Extended fork tubes

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Anyone know if the fork tubes from Mikes XS are the same as ours? ( after dropping the a$$ end a bit)

I'm thinking of putting extended tubes for a kind of a raked look.

Mike has them in 2", 4", and 6" over lengths for the 650.

If not, where can I get some?

[TDodge7]

i'm not sure if 650 tubes will fit , but all you'd be doing is making the bike handle even worse than it does stock . i've seen a lot of choppers that handle like 3 legged cows because they didn't bother to properly rake the steering neck , the idea is to get the lower frame rails flat with the ground . when you just stick longer tubes on a non raked frame you just make it so the front end wants to flop left or right all the time , even more so with a lowered rear end . just thought i'd throw that in there in case you didn't know , if you already knew that then my bad , rock on .

[bikerphil]

Our fork tubes are 37MM, the 650's use a 35MM tube. No worky.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

i'm not sure if 650 tubes will fit , but all you'd be doing is making the bike handle even worse than it does stock . i've seen a lot of choppers that handle like 3 legged cows because they didn't bother to properly rake the steering neck , the idea is to get the lower frame rails flat with the ground . when you just stick longer tubes on a non raked frame you just make it so the front end wants to flop left or right all the time , even more so with a lowered rear end . just thought i'd throw that in there in case you didn't know , if you already knew that then my bad , rock on .

Yea, I know. I don't want go really radical though.

I had a friend that had a 74 Honda 750 set up that way and it wasn't bad at all. It had a 4" ext.

It got a little shaky between 90 and 100, but I don't like the way the pavement feels at that speed anyway.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Our fork tubes are 37MM, the 650's use a 35MM tube. No worky.

OK

Thanks Phil

[fredintoon]

- - - - If not, where can I get some?

Hi Okie,
as has been posted, XS650 fork tubes are too small in diameter.
These guys:-
http://www.frankmain.qpg.com/
will have exactly what you want.

[mxmikie]

check it out................................the xs 1100 has 37mm forks here is a list of bikes that have 37mm forks........ 37 Honda CR-80R (96-98)
37 Honda CR-80R (99-02)
37 Honda CR-85R (03-04)
37 Honda CR-125R "Elsinore" (79)
37 Honda CR-125R "Elsinore" (80)
37 Honda CR-250R "Elsinore" (78-80)
37 Honda NX-250 (88-90)
37 Honda XR-250R (81-82)
37 Honda CMX-450C (86-87)
37 Honda CX-500TC (82)
37 Honda FT-500 "Ascot" (82-83)
37 Honda VF-500C "Magna" (84-85)
37 Honda VT-500C "Shadow" (83-84)
37 Honda VT-500C "Shadow" (85-86)
37 Honda XL-500R (82)
37 Honda CB-550SC (83)
37 Honda CBR-600F "Hurricane" (87-90)
37 Honda CB-650SC "Nighthawk 650" (82)
37 Honda CX-650T "Turbo" (83)
37 Honda VF-700C "Magna" (84)
37 Honda VFR-700F "Interceptor" (86)
37 Honda CB-750F (81-82)
37 Honda VF-750C "V45 Magna" (82-83)
37 Honda VF-750S "Sabre" (82-83)
37 Honda VFR-750F "Interceptor 750" (86)
37 Honda CB-900C "Custom" (80-82)
37 Honda GL-1000/K "Goldwing" (75-79)
37 Honda GL-1000/K "Goldwing" (75-79)
37 Kawasaki EX-500D1-D11 "Ninja 500R" (94-04)
37 Kawasaki ZL-600A1/A2 (86-87)
37 Kawasaki ZX-600A1-A3 "Ninja" (85-87)
37 Kawasaki ZX-750A1-A3 "GPz" (83-85) 37 Kawasaki ZX-750E1/E2 "Turbo" (84-85)
37 Kawasaki ZX-1100A1 "GPz" (83)
37 Kawasaki ZX-1100A2 "GPz" (84)
37 Suzuki RM-85 K2-K4 (02-04)
37 Suzuki XN-85 D "Turbo" (83)
37 Suzuki GS-500 EK/EL/EM/EN/EP/ER/ES/ET (89-96)
37 Suzuki GS-500 EV/EW/EX/EY (97-00)
37 Suzuki GS-550 LD/LF (83, 85)
37 Suzuki GS-550 ED/ESD/ES3/ ESE/ EF/ESF/ESG (83-86)
37 Suzuki GS-650 MD "Katana" (83)
37 Suzuki GS-700 EF/ESF (85)
37 Suzuki VS-700 GLPG/GLEPG/ GLPH/GLEPH "Intruder" (85-87)
37 Suzuki GS-750 ED/ESD (83)
37 Suzuki GS-750 LN (79)
37 Suzuki GS-750 SD "Katana" (83)
37 Suzuki GS-850 GN/GT/GX/GZ (79-82)
37 Suzuki GS-850 GD (83)
37 Suzuki GS-1000 C/EC/N/EN/ET (78-80)
37 Suzuki GS-1000GT/GLT/GX/GLX (80-81)
37 Suzuki GS-1100 ET/EX/EZ (80-82)
37 Suzuki GS-1100 ED/ESD (83)
37 Suzuki GS-1100 GZ/GLZ (82)
37 Suzuki GS-1100 LT (80)
37 Suzuki GS-1150 ES3/ESE/EF/ESF/EF2/EG/ESG (83-86)
37 Yamaha XJ-650 LK "Seca Turbo" (83)
37 Yamaha XJ-900 RK "Seca" (83)
37 Yamaha XV-920 RH/RJ "Virago" (81-82)
37 Yamaha XJ-1100 J "Maxim" (82)
37 Yamaha XS-1100 E/F/G/H (78-81)
37 Yamaha XS-1100 LG/LH (80-81)
37 Yamaha XS-1100 LG/LH "Midnight Special" (80-81)
37 Yamaha XS-1100 SF (79)

