Xs750-2d forks on an XT500

[teledan]

Hey all,
I am working on a project and was wondering if someone could help me out with some information. I have a Yamaha XT500 and I am looking at doing a front end swap. The XT500 has 36mm fork tubes and I found out that the 77 xs750-2d does as well. I am hoping that I can use the tubes from an xs750-2d with the stock XT500 trees and then run the wheel from the xs750-2d as well. My main question is, how far apart are the tubes on the xs? Would someone be willing to measure their forks for me? I am specifically wondering about the xs750-2d because they have 36mm tubes, I think the xs750d might have 35mm tubes. I plan on running a single R6 caliper with an fzr600 rotor on the front end as well. Has anybody done this on an xs750-2d? Any help would be much appreciated!

-Dan

 

[teledan]

These are the forks I am talking about:

http://www.partzilla.com/parts/search/Yamaha/Motorcycle/1977/XS750-2D/FRONT+FORK+%28XS750-2D%29/parts.html

Notice the "webbing" on the fender mount tabs.

 

[xb33bsa]

is it the XT with leading axl forks ?

 

[teledan]

Yes, it is an 81 so it had the leading axle forks.

 

[xb33bsa]

you need xs triples as well then, OR earlier straight leg XT/TT triples
not enough offset in you're xt triples,trail numbers will be whack, heavy, slow steering response the result

 

[teledan]

I was afraid that might be the case. That should be fine though, I can find some trees. Does anyone know the differences between the earlier xt trees and the later (leading axle) trees? Is it mainly just the offset? Or is the width different as well? Will the earlier trees bolt right up to my 81 frame?

 

[xb33bsa]

i think for sure the head bearings are the same the wheels never changed so width should be the same
as long as the disc wheel setup fits you're fork spacing now you should be fine
sounds like you are prepared to do some fab/machine work anyway

 

[teledan]

Yes, I will need to get a rotor spacer made as well as the caliper adapter but from the measurements I have taken, it looks like the fork tube spacing is the same on an XT500 as it is on an XS750-2D. If that is the case, I won't need to make any wheel spacers and I can just use the stock XS750 wheel, axle, spacers, etc.

 

[teledan]

Well, I ended up finding some XS650 forks for a good price so I am just going to run those instead. Started mocking up the wheel with the brake parts: