Author Topic: Who sells good quality new fork tubes for the 75' CB400F0 for a fair price ?  (Read 1703 times)

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Offline grcamna2

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My original fork tubes have had lot's of nicks,gouges & scratches in them for a while and I've just dealt w/ that for a few years(I lightly softened the edges of ea. scratch w/ fine emery paper..)but I'd like to know what you members recommend for a new pr. of tubes that will have the correct O.D. dimensions as my originals(oem pt.#51411-369-000) as well as the length.I've tried to stay away from China repro stuff as much as possible so far.. I've called Frank's but the price seems kind of high although the chrome that they put on their tubes is excellent.
« Last Edit: December 09, 2015, 10:07:35 AM by grcamna2 »
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline 540nova

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Racetech


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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Forking by Frank isn't cheap but very high quality.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline Tim2005

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DSS do them for $110each , haven't tried their forks but most of their stuff is good quality

 http://www.davidsilverspares.com/parts/by-part-number/partnumber_5269/

Offline przjohn

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I bought the DSS tubes last year for my 400F project and was happy with them. I think they are the same ones sold by other outlets. My thinking is they are all made by the same company.
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Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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I bought the DSS tubes last year for my 400F project and was happy with them. I think they are the same ones sold by other outlets. My thinking is they are all made by the same company.

I would not be surprised if DSS and Cycle X source the same tubes.  However, Forking by Frank makes theirs in-house.  The hard chrome plating is excellent.  Race Tech makes and sells very nice products, as well.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Offline grcamna2

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I just called Racetech(those tubes are imported from/made in Italy to a high quality standard)and they get $165 a piece for them,they sound nice.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Don R

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My hot tip was they are the same as cb360. I can't confirm it but some ads say they fit both.
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Offline grcamna2

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My hot tip was they are the same as cb360. I can't confirm it but some ads say they fit both.

I noticed that in an add online somewhere,do you think they are the same length? I think the CB360 tubes are longer..

edit: I just confirmed it online,they're the same part#
New tubes are a few more $ than I have right now but if I could find a pr. of good,used forks complete w/o all that rust pitting that i could put new seals in they would sure work for the next riding season for me in the Spring.  :)
« Last Edit: December 09, 2015, 09:23:08 PM by grcamna2 »
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Online PeWe

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Check that the cir clip over the fork seal is completely seated so the an ear will not scratch the tube. It is not much space on a CB750, easy to get scratched fork
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline MoMo

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Bill, do the seals leak?   If not, why spend the money for new ones, unless you're made of millions of spacebucks

Offline grcamna2

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Bill, do the seals leak?   If not, why spend the money for new ones, unless you're made of millions of spacebucks

The seals don't leak Larry but the tubes are rough(I bought them a few yrs. back off of ebay for $40 for the pr... and they took pics in the listing to show the 'nice' side only;they're gouged pretty bad & it took Lot's of emery cloth to smooth them off where the nicks were deeper than the hard chrome plating..) and I want another pr.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline MoMo

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Bill, do the seals leak?   If not, why spend the money for new ones, unless you're made of millions of spacebucks

The seals don't leak Larry but the tubes are rough(I bought them a few yrs. back off of ebay for $40 for the pr... and they took pics in the listing to show the 'nice' side only;they're gouged pretty bad & it took Lot's of emery cloth to smooth them off where the nicks were deeper than the hard chrome plating..) and I want another pr.



check to see what I have in my spare parts Bill.

Offline grcamna2

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Bill, do the seals leak?   If not, why spend the money for new ones, unless you're made of millions of spacebucks

The seals don't leak Larry but the tubes are rough(I bought them a few yrs. back off of ebay for $40 for the pr... and they took pics in the listing to show the 'nice' side only;they're gouged pretty bad & it took Lot's of emery cloth to smooth them off where the nicks were deeper than the hard chrome plating..) and I want another pr.



check to see what I have in my spare parts Bill.

ok
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline MoMo

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Bill, do the seals leak?   If not, why spend the money for new ones, unless you're made of millions of spacebucks

The seals don't leak Larry but the tubes are rough(I bought them a few yrs. back off of ebay for $40 for the pr... and they took pics in the listing to show the 'nice' side only;they're gouged pretty bad & it took Lot's of emery cloth to smooth them off where the nicks were deeper than the hard chrome plating..) and I want another pr.



check to see what I have in my spare parts Bill.





I have three sets but all have some degree of pitting :(....Larry

Offline grcamna2

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Larry,
How bad are they pitted in the sealing areas ?
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan

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Larry,
How bad are they pitted in the sealing areas ?

Also check the travel areas where the tube moves into the lower.  If pitted there, it will destroy your seals.
1975 CB550K1 "Blue" Stockish Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=135005.0)
1975 CB550F1 frame/CB650 engine hybrid "The Hot Mess" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,150220.0.html)
2008 Triumph Thruxton (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,190956.0.html)
2014 MV Agusta Brutale Dragster 800
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,186861.0.html)

"There are some things nobody needs in this world, and a bright-red, hunch-back, warp-speed 900cc cafe racer is one of them — but I want one anyway, and on some days I actually believe I need one.... Being shot out of a cannon will always be better than being squeezed out of a tube. That is why God made fast motorcycles, Bubba." Hunter S. Thompson, Song of the Sausage Creature, Cycle World, March 1995.  (http://www.latexnet.org/~csmith/sausage.html and https://magazine.cycleworld.com/article/1995/3/1/song-of-the-sausage-creature)

Sold/Emeritus
1973 CB750K2 "Bionic Mongrel" (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=132734.0) - Sold
1977 CB750K7 "Nine Lives" Restomod (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=50490.0) - Sold
2005 RVT1000RR RC51-SP2 "El Diablo" - Sold
2016+ Triumph Thruxton 1200 R (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,170198.0.html) - Sold

Online PeWe

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When you have replaced parts on the bike with new or NOS, you'll enter next step to replace everything else not yet replaced. I have just a few things left :)
CB750 K6-76  970cc (Earlier 1005cc JMR Billet block on the shelf waiting for a comeback)
CB750 K2-75 Parts assembled to a stock K2

Updates of the CB750 K6 -1976
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180468.msg2092136.html#msg2092136
The billet block build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,49438.msg1863571.html#msg1863571
CB750 K2 -1975  build thread
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,168243.msg1948381.html#msg1948381
K2 engine build thread. For a complete CB750 -75
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,180088.msg2088008.html#msg2088008
Carb jetting, a long story Mikuni TMR32
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,179479.msg2104967.html#msg2104967

Offline grcamna2

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When you have replaced parts on the bike with new or NOS, you'll enter next step to replace everything else not yet replaced. I have just a few things left :)

That  would be ideal but prohibitively expensive  :o  :D also I enjoy cleaning up good used vintage parts to get the most life out of them.
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline MoMo

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I doubt any of the tubes are better than what you have(actually, I should toss them).

Offline grcamna2

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You're probably right
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.