Ohlins upside down forks

[brent j]

Kevin
I agree with you and suggest that if you have then on a bike you need to be in a position to provide proof that they were available pre 90 and the ones you have were in fact the ones available.
I can here it at the next Nationals - "but they were Ok at the last race meeting I went to"  :'(
211

I'm not trying to be a smart arse here but does available mean available to the public or available to factory race teams

[evo550]

It doesn't matter who it was available to (factory or production) before 31 Dec 1989, they would still be legal if manufactured before that date.

[JohnnyO]

It doesn't matter who it was available to (factory or production) before 31 Dec 1989, they would still be legal if manufactured before that date.

Thats not necessarily correct, works Hondas had alloy swingarms in 1974 and Yamaha had watercooling in 76 but you can't use them in their respective classes in vmx.

[KTM47]

With regards Ohlin USD forks.  If someone had some works Ohlin USD forks from 1986 or so maybe they could be used on a Pre90 bike.  However the 46 mm Ohlin USD forks with external compression and rebound adjustment appear to be available in 1998.  I just sold a bike that had these forks on it.  It was raced in the 2000 MX GPs.

So it is very unlikely that 46mm Ohlin USD forks would have been made in 1989.  So they should not be legal for Pre 90. If the owner of a bike with them on thinks they are legal he or she needs to be able to prove it.

[evo550]

It doesn't matter who it was available to (factory or production) before 31 Dec 1989, they would still be legal if manufactured before that date.

Thats not necessarily correct, works Hondas had alloy swingarms in 1974 and Yamaha had watercooling in 76 but you can't use them in their respective classes in vmx.

Why can't you run a alloy swingarm on a pre 75 bike, if it was built before 31 Dec 1974 whats the prob? (same with w/cooling on pre 78)

[mustanggrahame]

Water cooling is fine for pre78 just not for Evo.

[JohnnyO]

It doesn't matter who it was available to (factory or production) before 31 Dec 1989, they would still be legal if manufactured before that date.

Thats not necessarily correct, works Hondas had alloy swingarms in 1974 and Yamaha had watercooling in 76 but you can't use them in their respective classes in vmx.

Why can't you run a alloy swingarm on a pre 75 bike, if it was built before 31 Dec 1974 whats the prob? (same with w/cooling on pre 78)

You couldn't buy an alloy swingarms for a Honda in 74 and you couldn't buy a water cooled mx bike in 76/77..
Surely you know the ruling on these?

[JohnnyO]

Water cooling is fine for pre78 just not for Evo.

No it isn't, it's not legal until the pre 85 class even though you could buy a Shinobi water cooled head in 77...

[SON]

Sometimes
Who gives a $&@? About what's $&@?ing legal

[KTM47]

Well I care. 

That's why I started the thread.  I got several answers that I believe show that the 46mm Ohlin USD forks were not available until 1998.  So does anyone think they should be permitted in Pre 90?

Also you can't use the excuse that everyone seems to except any modern shocks. I'm sure if someone had a shock that looked and worked totally differently from what was used when a bike was new there would be objections.

[Slakewell]

IMO the gold ohlins forks should not be allowed in pre 90. There are plenty of white power forks around if you must have something different.

[SON]

Well I care. 

That's why I started the thread.  I got several answers that I believe show that the 46mm Ohlin USD forks were not available until 1998.  So does anyone think they should be permitted in Pre 90?

Also you can't use the excuse that everyone seems to except any modern shocks. I'm sure if someone had a shock that looked and worked totally differently from what was used when a bike was new there would be objections.

What do you think of Gold Valves and Modern shocks ?

[evo550]

Water cooling is fine for pre78 just not for Evo.

No it isn't, it's not legal until the pre 85 class even though you could buy a Shinobi water cooled head in 77...

What rule outlaws them? If Shinobi built w/cooled heads in '77 (I think Noguchi did kits for yz125d's as well) then they are just an aftermarket, era specific component. Aren't they??
What rule outlaws era specific works components as well ?

[Nathan S]

JohnnyO needs to read what the rules say, not what they used to say or he's been told they mean.

Unless the rules specifically prohibit water cooling (as the Evo rules do), then the period-correct Shinobi water cooling kits are 100% A-OK.

Same goes for any other component, including swingarms: if it existed in the era, then it is acceptable unless the rules specifically prohibit it.

[KTM47]

Well I care. 

That's why I started the thread.  I got several answers that I believe show that the 46mm Ohlin USD forks were not available until 1998.  So does anyone think they should be permitted in Pre 90?

Also you can't use the excuse that everyone seems to except any modern shocks. I'm sure if someone had a shock that looked and worked totally differently from what was used when a bike was new there would be objections.

What do you think of Gold Valves and Modern shocks ?

While there isn't a rule that says you can, I believe anything internal should be free.  So fork internals free.  If you end up with external adjusters, that is not internal so NO.  As for modern shocks they should look era correct.

This is my opinion.