special triple tree on a standard

[grifff]

I was wondering if there would be any conflict if i was to put a special's lower triple tree on a standard 80G. Are the special's
lower triple tree's all the same for all years?

[Dennyz]

"I was wondering if there would be any conflict if i was to put a special's lower triple tree on a standard 80G. Are the special's
lower triple tree's all the same for all years?"

Special triple trees are different then Standards. Actually, front forks that have the axle at the bottom of the shock have a different triple tree set than front forks with the axle on the side of the shock.

In order to keep the wheel base the same between both fork configurations, the forks tilt back in reference to the steering head on leading axle front ends (Specials). Standard (except maybe '81s) forks are parallel with the steering head.

You may not be able to get the forks to slide in with a Special lower tree and a Standard top tree. They will not line up. Should you manage to get them together, you will have reduce the steering angle and wheel base. This could have significant effect on handling characteristics.

[grifff]

..

This is what i was worried about. Don't think is it worth going through the trouble. Thxs DennyZ

[rover]

Why do you want to put the special lower tree on? If your standard tree is bad, you can swap the entire front end from a special to a standard. All the steering angles will be the same. The down side is that the special calipers are inferior to those of the standard. At least I think so, and so do a few others here.

[grifff]

..

For cosmetics Rover. I have an 80G, but like and like a few things the special has. I have already fixed the problem. I'm doing a custom mmmm Green Bay Packers bike. I have the front plate painted yellow and yamaha badge metallic green. I just wanted to use it. The standard has the lower tree mounted with bolts to the front. Plate won't slip over. I busted out the die grinder, cut it, and were good. Don't have to paint it again. If i never asked, i would prob be bidding on something that don't work again. Forums cool, lots of Q&A, and help that my local, so called mechanic, can't answer.
Griff

[rover]

You live in Utah, and you are a Green Bay Packer fan, ALL RIGHT ! ! !

[fredintoon]

tree swapping

Grifff wanted to swap his Standard trees for Specials (ya gotta do both top & bottom trees or the legs will be a bitch to get in even if Marty managed to do so) for cosmetic reasons. Lucky for Grifff he didn't do it.
The two tree sets have different distances from the steering post to the fork legs.
Swapping Standard trees onto a Special will move the fork legs forward to significantly reduce the trail which in turn lightens the steering. This is good for sidecar work and is why I did just that on my XS11SG.
Doing the reverse as Grifff planned will significantly increase the Standard's trail and make it's steering a whole bunch heavier.
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[sidecarKev]

For even more ifo.
http://webpages.charter.net/kbhahn/xs11/trail.JPG

I put an upper special tree on my lower standard tree. It raked the forks in the trees and gave me less trail. Also for use with a sidecar. Wouldn't try it on a solo.

[fredintoon]

wrong e-pal

Oops! I ratted out the wrong guy.
Sorry to blacken your name there Marty, in this instance you are entirely innocent.
Kevin, it shoulda been your name in there, indeed you already confessed.
But you will admit it was a bitch to get those staggered trees to accept the fork tubes, right?
Fred Hill, S'toon.

[sidecarKev]

Well it was a little difficult, not to bad though. The offsets of the two must be at least .25" different. It was a heck of a lot easier and cheaper (free) for to do this than to find some special forks and calipers.