[XSokieSPECIAL]

ALRIGHT!

Thanks Fred and Mikie. That's exactly what I need to know about the tubes.

I guess I better check into some longer brake hoses also, I think te speedo cable will be ok with 2-4 inches.

Greg

[fredintoon]

- - - I guess I better check into some longer brake hoses also, I think the speedo cable will be ok with 2-4 inches. Greg

Hi Greg,
re-check MikesXS catalog for speedo cable extenders.
having to find longer brake hoses is all the excuse you need to switch up to stainless brake lines.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Hi Greg,
re-check MikesXS catalog for speedo cable extenders.
having to find longer brake hoses is all the excuse you need to switch up to stainless brake lines.

Ha Ha---- Right on!

[TopCatGr58]

Getting all forked up!

Hey Greg,

Nothing shows it like photos!

Okay, here are a few pictures of how to extend your front forks, and what it might look like. This first one was done by a guy in Richmond, Va., had a bike shop, and put a springer front end on his machine, looks pretty cool!


Next, is a fellow from PA, Dave Wales...XSDave IIRC is his Forum handle, and these were a few shots I made with my elcheapo camera a few years ago, he has put on 6" over length tubes on his special!





Now, a couple of years later at another rally, a friend Dean/LaxDad, and myself, and Dave got together to demonstrate STOCK special forks, then my 4" overs and Dave's 6" overs! See below! You may note that "MY" forks are not at the same angle, they are actually angled closer to the frame than the others....that's because my steering neck got adjusted years ago from a front ender I had with a car, didn't realize the frame had gotten bent, changed my trail from the stock 6" to 2.5"....rather sport bikish in it's feel and flickability. Just don't suggest doing that for yourself!





And then again, my machine alone to see the forks/angle with frame, etc.!


Hope this helps you to decide which length and suchl!?
T.C.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Ooooooooo---- tough way to adjust your frame TC.

Interesting paint scheme.

I'm thinking 6" would be a bit much, 4" would be enough I think. I'll holler at you later about some help getting those ordered, if it's ok.

Kinda blew my scoot budget last week. Gotta save up some more $.

Greg

[bwilding_2000]

My brother has an xs1100 that has extended forks. It seems that the previous owner mentioned something about interchanging fork tops/bottoms from standards and specials to come up with something that was longer.? I will see if I can get some pics. Does anyone know anything about how that could be done?

[fredintoon]

My brother has an xs1100 that has extended forks. It seems that the previous owner mentioned something about interchanging fork tops/bottoms from standards and specials to come up with something that was longer.? I will see if I can get some pics. Does anyone know anything about how that could be done?

Hi bwilding,
site consensus is that fork slider internals are sufficiently different between Standards and Specials that they won't swap.
What the PO may be talking about is swapping the fork triple trees.
Using Standard 'trees with Special fork legs moves the front wheel forwards which lessens the trail to lighten the steering.
Fitting longer fork tubes lifts the front of the frame which effectively increases the steering rake angle which in turn increases the trail to make the steering heavier.
Swapping the trees will help fix this.
Further up this string you can see how TC's Godzilla had it's collision-reduced frame rake compensated for by fitting longer fork tubes to increase it's trail back towards normal.

[cowboybob998]

raked front end

I put a special front end on a standard, useing the the standard triple trees, it raked it out some. not sure how much, short shocks on the rear, i am thinking about putting 4" over tubes on it, this thing rides ruff because of the short shocks but it handels just fine, the rake did not hurt it as much as the short shocks, 11 inch schocks. this is just my bar hopper for around town, like blowing the harleys away, lol
you can get extended tubes from ( forking by frank ) he will make any thing you want, seams like around a couple hundred bucks.