[LiLBull]

Hey was wondering you racers are doing to your old tired forks ,whats the norm any up grades in springs or oil .Or are you allowed to change them completely.And what are you doing with rear shocks and springs they are getting quite old and mushy ,I would think even new old stock are marginal at best.

Just seems the topic of handle bars comes up and havent heard any thing about these old forks .

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.

 

[champ]

FORK YOU!!! I set all my all forks up with CLUB MANS!!!

JS

 

[jbranson]

The norm for forks is new seals, heavier weight oil (much heavier if racing)...typically some spring spacers to add some preload....even progressive springs if you can find some. Most people upgrade to a larger OD 35mm slightly later model damper rod fork.

Rear shocks....we save our money and buy new ones from Hagon, Falcon, Progressive etc.

Better forks are nice....good shocks are a must. It's amazing how much better a vintage bike will behave with a nice set of "real" shocks on it.
JohnnyB

 

[borzwazie]

So what's the best "bang for the buck" shock out there? I need new shocks for my project bike, but I don't need $600 Works shocks...

 

[kenessex]

I have Ohlins on mine. They were only $500. For a race bike, they make a huge difference. I think you can get Works for about $250 and Progressive suspension for around $200.

Ken

AHRMA 412
Vintage racing - old guys on old bikes

 

[LiLBull]

where is the best seller of these parts.And are you getting shock and springs or just one or the other.My hondas have the ushape not an eye and eye seems the Ushape on one end seem to be alot harder to find in a better shock. just curious what weight oil you guys are racing with.

you said clubmans thats funny

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.

 

[kenessex]

I got my Ohlins from Randy Illg at Racecrafters. www. racecrafters.net He also carries the Works performance. He converted My CB350 swingarm from the clevis mount to eye mount. He also braced and lengthened my swing arm and provided extra mounting holes on the swingarm so I can change the angle of the shock to djust ride height and spring rate. In addition I have 35mm XL350 forks with heavier oil(20wt?) and preload spacers. Randy welded the seams on the frame, welded in some bracing by the swingarm pivot and the passenger peg/ engine mount hangers are welded too. Suspension makes the difference on a racebike. It is cool on a street bike. On the project I am putting together for a beater this summer, I had a local guy weld the seams on the frame, I rebuilt the stock forks with stock parts and found and old set of Boge-Mulholland shocks on e-bay. It should be fine on the street. If I had to I think it would be raceable or for track day.
Ken

AHRMA 412
Vintage racing - old guys on old bikes

 

[LiLBull]

can you post some pics of your race bike here or in project bikes like to see that swing arm sound interesting.

racecrafters .net is some ones family home page

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.

Edited by - LiLBull on Apr 26 2007 9:33:19 PM

 

[Diamondj]

Cycle World published an interesting series of articles back in the day regarding fork modifications. They recommended a pretty simple mod to the damper rod, different springs, and pre-load spacers. A scan of the second article in the series of three is available here:

http://www.ozebook.com/compendium/suzi/mags/forks.htm

It's on the Suzuki Fanatics website but the article covers the Honda 400 and 750 as well as the Suzuki GT380/550/750 bikes.

Obviously S&W and Number One products are long gone but Progressive offers a good variety of fork springs and the damper rod modifications work well as several GT750 owners have tried it out.

Hope this helps!

Jim

 

[jbranson]

I think Hagon and Falcon sell the shocks with the Honda lower mounts...they'll pretty much build you anything you want as far as length, mounts and springs....around $200. Not as nice as progressive or Ohlins of course...but WAY better than stock shocks.

I have a small collection of NOS Boge/Mulholland shocks I use...enough parts left to do about one more rebuild. Getting impossible to find them now.
JohnnyB

 

[LiLBull]

I found these places to be shocking

http://www.oldbikebarn.com/motorcyc...DisplayPerPage=10&universal=Universal&Start=0

http://www.davequinnmotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/webc/HAGON_TWIN_SHOCKS.html

http://www.progressivesuspension.com/


http://www.falconshockabsorbers.co.uk/

shocking me more is not alot of front fork found these progressive fork springs .

http://www.oldbikebarn.com/motorcyc...DisplayPerPage=10&universal=Universal&Start=0

And fork steering damper :

http://www.oldbikebarn.com/motorcyc...DisplayPerPage=10&universal=Universal&Start=0

Speaking of rear shocks as a bike racer are you raising and stiffining the rear or lowering and stiffining the rear or do you keep it soft .


Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.

Edited by - LiLBull on Apr 27 2007 09:33:07 AM

Edited by - LiLBull on Apr 27 2007 09:42:38 AM

Edited by - LiLBull on Apr 27 2007 09:47:49 AM

Edited by - LiLBull on Apr 27 2007 10:05:44 AM

 

[joe c]

works dual rates with alum bodies, the top, will run you about 575 to your door. at least mine were about that.

but they are cool looking. and work the bomb. and oh so light weight.

jc

"tex, if your bikes a cheater, its not a very good one"

 

[jbranson]

Yep, for racing the Works alloy body shocks are very cool.


I've gotten shocks from Dave Quinn before....was happy with them.

JohnnyB

 

[ROSKO]

Dave Quinn for Hagons, great service, and all around best bang for the buck. Get a few spring weights with 'em to dial it in.

NHK damper cheap and easy to find.



BORN TO LURK, FORCED TO WORK.
www.NYCvinMoto.com
www.VinMoto.org

 

[kenessex]

OOPS. I forgot I am an idiot. The corect site is framecrafters.net

I don't have any good pics of my racebike swing arm here and it is 5000 miles away in my garage. I won't see it again until the middle of June. I will look through my computer and see if I have anything that shows the swingarm and shocks.

Ken

AHRMA 412
Vintage racing - old guys on old bikes

 

[LiLBull]

he does alot of frame work for sure no pics of swing arm mods though .good web site though,thanks

Im so far behind ,that I think Im in first.