Author Topic: fork swaps: why do people do them? (Read 8595 times)

jason41987 · « **on:** November 04, 2012, 09:56:02 AM »

im curious as to why someone would swap the forks on their bikes.. im sure theyre trying to achieve some kind of greater rigidity, stability, or better breaking... for example, the previous owner put 78 CB750F forks on my 76 CB550F and im wondering what the benefit to that would be, why someone would pick these forks specifically? and which forks are commonly swapped onto CBs and why

im not looking for advice on my bike outside what makes the later cb750f forks better than the stock ones... im mostly just trying to get a better understanding of the front suspensions on the CBs and what someone would try to get out of changing them?

phil71 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 04, 2012, 10:49:52 AM »

Dual disc would be one benefit, tapered head bearings would be another.. better damping.. if you really want to know why it's better, you should track down an original front end and drive that around for awhile.

fisdan · « **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2012, 10:52:11 AM »

And...... It looks super Nice :-)

xnoahx · « **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2012, 10:52:27 AM »

Maybe he wanted dual disc brakes? I would like to put a modern GSX-R front end on mine for improved performance all around and cuz they look cool.

jason41987 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2012, 10:56:55 AM »

so, the 78 cb750f forks are a large improvement over the 76 cb550f forks?

also, I've seen gsx-r forks used before, but why those specifically?.. I wouldn't mind inverted forks with a mechanical speedometer if I could get those features together

FunJimmy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 04, 2012, 11:20:05 AM »

There are many reasons why fork swapping is desirable and you've mentioned most, but poorly kept and rusty forks may be another.

GSXR & R6 forks are the main ones I've seen used. They are abundant and pretty cheap considering the quality, and fairly easy to swap over. Your biggest issue is maintaining the mechanical speedo cuz the modern axle diameter is a lot bigger.

FJ

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2012, 11:22:40 AM »

The chrome on my '77 550K forks was shot, rusty and ugly. They were also chopper forks, 4" overs I think. Swapped them for some 750K2 forks. Look much better and I now have a bit better braking performance to boot.

Rigid · « **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2012, 11:36:59 AM »

Maybe he had two wrecked bikes and you got the result? Maybe he picked up a front end cheap at a swap meet and it bolted up. Maybe he was a misguided, gullible fool and someone told him it would work better, and finally, maybe he was seeking better braking or even trying to match a front wheel he had. Lots of reasons, some good, some not so good.

754 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2012, 11:45:57 AM »

¤5&6 are likely the reason they got switched in the OP, plus they raise the bike if you are "cornering inclined"

Bankerdanny · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2012, 12:02:19 PM »

The '78 F bike used Comstar wheels. Perhaps he wanted the dual disc Comstar look.

jason41987 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2012, 12:26:06 PM »

the previous owner did say it was a cafe project but because he had other ongoing projects cluttering his garage she made him sell some things, its also why I was able to get a few spare wheels and a spare engine too... I'm thinking he wanted to go with dual calipers in the front

so what would it take to use inverted cbr forks?.. you know, to stay within the brand?

luap · « **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2012, 04:01:05 PM »

so what would it take to use inverted cbr forks?.. you know, to stay within the brand?
Why change something that has been proven over an over again bout 5 good build threads on How to's. Google search button works pretty well

Killer Canary · « **Reply #12 on:** November 04, 2012, 04:07:02 PM »

That needed saying.

jason41987 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 04, 2012, 04:13:23 PM »

if people just stayed with things that have already been done before cafe racers would have never existed to begin with

Killer Canary · « **Reply #14 on:** November 04, 2012, 04:15:35 PM »

No problem with innovation. Now innovatively use Search.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #15 on:** November 04, 2012, 04:18:12 PM »

Quote from: luap on November 04, 2012, 04:01:05 PM

so what would it take to use inverted cbr forks?.. you know, to stay within the brand?
Why change something that has been proven over an over again bout 5 good build threads on How to's.

Because later model "cartridge" style forks leave the old forks for dead, more rigid under brakes, better rebound and damping and multi adjustable, you will never know unless you've tried them.... Some of us still like to ride fairly hard and the upgrade, when done correctly, transforms the handling...

jason41987 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 04, 2012, 06:16:53 PM »

i think luap was referring to the cbr forks vs the gsxr forks which has been done a few times already

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #17 on:** November 04, 2012, 08:29:48 PM »

Ah, ok,

Xnavylfr · « **Reply #18 on:** November 05, 2012, 06:17:03 AM »

Sometimes ORIGINAL is NOT always the best! WHY do you think HONDA even made changes from the 69 model though the complete MODEL line up to 77?
The changes were made to IMPROVE on what was already there. The ALL-OUT RACING CB750s used IMPROVED forks and shocks/brakes because they needed something other than the cushy ride of a street bike for heavy cornering and all-out straight aways. Sometimes NEW/IMPROVED is actually BETTER!!!

Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #19 on:** November 05, 2012, 08:04:05 AM »

Quote from: luap on November 04, 2012, 04:01:05 PM

so what would it take to use inverted cbr forks?.. you know, to stay within the brand?
Why change something that has been proven over an over again bout 5 good build threads on How to's. Google search button works pretty well

Honda Doesn't make forks. In fact I don't believe any of the companies do. Yamaha uses KYB or Tokiko i believe. Honda uses showa (as does my buell). Not sure what gixxer forks are..... So really you just have to find a set of Showa forks to "stay within the brand".

jason41987 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 05, 2012, 08:53:19 AM »

i notice honda uses showa for everything, including dirt bikes.. ducati uses showa suspensions as well

i havent taken my forks off yet, not the triple tree so im curious as to what parts i should expect to find inside the frame tube when the triple tree is removed... bushing, bearings, what the size of the pin/shaft is, etc?...

im guessing there are bushing or bearings inside the frame section, and because of this theoretically just about any triple tree should fit if you could find the matching bearings or bushings for them... is this correct? or do modern bikes tend to use a larger pin/shaft than what these old bikes had?

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #21 on:** November 05, 2012, 08:58:20 AM »

I've never done a swap. I believe people make custom triple trees to clamp the larger inverted tubes.

phil71 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 05, 2012, 11:43:39 AM »

You're exactly right. as long as you compensate with bearing ID for any difference in stem diameter, and spacers for installed height, you're golden. One more time.why are you doing a fork swap on a bike that has already had a fork swap ?

jason41987 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 05, 2012, 11:53:45 AM »

if Im not going to use the original forks I might as well use the best ones I can which means fully adjustable cartridge forks off a modern sport bike

Lostboy Steve · « **Reply #24 on:** November 05, 2012, 01:02:22 PM »

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

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Author Topic: fork swaps: why do people do them? (Read 8595 times)