Topic: 550 front forks on a 750?

[cafe2be]

I have read that using 550 front forks on a 750 will lower the front end. Is this true?

I am debating on lowering my 1977 cb750f and dont want to chop and mod the stock legs.

[hymodyne]

why not just lower the forks tops in the triples?


hym

[cafe2be]

dont want to see the fork protrude up above the triple. Would like to bring the front down about 2inches.

[bryanj]

Not that much difference

[Really?]

cyclex has tubes -2.  Got them on the k5.  She is 3 1/8 inches down in the front.  Yea, I still slid the tubes up the triples.

Or you can try your hand at the PVC thing.  I could not find PVC the right size but others have.

[cafe2be]

Okay so let me try to understand. Can I take my Original Fork tube and chop it say 2-3 inches off the top?? Then how does the spring and the PVC work? Does the pvc need to be shortened and the spring?

[Really?]

I know nothing about chopping off the top of the tubes, hate to think how I would get the top cap back on.  I am sure others here have done it but far too much for me.

Some people cut the spring a couple inches.  Then this alone would let the front end down a bit but my guess is when the forks extend, they will float as there is no pressure on the springs.

The PVC would help with the spring you cut away.  This goes in the damper along with the top out spring. Or you might try and find some extra top out springs and add them in there.  I believe this actually pulls the tube down further in the lower fork leg.  The PVC is what you get at the hardware store.

Now, when you take the forks off the bike, you will prolly look at the tube sections that were under the fork ears and freak.  Mine were pittied and rusted really bad.  With that, I just got -2 fork tubes from cyclex for $149.  I got lucky and the springs were already about two inches shorter so I just stuffed the springs in there. 

I have read 550 springs are shorter but have seen different numbers as to how much shorter they really are.  Good luck finding new set of springs that are shorter, I could not find anything.  No lowering kits I could find for this bike but basically you will mimicking the kits available for other bikes.

I have a thread somewhere on this forum where it got perty informative.  If you go that deep, you may want tot decide if you want to do the tapered bearing upgrade for the steering bearings.  I did it since I was already that far down.

[cafe2be]

giga, thanks again for your help as always.

I contacted Ohioracer, awaiting his response. He brought his down about 3 inches in the front.

When getting the tubes from cyclex do you have to get shorter springs or do they give you the pvc that is needed?

[Really?]

Ohioracer is well known here and does some fantastic work. 

Me, I am 3 1/8 inches but that includes sliding the tubes up the tree's too.  Some go lower but then you need to start considering your fork travel, it gets reduced and there are chances of bottoming and the fender hitting the exhaust pipes.

Getting shorter springs?  Good luck unless the 550 springs are actually that much shorter.  Chances are you may end up cutting yours.

They do not show shorter springs on their site but I understand Ken is perty sharp and may have a solution.  I did not ask.

You would only need the PVC if you keep your stock length tubes or want to go crazy low after the tubes.  I do not think he provides PVC, you prolly wont need it if you purchase the tubes from him.

Note that with the front being 3 1/8 down in the front and 2 in the back (still working on the last inch in the back) that the bottom of my pipes and the ground I measured at 4 of my fingers.  They are gumby fingers in my mind but still, that is quite low, no speed bumps for this bike and prolly angled when going into a gas station.

No worries, this is prolly the only thing I know about a bit cause I have been there.  Anything else, I prolly have no answer, lol.

[cafe2be]

So I will just get the 11" shocks for the rear and now I am debating on bringing forks up 2" through the tree and just slapping some clips on. This will bring me 2" front and rear. I am going to call cycle x and see what they suggest too.

[Really?]

Btw, the fork up the trees do not look so bad in my opinion.  But if it is rusty, then yes, it may look bad.  The pics below will give you an idea of the end result and some of what I was talking about.

[cafe2be]

giga, looks good. I may just go the route of tucking the tube into the tree about 2" and going with clip ons.

[FunJimmy]

giga, looks good. I may just go the route of tucking the tube into the tree about 2" and going with clip ons.

Then you have the option of installing the clip-ons above or below the triple.

FJ

[Really?]

giga, looks good. I may just go the route of tucking the tube into the tree about 2" and going with clip ons.

Then you have the option of installing the clip-ons above or below the triple.

FJ

There ya go, a low cost solution and you get to see if that is what you want or not.  Clip-ons were not an option for me.  The wife said NO, lol.  I don't blame her either, it is her first bike.  It took me a bit to get here to accept and like the superbike bars.

[cafe2be]

next questions, which clip ons. I have heard tomasellis are good. Hard to find. Can I just use reg jap clip ons. 35mm right. I will attach them to the tubes above the trees.

[FunJimmy]

Any 35mm clip-on will do. There probably arn't a lot of choices either.

[cafe2be]

jim I found a couple. Seems like the tommasellis are a favorite.$180 too. If the are mounted above the top tree I would assume that it would be pretty much the same hand position as drag bars. correct? Are clip ons comfortable to ride.