloading the bike on a ramp.  I ended up using some Vortex clip ons.

Don,

This is a beauty. I love the front end.
I've always liked the look of bar end mirrors installed on the inside of the controls but they just don't work. 

Too true, Jim.  I reinstalled them on the bar ends.