Help Identify these forks...Pretty Please!
- Thread starter Jbone
- Start date
Jbone
New Member
Good point...kinda what I was getting at I suppose. My thoughts were anything could work in theory, but as this will be the first custom job for me, Im still figuring out all the angles and thought I'd ask anyways.
The only issues I am thinking of are mounting the triple so it will fit the head tube and making sure the axle will fit the forks.....am I forgetting something in that equation?
The only issues I am thinking of are mounting the triple so it will fit the head tube and making sure the axle will fit the forks.....am I forgetting something in that equation?
Jbone
New Member
A few reason's... mostly for asthetics as I like the look of the ones in the picutre above for a cleaner look. I have an idea on the look I'd like to achieve and having that type of front end is part of it. Going for a classic meets a subtle new kinda thing....and Im not sure if I want to go with a nice low rise flat track bar or clip ons. If I go clip on's, Im not sure they would mount well with the taper on the upper end of the OEM forks....and I do not like the old school upside down cafe racer bars.... My dad had those and they cut the turning radius in half and bash the tank.
I dunno...its hard to explain and the purests usually yell at me for even mentioning changing anything from OEM. I get it, as I am the same with older Ducati's, but I also feel that in the spirit of what this site is all about, one needs to have a bit faith sometimes.
Besides, I have the original parts and if thinkgs don't look the way I want them too, I can always swap things out.
I dunno...its hard to explain and the purests usually yell at me for even mentioning changing anything from OEM. I get it, as I am the same with older Ducati's, but I also feel that in the spirit of what this site is all about, one needs to have a bit faith sometimes.
Besides, I have the original parts and if thinkgs don't look the way I want them too, I can always swap things out.
You do realize that making any change to a BSA could lead to excommunication for somewhere sometime. OK. As long as you understand the risks.........
Those look like R6 or Bandit forks but as someone mentioned, there are a few that look plain like that. You will probably want to get some custom triple clamps rather than wide forks and a narrow wheel or a mag fat front wheel, but that gets back to what looks right to you. I used to fit clip ons to everything but now I leave clipons on race bikes and prefer that Street tracker or Superbike look for the streets. There is nowhere that I can do the ton except on the track, and not a whole lot of twsities round here, so I choose to be comfortable all the time and use higher rise bars on the street.
Those look like R6 or Bandit forks but as someone mentioned, there are a few that look plain like that. You will probably want to get some custom triple clamps rather than wide forks and a narrow wheel or a mag fat front wheel, but that gets back to what looks right to you. I used to fit clip ons to everything but now I leave clipons on race bikes and prefer that Street tracker or Superbike look for the streets. There is nowhere that I can do the ton except on the track, and not a whole lot of twsities round here, so I choose to be comfortable all the time and use higher rise bars on the street.
Jbone
New Member
teazer said:
LOL! Yes I realize....Im not worried....even though I may have a beard, it is stylish and cool and not bushy and grey and down to my chest.....not that there's anything wrong with that....in other words, I rarely come across the Purest Elite as we run in different circles
Besides...Im using my Dad and Uncle to bounce designs off of. They're not purests, but are well picky when it comes to the classics, so if I can please their eyes, I'll be happy to let the haters hate 8)
Scruffy
West Tennessee
Man I'd have that in a rigid with a girder so fast MY neck would snap... If you want to stay with old style glide forks, DRUM CB450 would be close... Had a set of those on a 64 T120C because they were free and got it to roll around the yard.
There is a twin carb 69 BSA 650 for sale locally, if I had $3200 to spare right now, I'd own it... and it would get chopped out. The right way, straight out of East Bay CA circa 1972.
There is a twin carb 69 BSA 650 for sale locally, if I had $3200 to spare right now, I'd own it... and it would get chopped out. The right way, straight out of East Bay CA circa 1972.
Jbone
New Member
Ok, after fiddling around with XS650 front end that a friend gave me, I realize that I may have asked to wrong question here. You guys are right and the forks don't really matter and what I needed to know was, what triple trees do you think those are?
The Xs triples were a close match in terms of stem width and bearing cone size. But ultimately the top of the triple from the XS650 does not have a flat enough profile to work with the BSA frame. The reason is that there is a flange for a steering lock on the top of the BSA head tube and the top of the XS triple has two nuts that stick out underneath that stop it from mounting flush.
So... Im thinking a custom triple set up is going to be the order of the day. The bottom Triple and stem could work, but I'd have to alter the top of the stem as its a bit too long. It is also tapered at the top so I think Im gonna need either a custom triple tree set up OR just a custom top to the triple....maybe something like this:
http://www.mikesxs.net/product/19-0304.html
Once I figure out the triple set up, forks should be easy...I pulled a detailed list of fork diameters from this site.
EDIT: I found the auction page for that picture I posted above and apparently the front end is from a HD sportster
The Xs triples were a close match in terms of stem width and bearing cone size. But ultimately the top of the triple from the XS650 does not have a flat enough profile to work with the BSA frame. The reason is that there is a flange for a steering lock on the top of the BSA head tube and the top of the XS triple has two nuts that stick out underneath that stop it from mounting flush.
So... Im thinking a custom triple set up is going to be the order of the day. The bottom Triple and stem could work, but I'd have to alter the top of the stem as its a bit too long. It is also tapered at the top so I think Im gonna need either a custom triple tree set up OR just a custom top to the triple....maybe something like this:
http://www.mikesxs.net/product/19-0304.html
Once I figure out the triple set up, forks should be easy...I pulled a detailed list of fork diameters from this site.
EDIT: I found the auction page for that picture I posted above and apparently the front end is from a HD sportster
Scruffy
West Tennessee
Not all Sportsters had Showa front ends. Most of the drum fronts pre-date HD sourcing Honda suspension components. Let alone all the other Japanese parts that have been on them since the early 1970s. Like starters, alternators, carburetors, ignition boxes, voltage regulators, lights (Stanley of Japan), Evo heads (Kawasaki design started during the AMF days), brake rotors/calipers/master cylinders, tires (Dunlop of Japan)...
Jbone
New Member
teazer said:
My first street bike was a '03 Hornet 600cc version....I think they're called 599's in the States. Im thinking the forks from that would be massive overkill on the A50. But maybe not....now that I look a pictures of it again, the showas don't look like anything special.....Hmmm. Interesting developments....
