Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 851 / 888 > Fork Conversion

[aka.eric]

Sometime ago did somebody mention converting their 888 forks to the 748/9-- variety.Is the conversion complete,was it worth it?

[Screwy]

Recently sourced all the bits for this as i was told it was possible .
Well it is, but you need to make up and fit a new stem for the bottom yoke as there is'nt a suitable taper bearing to suit the 851/888 headstock 916/748 stem.

I toyed with the idea of making up some cups to suit the 851 headstock but unfortunately the 916 stem is also to long and I figured making up a spacer to sit under the stem nut would have looked naff

I may make up a new stem for the bottom yoke and make the sod,s fit but then theres also the ignition switch mounting,lockstops sorting and speedo drive/frontwheel to think about .

In all honesty I might be better off getting the M1R,s rebuilt (topping out atm) or finding some early 900SS forks .

[philthy]

Seems like a good idea at the time doesn't it?

I've got loads of ' good ideas ' in boxes at the back of my garage.

I've now worked out that the for the hundreds of pounds I've spent on good ideas I could have done a proper job on the original item.

Maxtons can transform the original front forks. Might be worth asking for a price

http://www.esling.btinternet.co.uk/maxton/

[aka.eric]

Had the forks on my first 888 fettled by Maxton,excellent job.But got a pair of P34 calipers spare,so thinking two birds one stone.
Original 888 forks+Maxton treatment+40mm GP calipers = £ lots
748/9.. forks+P34 calipers(£0.00) = £ better.

[jgriff]

Screwy, get the 900ss Showa front end, you loose a bit of steering lock, but definantly worth the upgrade. Sets come up on ebay all the time. Then you can rebound and compression dampening to play with. An easy job,except for the lower bearing replacement, that is always painful, the whole lot just fits in.

[Screwy]

Originally Posted by jgriff

Screwy, get the 900ss Showa front end, you loose a bit of steering lock, but definantly worth the upgrade. Sets come up on ebay all the time. Then you can rebound and compression dampening to play with. An easy job,except for the lower bearing replacement, that is always painful, the whole lot just fits in.

Ive had zero luck with 900SS forks and yokes on Ebay in all honesty , hence ending up with a 916/748 front end which I should have really researched a bit better , Unfortunately I ended up talking at cross purposes with someone on another forum and bought the forks/yokes before getting all the info

[Screwy]

Originally Posted by aka.eric

Had the forks on my first 888 fettled by Maxton,excellent job.But got a pair of P34 calipers spare,so thinking two birds one stone.
Original 888 forks+Maxton treatment+40mm GP calipers = £ lots
748/9.. forks+P34 calipers(£0.00) = £ better.

Well ive got a set of 916/748 forks + yokes sat here doing nothing