Fork ID

[firko]

Can anyone identify the forks on this XL Honda please?
                                                                            
                                                                            

[Nathan S]

Marzocchi?
The axle clamp area looks like Zokes, although the top part of the lower leg looks like late-70s Yamaha.

I think it's 'cosmetically challenged', but its a cool example of the much maligned XL175.

[Slakewell]

My guess is aftermarket ceranis I have seen a very similar pair of the same vintage

[firko]

I think it's 'cosmetically challenged', but its a cool example of the much maligned XL175.

It's actually a C&J framed XL350 Nathan. It is indeed very cosmetically challenged, but not for long.
Both leading axle Ceriani and Marzocci have a strengthening flange going from the axle pinchbolt boss to aproximately half way up the leading side of the forks. I too thought they were Marzocci's but they've been eliminated.
I'm beginning to think they're Japanese but they're not like anything I'm familiar with.

[firko]

I've gone even further into the murky depths of Italian forkery and have discovered that Marzocci make a few different 38mm leading axle sliders. We've come to the opinion that the Marzocci's shown below are the closest to what's on our C&J. The triple clamps appear to have little or no offset as per Maico and Marzocci and barring the small flange on the front of the slider, everything else seems to be the same (or at least, similar). [/i] We're still open to further expert opinion though........Flowerpot Ben?


                                                                         

                                                                                     
                                           

[Nathan S]

Here's the pair of forks I sold to another NSW OzVMXer several years ago. He seemed pretty confident that were Marzocchis at the time. They were on an XT250K when they came into my life, so that offers no clue as to their origin.







(Re the 175 vs 350 - I couldn't pick the motor, and the front hub sucked me in. Still ugly and cool).

[Montynut]

they look like 41.5mm Marzocchi the same as fitted to '84 KTM 250. They had the same brake tab as used on Yamaha YZ J-L and no rib up the front of the fork
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=1984+ktm+250&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Uld3UYiOE8bRiAe504EQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDAQsAQ&biw=1678&bih=862#imgrc=GXuJv3OQD-ztuM%3A%3BEpcN02HsK1VU_M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fgeorgiaoffroad.com%252Fimages%252Fdirtbikes%252Fktm%252Fmx%252F1137968439_1984ktmmx250.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fgeorgiaoffroad.com%252Freview_dirtbike.php%253Fmodelid%253D939%3B384%3B260

[Slakewell]

These are some Zoc around 1980 vintage

[John Orchard]

To conform it I would need to see a pic of the left side fork but the right side fork looks just like my KX250A5 38mm fork.

[flower pot racing]

Here's the pair of forks I sold to another NSW OzVMXer several years ago. He seemed pretty confident that were Marzocchis at the time. They were on an XT250K when they came into my life, so that offers no clue as to their origin.







(Re the 175 vs 350 - I couldn't pick the motor, and the front hub sucked me in. Still ugly and cool).

The forks in the front of that Yamaha are Marzocchi, but the yokes are not, probably the Yamaha yokes that came on the bike

[flower pot racing]

My guess is aftermarket ceranis I have seen a very similar pair of the same vintage

In that era Ceriani has stopped and became Samfis  (same thing different name)

I have some 38mm Samfis on the bench at the moment for a mates Gori and they arent the same as the ones in Firkos pics.  The Samfis forks I have have a removeable bottom that unscrews like CCM and mid 1970s Maico etc

I dont think they are Ceriani

[flower pot racing]

At first glance I would say they are Marzocchi, especially when I look at the casting detail by the axle.  But, I am not familiar with the area of the fork by the seals.  I have never seen a set of Marzocchi bulge like that.  Look at the pics people have posted, they dont look like that in the seal area.  Also by the bottom of rubber cover it looks like it has been fitted into a machined recess (?) and I havent seen a set of Marzocchis from that era done like this (later on yes, but in the 70s no).

The up shot of that is that on first glance, yes, Marzocchi, but when I look closely I am included to say no (definately not) and that they are probably of japanise origin ~ and I know very little about Jap bikes so wouldnt have a clue about what they could be off!

Not sure about the yokes as I can see any of the detail in the picture.  Definately not Marzocchi, but could look a little bit like Simons?  Would like to see a close pic.....

Nice bike though!