CB350 fork upgrade to CB450

[CBTim]

Hi all
I own a CB350 (72) and I want to "upgrade" the front fork.
I would like to replace the fork for a CB450 fork because they should be better then the stock 350 forks.
Anyone has done this before?

 

[plagrone]

Search, mang. There's a thread with a huge list of compatible fork swaps based on fork diameter. Search "compatibility list" maybe? I'll see if I can find it

 

[plagrone]

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=18092

 

[VonYinzer]

The issue with that swap is that although the 450 forks are 35mm in comparison to the 350s 33mm ones, it's still a crappy 70s Honda fork. You'd be better suited finding a good modern(ish) front end to adapt or spending your money updating the internals of the stock ones. Or of course you could get the 450 front end and upgrade it.

 

[xb33bsa]

the problem with most MODERN front swaps is they are off a bike with a steep head angle and they have triples with about half as much offset as the vintage bike
what this will do is make the vintage bike steer heavy,because you will end up with too much trail, it is far from ideal

 

[ohiocaferacer]

Dont use a CB450 fork.....pretty much same as the CB350. If you want a vintage fork.....try a CB550 front end. You can get emulators from Race Tech and tune them.....alot of the road racers use the CB550 fork for this reason.

 

[runmikeyrun]

I have the front end off a CB500T (twin) and, while the entire bike is in 1000 pieces, I've got most of the parts including some extras to adapt it to dual discs. Some people here advise that dual discs are not necessary and add extra weight, I suppose once I get the bike together I will see what's up. But yeah there's a bunch of threads out there on how to do this, as well as a page that someone has that outlines how to do the dual discs, and it's not difficult:

http://www.salocal.com/sohc/tech/dual_disks/dual_disks.htm

Good luck, I am eagerly anticipating doing mine, as i'm about ready to send the parts for the front end out for powdercoat... just need top triple, one more caliper and rotor.

 

[frogman]

Dont use a CB450 fork.....pretty much same as the CB350. If you want a vintage fork.....try a CB550 front end. You can get emulators from Race Tech and tune them.....alot of the road racers use the CB550 fork for this reason.

69-71 450 forks are based off of same years CB 750s, they have the same tubes, guts, sliders, just lighter springs, front wheel, tire, and brakes are the same. 72+ 450 forks are based off of the cb500-550 forks again just lighter springs because the bike weighs less. Again same wheels and brakes. Either is a good way to get a 19" wheel on the front end which has better options for tires, and still fit unlike a 350. Later forks are better as they are dual action damping, which is better in the feels for riding and racing.

450's got raced a lot during their time, there are plenty of speed options for them. Then again so did 350's.

Nothing wrong with swapping the 450 front end onto a 350, was a period swap anyway, just do the entire thing, trees, forks, etc. Should bolt right in with the correct bearings from All Balls.