Topic: what's the deal with my front forks?

[JP74]

so after looking at photos upon photos of other bikes, i realize that theres something not to normal or stock about my front forks. they are alot longer then what i see on every other 750.
looks like the PO was going for a chopper look (see 2nd pic). after i drained and refilled the forks according to the manual, the height actually increased by about an inch(1st pic is how it sits now)...
when i had the caps off the forks to refill there was a metal tube/pipe maybe 5in in length installed on top of the spring... since that was the 1st time i had messed with anything suspension wise, i didn't know what was normal and what was not....
now that i have thought about it more, i wonder if the PO had installed these tube/pipes as a makeshift way to have extended forks for the chopper look... want to get some input before i just go out and remove them, since I'm not sure if they are supposed to be there...
any thoughts?


PS. the fork brace is a bolt on 





~1976 750k~

[pablo78cb550]

5" extended fork tubes with original springs and spacers.
thats what I'm guessing.

[number13]

 Yup, thats what we used to call a semi-chopper.
Cut those things down and you will find cornering a lot nicer.

[JP74]

so i am probably looking at needing new forks to drop it down huh?  they would most likely be extended fork tube if they have those tube/bars in them right?

[Really?]

Replace the tubes, and then toss the tubes in the tubes and the fork brace.  Springs might just be normal.  Check to see if they have been cut - decide what you want to do with the springs, keep em or replace em.

Then you will be stock or perty darn close.

CycleX I think has stock tubes.  Ebay should too.

CycleX also has -2 shorter but you will need to cut the springs to fit - this is if you want to drop it further than stock and further than about an inch (tubes slide up the trees).

[Artfrombama]

Mine were 6" longer, I bought stock length tubes from "Forking by Frank". You could cut down the fork tubes you have now, a simple lathe job although the caps have an uncommon thread.
You also have lowering blocks in the rear.

[JP74]

Thanks to all of you guys for the info and help..

rear lowering bocks??... really?

[Johnny5]

Thanks to all of you guys for the info and help..

rear lowering bocks??... really?

Yep, check the bottom of your rear shock. That black block isnt stock. And Im not Dr. Suess....

[UnCrash]

Good eye Johnny.

Those sure do look like lowering blocks.  Getting rid of them, and finding replacement tubes will make your ride much, much sweeter.

Ask around here, many of us have this kind of thing collecting dust on a shelf.

[Really?]

You might need to replace that kickstand too.  Might be too long when you bring the tubes back down to normal.

[Artfrombama]

You might need to replace that kickstand too.  Might be too long when you bring the tubes back down to normal.

Yep, I've got a "holed" generator cover for trying to use the chopper side stand with standard length forks.

[shoemanII]

if the extended forks are in good shape, the boyz at hondachopper.com will take 'em and someone here will take the lowering blocks.  you're total outlay won't be so bad, but be patient.
bobp     

[pablo78cb550]

cyclex says the fork tubes are for 73-78 cb750. were the 78 cb550k the same as those...

[JP74]

Good eye Johnny.

Those sure do look like lowering blocks.  Getting rid of them, and finding replacement tubes will make your ride much, much sweeter.

Ask around here, many of us have this kind of thing collecting dust on a shelf.

Good eye indeed Johnny!  i never would have realized that.

i thought the ride on this bike wasn't what it should be, explains alot

You might need to replace that kickstand too.  Might be too long when you bring the tubes back down to normal.

good thinking. thanks for the heads up


so looks like i am now in the market for a set of forks, fork springs(depending on if they are cut), kickstand... and need to sell some extended forks and lowering blocks..  can't wait to see how this thing handles after its all said and done.. anyone have a good link or info about what forks will swap out with what?

again, thanks for the help guys.

if anyone is in the need on these forks or blocks., once i get what i need, they'll be up for sale for sure

[Joel]

The 400F I bought had the same things done to it.  I've since removed the lowering blocks.  I found a set of stock forks on eBay and am in the process of rebuilding them before I swap them on.  You might also check Craigslist for some 750 forks.

http://www.servicehonda.com/test/index.htm

If you go to the above link and login to their system, you can look up the part number and it will show you what other models used that same part number.

