OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Quicksilver on August 01, 2009, 08:46:04 pm
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I am toying with the idea of fitting a recently acquired late 1990's Yamaha YZ upsidedown fork front end into my 1980 Suzuki PE400. The YZ front is aprox 1.5 inch longer then the original PE however I will be dropping the rim size from 21 inch to 18 on the front so extra fork length shouldn't be a problem.
I was counting on the late model front improving the PE's road handeling on tar road surface. The extra braking power supplied by the disc will be a welcome improvement. The PE will be running 18 inch rims front and rear with road tyres as the bike will be used 98% of the time on puplic streets. A spare pair of wheels with wet weather racing tyres will also be prepared for local oil track rides 6 or 7 times a year.
Has anyone done this sort of thing before? Any pit falls I should know about? Please offer any opinions for or against this swap in regard to handeling improvements.
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Sorry mate, I can't be any help on the technical side of things, but it does sound like it'll be a wild ride. Good Luck.
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What! :o
No one has ever put late front end into an old bike! Find that hard to believe. ;D
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this bike was on ebay over a year ago. Someone on this forum bought it and sourced the correct PE forks for it, then i saw it on ebay again. i have no idea who has it now but it had ohlins shocks with red and blue fittings on the hoses.
I remember the first time it was sold on ebay the seller said the front end was RMX250 USD forks.
(http://fhq7hw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pJHZP1wB96YF-xWS1JbDVCZjT3eWB-dK5f8ntgQAmUuVm--A-2Ol8zy7MokCXb9IcdbTbJQHHGT7zxzmohoxrqg/9def_1.jpg)
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drew
i put a late modle suziki front end in my 1979 it400.it wa great and stopped well.machined the suziki tripples so they fitted the it headstock.made spaces for the bottom bearings to sit on and bolted eveything up.look what stearing head bearings you can get to match your headstock and tripples and go from there.
i even have gtmx80 forks and alloy tripples in my hagon slider
cheers
jim
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I would be struggling to think of a better road bike ;), but of course everything fits everything and the front end will fit, just whip up a new steering head stem, I just fitted Simons forks to XL250 frame and it was no problem. Why not.
Another option is to fit a GSXR front end and lengthen the forks, that way you can run 17" tyres.
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Thanks men ;). I may have look for other claims the bump stops for Yamaha are in a completely different location. RMX might be the go.
LWC, that PE looks ok with later front end. Disc a lot safer for round town road use then the old drum.
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I think it might be best to use a Suzuki front end. The bike has been sitting gathering dust for a months. Time I get it out and continue working on it.
The plan is run wheels something like these.
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/Quicksilver_032/motardrims.jpg)
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I have a project one that I am sourcing a front disc end for it would be a great bike to ride in the high country with my uncle and still keep up with the new stuff and have peice of mind when you look at going down a big hill you can stop thanks Michael. :)
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Does anyone know where this bike went? I would like to talk to owner about the front end or the person that fitted the front end. The YZ front is not gunna work in the PE. Spent hours this morning trying different things. YZ clamps are the wrong shape and hit the tank way before full lock, even tried a smaller RM400 tank and still had the same problem. Would be fine if you only wanted to ride in a straight line. ;D
(http://fhq7hw.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pJHZP1wB96YF-xWS1JbDVCZjT3eWB-dK5f8ntgQAmUuVm--A-2Ol8zy7MokCXb9IcdbTbJQHHGT7zxzmohoxrqg/9def_1.jpg)
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AT LAST. A front end that fits. I tried 7 different models/brands of front ends today the solution was 41mm TS 250X disc brake front. From bottom clamp to axle lug is aprox 2 inch longer on the TS then the original PE, perfect for fitting an 18 inch front wheel. Not quite the type of front end I had planned on using but it will have to do for now
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/Quicksilver_032/DSC03453.jpg)
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I will have to keep an eye out for a ts250x front end is that the original triple trees? becuase arent the original 36mm or did the ts triples sit straight on thanks alot Michael.
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Nah frosty, it all ts including the clamps. ;) Just gotta find TS250X headlight, speedo and stuff to mount on it now.
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Are you sure they are TS250 forks? i thought they were all 38mm, well at least 84-87 and from the measurements Doc gave me they had less travel than the standard PE forks.
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Hope so......... They were marked TS250X in wreckers yellow pen. Everthing just fitted nicely. If not TS250X what do think they might be?
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i have a ts250x under the house i am sure the fork
dia is the same as the PE
and they are slightly shorter ???
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Interesting. Maybe they were marked wrong. Just measured them again, 41mm for sure. Heres a few exra pictures of clamps, maybe that will help with an ID. Bottom clamp is cast steel not alloy.
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/Quicksilver_032/DSC03461.jpg)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/Quicksilver_032/DSC03462.jpg)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/Quicksilver_032/DSC03457.jpg)
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dont know what they are look a bit like tt yammy maybe
definately not tx 250 suzy
check date stamp on the rim ;)
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And then tell frosty he needs a set. :)
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dont know what they are look a bit like tt yammy maybe
definately not tx 250 suzy
check date stamp on the rim ;)
holesot... The rim won't help with ID mate its one I had from other bike, its a CR125 hub on 18 inch rim. ;)
I checked all over it front end for tell tail Suzuki S bolts. There are none!
