Dave Walters
XS650 Addict
To start I received a free 1975 front end from a friend. It was pretty ratty but I was going to be polishing the upper tree, painting the lower, Shaving and polishing lowers, and also buying extended fork tubes.
Next I found myself a set of fork tubes on ebay that were 8 over and 34mm and for a Yamaha. Paid $57 with shipping. Problem was I wanted to run 6 over.
I pulled my forks apart and started cleaning up my fork lowers.
Now I went and machined the spacers and lowering stuff I needed to lower my forks 2 inches so I would be running 6 over. My '75 front had the weird longer spacers so when I was cutting my tube to extend I just made it longer so I didnt have to put this spacer back in.
Now onto my fork dilemma:
I am sure these are the right fork tubes because the stock cap is threaded properly.
But the lower spring and parts that are clipped into the bottom of the tube do not fit right. They are very loose.
I am going to end up machining sleeves to make them fit.
I also noticed the smallest ID of the fork tube is bigger than the stock tubes. So to keep the spring from moving I might have to machine new pieces that go on the end of the springs to keep them centered. Now I am a slight bit worried that with the neck raked and the forks being 6 over that the thinner wall on these will not be as strong. When I have the front end on I will see how it feels and see if its rigid.
Next I found myself a set of fork tubes on ebay that were 8 over and 34mm and for a Yamaha. Paid $57 with shipping. Problem was I wanted to run 6 over.
I pulled my forks apart and started cleaning up my fork lowers.
Now I went and machined the spacers and lowering stuff I needed to lower my forks 2 inches so I would be running 6 over. My '75 front had the weird longer spacers so when I was cutting my tube to extend I just made it longer so I didnt have to put this spacer back in.
Now onto my fork dilemma:
I am sure these are the right fork tubes because the stock cap is threaded properly.
But the lower spring and parts that are clipped into the bottom of the tube do not fit right. They are very loose.
I am going to end up machining sleeves to make them fit.
I also noticed the smallest ID of the fork tube is bigger than the stock tubes. So to keep the spring from moving I might have to machine new pieces that go on the end of the springs to keep them centered. Now I am a slight bit worried that with the neck raked and the forks being 6 over that the thinner wall on these will not be as strong. When I have the front end on I will see how it feels and see if its rigid.