Quick fork Question

[Spider]

I looked around the fork threads, and I may be misunderstanding this, but as I understand it, the Standard fork tube uppers are slightly shorter than the Specials', but are the same diameter, so if I wanted slightly longer forks, I could swap out the upper tubes from a special into my standard. Am I understanding this correctly, or am I missing something vital?

[DGXSER]

I do not know for sure, but I am almost certain that the Special tubes are different than the Standards as in they attach to the lowers differently as the lowers are different.

[lakecountrydave]

Spider,

I found this from Fredtoon (a true "super guru") on another thread.

" Originally Posted by dbwill View Post
I have a 80G but just picked up a 82 special parts bike. I am going to switch the forks but I'am wondering what other parts I can swap besides the seat and tank and side covers? How different are the frames? Thanks Den
Hi Den,
XS Standard & XS Special forks will swap. To swap with no change in fork trail the complete fork has to move, 'trees and all.
But presumably your '82 has to be an XJ? Dunno if XJ forks are different. Try this, carefully measure the distance between the XS front & rear axles then swap the XJ's forks in and measure again.
If the number is the same you are golden. If it's less, the front wheel is further back and she'll steer heavy; if it's more, the front wheel is further ahead and she'll steer light. +/- a 1/2" shouldn't feel all that different; more may be noticable.
For all the other stuff, tanks, sidepanels, seat etc, just try them and see."

Here is the thread:

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...+special+forks
__________________
Fred Hill, S'toon
XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar

[mxmikie]

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)

[bikerphil]

The Standard and Special fork upper tubes (stanchions) are not interchangeable, they use a different lower bushing setup.

[Spider]

The Standard and Special fork upper tubes (stanchions) are not interchangeable, they use a different lower bushing setup.

Okay. So I'd have to swap out the whole kit n kaboodle then. Not worth it.

Thanks for clearing that up.


Spider

[fredintoon]

I looked around the fork threads, and I may be misunderstanding this, but as I understand it, the Standard fork tube uppers are slightly shorter than the Specials', but are the same diameter, so if I wanted slightly longer forks, I could swap out the upper tubes from a special into my standard. Am I understanding this correctly, or am I missing something vital?

Hi Spider,
Bikerphil sez Standard lowers won't go on Special fork tubes because of a different lower bushing set-up.
Just maybe if you had both types of forks taken apart to compare the differences and had a "Bro with lathe" some kind of adapter could be made that would allow the Standard lowers to work with the Special fork tubes.
Or you can go to these guys:-
http://www.frankmain.qpg.com/
who will sell you extended fork tubes.
NOT a low-cost option.

[kirmit77]

I say you can swap them and mismatch them. All you gotta do is put a lil duct tape on it and youll be FINE!









and im joking. So dont really do it.

[Spider]

Duct tape is the stuff, but I would rather bet my brass on steel.

I'm not too worried about it lengthening them, it was only a casual consideration.

[bikerphil]

Spider, I've tried swapping them before. The Special upper tube will fit into the Standard leg, but it wont slide freely, it just wants to bind up.

[yamahansolo]

why can't you just swap tops and bottoms??? i have both and they are the same diameter so they should slide into the clamps. it's just a tube. also i don't know what the effect would be on rake like it was stated earlier.

[bikerphil]

If you remove a Standard upper tube, you'll see that it has no lower bushing on it. The whole tube makes contact with the inside of the lower leg. The Special upper tube has a lower bushing like 99% of all other fork tubes. The Standard leg doesn't like that extra bushing sliding up and down in there. It wasn't designed for that. Of course the tubes will slip into the triple clamps the same but you can't marry the fork parts from the two. If anyone wants to prove me wrong on this, go ahead and try it.

[Spider]

If you remove a Standard upper tube, you'll see that it has no lower bushing on it. The whole tube makes contact with the inside of the lower leg. The Special upper tube has a lower bushing like 99% of all other fork tubes. The Standard leg doesn't like that extra bushing sliding up and down in there. It wasn't designed for that. Of course the tubes will slip into the triple clamps the same but you can't marry the fork parts from the two. If anyone wants to prove me wrong on this, go ahead and try it.

I'll take your word on it

[Spider]

why can't you just swap tops and bottoms??? i have both and they are the same diameter so they should slide into the clamps. it's just a tube. also i don't know what the effect would be on rake like it was stated earlier.

I'm not that concerned with it. Mine function adequately. I saw the specials were a touch longer and I considered a swap is all. It's not like I'm needing a repair or anything, so I'd rather just put my money into other, more beneficial upgrades(Like SS lines and a brace)

As far as if that's possible, I think so. But the calipers might mount differently. I've seen a lot of other old Japanese bikes that [parts SHOULD interchange but there's subtle differences that make it a PITA.

[bikerphil]

I saw the specials were a touch longer

The upper tubes on the Special are longer to compensate for the leading front axle design of it's lower legs. The bottom of the fork legs drop below the axle as opposed to the Standard's center mount axle.

I've put a Special's forks and calipers with Standard trees on my F before, but the rake and trail change, which made for a funky, unstable ride. If you use Special trees along with that setup, you'd probably be fine. Now I have the FJ front end.