Now here's one for the serious YZ collector

[Woody]

Came across this very cool RC model kit on evilbay. Love to add it to the collection but way too pricey for me. Just noticed that it's a member of the 'forks on backwards' club.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Raritat-kyosho-graupner-Yamaha-yz-250-cross-Neu-unbenutzt-4943-von-1980-/121070616097?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D5888150416678303795%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D121071384905%26



translation;
Offer of a rarity at Graupner Kyosho. Yamaha YZ 250 Motto cross from Graupner Kyosho1980. New unused kit. Box has shelf wear. Model would have to stick completely sein.die knobs are also porous. Schematic and parts list are also on board. Kit was 33 years in a shop and was never sold. The only thing I noticed ist.es both tires are the same size in diameter. Spokes of the wheels and the frame are made ??of metal. It is even the rare driver figure dabei.Ebenfalls New and unused. Model is for collectors. Scale is 1:4.5 Ask on or more pictures just send a mail. No warranty or return.

[MX?]

Geez 
Wonder what the reserve is?

[maico police]

Speaking of the 'forks on backwards club', this is a real YZ 450 that races....

[jerry]

Shorter wheelbase,steeper rake should turn well. Unsure about straight line stability. J

[maico police]

Fork angle is the same and wheel base has nothing to do with it.

Straight line stability and steering is brilliant.

[GMC]

Looks dodgy, wheelbase will be shorter, rake will be the same but trail will be reduced.
Trouble with reducing the trail so much is that as the suspension compresses the trail will be reduced even more and may even run into the negative.
I'm sure it would be very twitchy when bottoming out in gullies etc.

[Nathan S]

Brake pad mounting points would cop a pounding - wouldn't surprise me if it flogged out the locating hole well before it wore the pads out.

[John Orchard]

Actually trail is increased; trail is the distance the tyre contact patch is 'trailing' the line drawn down through the steering pivot, moving the axle back would move the contact patch further back.  Plus due to the angle of the forks, rotating them would move the axle clamp height lower further increasing trail.  Wheelbase would be shortened.

I imagine it would make steering very heavy but with good feedback, I'd be interested to see how it does steer.  I saw a bike with the same set-up at a Broadford Dirt-track about a month ago; maybe it's a new rage?

[John Orchard]

Brake pad mounting points would cop a pounding - wouldn't surprise me if it flogged out the locating hole well before it wore the pads out.

Agreed

[John Orchard]

Makes me think about the old 'Hattah' forks on the old F7 175 Kawa I rode in '74