Topic: 76/77 front end compatability

[Greg]

hey all...
someone ran over my 76 750f the other day and wrecked, among other things, the front end.  so i am thinking of putting the front end from my 77 supersport parts bike on the 76.  will the triple clamp bolt right on?  my friend at hayasa motorbikes said the frames were different...anyone know if it'll slip right on?\
thanks!
greg

[Geeto67]

the frames are slightly different. However you can use a 77 front end on a 76, you just need to get all the parts as the brakes and wheels on the 77 will not work with the 76 forks and vice versa.

[Greg]

sweet!
yeah, i am planning on swapping the wheels etc so i have dual front brakes.  only regret is that the 76 is pretty stock right now
while i have your ear....what other differences to the frames?  my frame got injured in the hit and run, so i was thinking about swapping the frames as well...i know the rear mc mounts different, other major differences?
thanks!
greg

[Bob Wessner]

someone ran over my 76 750f the other day and wrecked, among other things, the front end.

Have you checked to make sure you don't have any neck or frame alignment problems?

[Greg]

bob
no, not yet.  i don't think it got hitted that hard (it got clipped while parked) but since it broke off the sidestand and the rear passenger peg mount was already broken i'm thinking this might be the perfect opportunity to do too much work and eventually swap the engine into the "parts bike" frame.  but i'd like to ride more this summer, so in the interim i might just go with the front end swap...
greg

[Bob Wessner]

Ah, the old "I didn't see it" trick.

[Greg]

not even, he saw it.  got stuck on the curb, then peeled out.  thankfully, lots of witnesses *saw* him as well.
now i am in insurance hell (i *know* it's a 1976, that's why its vintage!)
haha
g

[Geeto67]

sweet!
yeah, i am planning on swapping the wheels etc so i have dual front brakes.  only regret is that the 76 is pretty stock right now
while i have your ear....what other differences to the frames?  my frame got injured in the hit and run, so i was thinking about swapping the frames as well...i know the rear mc mounts different, other major differences?
thanks!
greg

Off hand there aren't too many differences, the rear master cylinder/exhaust mount section of the frame is different but as far as I can tell that is about it. I have a friend with a 75 SS and he put a full 78 suspension on because the brakes are better in the later years. I know you cannot use the 77/78 stock exhaust on a 75/76 without fabbing up some kind of rear mount, and the 75/76 muffler will not work on 77/78 headpipes. None of the stock foot controls seem to interchange. Basically it is more about the different bolt on parts than the frames themselves. I had a firend once tell me the 77/78 frames are longer and wider than the 75/76 but I have not found this to be the case with the SS models although with the K bikes it is true.

[eldar]

Instead of swaping frames, why not just swap engines? With all the work you might have to do, swap the engine.

[Greg]

thanks all for the input
eldar -- unfortunaterly the parts bike has a totally seized engine and is missing lots of body parts...i'll be sure to let you all know how things go
greg

[eldar]

Well then that is perfectly understandable. At that rate, you may as well do whatever then. As long as you are happy with the result, then all is good.