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i thought that was a honda wheel looking at hub
was gunna say something :o
i still think they are yamaha ;)
but if they fit and are gunna work use em ;)
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I'd like to know what they are so i can put some on a project of mine. Suzuki trees don't always have S stamped bolts alot are just stamped with a number thanks, Michael. :)
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i thought that was a honda wheel looking at hub
was gunna say something :o
i still think they are yamaha ;)
but if they fit and are gunna work use em ;)
I think your right. Looking a few sets of TT600 and TT350 forks ( after you mentioned it ;) ) on USA ebay my fork legs look very close as does top clamp to TT Yamaha. The cast botom clamps seems to be very close in shape but the TT use's alloy.
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hex key fork cap as well ;)
ts250x forks would be ideal slide straight in original
triples not a bad brake slightly shorter in overall length from
top of fork to axle cant remember how much but its not a lot
i have a set i was thinking of putting on my pe400 as well
i certainly ride it fast with the drum brake
but thats only cause i cant stop ::)
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The " Whatever " front end worked out well. Longer forks and smaller wheel married together nicely. The ride height I think is very good, nice balance between front and rear. Got to do something with the guards ;D PE headlight clipped on over the 41mm forks, speedo bracket holes lined up perfectly on the top clamp. ;)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/Quicksilver_032/DSC03469.jpg)
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looking good Quicky, good to know that the pe headlight will pop on larger forks thanks Michael. :)
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Thanks Michael. I like that way its coming together. ;)
That PE light is fairly old, soft and very faded, maybe that helped ;D. Real test for fitment will come when I try a new repro light plastic. That is if I decide to go with a PE light. ;)
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Here is a few more pictures of the forks. I hope they may lead to a positive ID on these.
Some possible's offered are Yamaha TT or XT600 or 350. Suzuki TS200 import model. Honda 81 model CR250. No one yet has been able to say " these are " Thanks to the blokes who have posted, PM'd or emailed a possiblity.
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/Quicksilver_032/DSC03471.jpg)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/Quicksilver_032/DSC03473.jpg)
(http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii279/Quicksilver_032/DSC03474.jpg)
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emmmmmmmm. Forks look a hell of a lot like these.
http://ozvmx.com/community/index.php?topic=9973.0
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Yeah they do look close it's hard to see if the little tab on the bottom of the forks is on those ones. I dont think it is I'd really like to know what ones work so I can get some for one of my projects thanks Michael.
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Info emailed to me by of forum member said he know's for sure TS200 import had 41mm forks. The 125 in that other topic have same bottom legs as mine. TS200 id say would use longer forks then the 125. Looking as if TS200 could of been the donour. Might explain why they were marked TS250 when I got them.
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Yeah. 100% sure now what I have TS200R front end. Hard to believe front from a smaller bike only 10 years later in model would have such long thick forks compared to PE250/400. However that is case.
Frosty. Here you go young fella.
Same as mine with cast bottom clamp. These are 125 but same I think, You would need to research that. Could be slightly shorter
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SUZUKI-TSR125-TS125R-SET-OF-FORKS_W0QQitemZ300338120219QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycle_Parts?hash=item45ed8c061b
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Thanks Quicky I will be chasing a ts200r front end for sure if any one has one let me know. It should be good when yours is a motard with a slight gear change you could put more speed into it my 400's both go about 130km. but reving to much really and you could blow the motor if you are cruising to much sprocket change will fix it thanks Michael. :)
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Thanks Quicky I will be chasing a ts200r front end for sure if any one has one let me know. It should be good when yours is a motard with a slight gear change you could put more speed into it my 400's both go about 130km. but reving to much really and you could blow the motor if you are cruising to much sprocket change will fix it thanks Michael. :)
Frosty.............95% of the time it will remain in town limits and will only be a tar jocky. I was looking at the PE speedo with its 160km dial just yesterday thought to myself, that a joke. ;D And even if it would! ;) :D
The bike build has been inspired by the motard bikes of today, after having and riding my sons DRZ400SM for week I now 100% believe it is possible to have a dirt bike and make it handel on the tar. Some of the idea's I had planned won't happen for various reasons, like the USD front end. Modern motard wheels are now also out, the 5 inch rear just wont work. So I will use idea's from modern motard style and make adjustments to fit in with old school bike.
I am looking forward to this build very much. Not too often I build a custom. Last was an XR75 at least 2 years ago. Restored a few bikes since then and I am so looking forward to just building a bike to ride and enjoy without all the stress, restrictions and pressure a restoration has. Customs don't need to correct. ;D No one cares if this or that isnt right. 8)
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Hi Quicky the 400's handle really well anyway quite nimble and if you are on actual slicks it will be great fun on tar my 400's on standard gearing and my 400t is stock it will do 130km if you dont want the speedo let me know. You could give it heaps more go up top with a sprocket set change but you'd lose bottom end. Read old magazines on the pe400 you can short change with no dramas and go through the gears as quick as you can change them my 400x will do wheelies in 1st 5th no dramas stock gearing thanks Michael. :)