[mrbreeze]

I had to laugh when I read this post.......It says plastic fork on the avatar and then asks..."whats wrong with my forks?"  My first thought was......."Uhhhhhhh....they're plastic???"

[Johnny5]

I might be interested in the blocks. PM sent.

[Artfrombama]

Good eye Johnny.

Those sure do look like lowering blocks.  Getting rid of them, and finding replacement tubes will make your ride much, much sweeter.

Ask around here, many of us have this kind of thing collecting dust on a shelf.

Good eye indeed Johnny!  i never would have realized that.

i thought the ride on this bike wasn't what it should be, explains alot

You might need to replace that kickstand too.  Might be too long when you bring the tubes back down to normal.

good thinking. thanks for the heads up


so looks like i am now in the market for a set of forks, fork springs(depending on if they are cut), kickstand... and need to sell some extended forks and lowering blocks..  can't wait to see how this thing handles after its all said and done.. anyone have a good link or info about what forks will swap out with what?

again, thanks for the help guys.

if anyone is in the need on these forks or blocks., once i get what i need, they'll be up for sale for sure

Yeh Johnny has a great eye!

Mine were 6" longer, I bought stock length tubes from "Forking by Frank". You could cut down the fork tubes you have now, a simple lathe job although the caps have an uncommon thread.
You also have lowering blocks in the rear.

[754]

whatever the spacer pipe length is, will be how many inches over thery are.. pretty rare for someone to cut down springs for long forks..

Borrow a set of clip-ons &  remove them handlebars, slide forks up 8 inches, install the clip-ons if you want to see what the ride should be like...

[MrZxp]

This gentleman has a set of forks for sale... he doesn't specify which model they are from though unfortunately...

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=42379.0

Cheers, Phil

[Really?]

whatever the spacer pipe length is, will be how many inches over thery are.. pretty rare for someone to cut down springs for long forks..

Borrow a set of clip-ons &  remove them handlebars, slide forks up 8 inches, install the clip-ons if you want to see what the ride should be like...

If you do what is in bold, I want pics. 

[goon 1492]

whatever the spacer pipe length is, will be how many inches over thery are.. pretty rare for someone to cut down springs for long forks..

Borrow a set of clip-ons &  remove them handlebars, slide forks up 8 inches, install the clip-ons if you want to see what the ride should be like...

If you do what is in bold, I want pics. 

they'll look like horns! hang some dice off of them
I just installed lowering blocks on the back of mine, its a 76750k also, gotta wait untill I get the whitewall tires back from getting mounted and balanced to really see how it stands

[JP74]

Mine were 6" longer, I bought stock length tubes from "Forking by Frank". You could cut down the fork tubes you have now, a simple lathe job although the caps have an uncommon thread.
You also have lowering blocks in the rear.

Sorry Art!    got to give credit where credit is due, thanks for noticing the lowering blocks! i really had no clue they were on there, for all i knew, that was a stock setup. thanks again

[JP74]

cyclex says the fork tubes are for 73-78 cb750. were the 78 cb550k the same as those...

so does that mean any forks from a 73-78 750 should work?.

whatever the spacer pipe length is, will be how many inches over thery are.. pretty rare for someone to cut down springs for long forks..

  makes sense.

Borrow a set of clip-ons &  remove them handlebars, slide forks up 8 inches, install the clip-ons if you want to see what the ride should be like...

  haha i might have to do that just for a picture.

The 400F I bought had the same things done to it.  I've since removed the lowering blocks.  I found a set of stock forks on eBay and am in the process of rebuilding them before I swap them on.  You might also check Craigslist for some 750 forks.

http://www.servicehonda.com/test/index.htm

If you go to the above link and login to their system, you can look up the part number and it will show you what other models used that same part number.

thanks for the link. I'll check it out.


so are there any better swap outs for the forks besides stock 750, maybe off a super sport? i was told that a set of forks off a 550 would be an upgrade, didn't make sense to me, any truth to that?. i would like to stay away from aftermarket forks since cost is an issue..

anyone have any forks if good condition laying around they want to sell or trade?. i have extended forks and a couple windshields...

[Really?]

I think some people go the gl1100 forks.  What the upgrade is, I am not sure but then I am sure there are many posts on that.