M1R's to USD's

[851neil]

Ok question time, I need something to do over winter and was thinking of getting hold of a USD (916 Showa or later Ohlins ??)front end for the 851...
So any advice on what I should / could go for that will still, hopefully, retain the front wheel currently fitted ??
Also would I use the 916 yokes and steer tube ??
I havn't a clue really, so would appreciate some advice.
cheers

Neil

[Screwy]

Possibly going down the same route this winter . What I dont understand is where all the 916 yokes go :puzzled: Plenty of 916 fork legs on Ebay but never any yokes . Ive been told 900SS fork,s will do also.

I,m pretty sure you,ll need to use the 916 yokes as the legs are 53mm diameter iirc and the 900SS is 50mm top yoke 54mm bottom yoke cant help with the steering tube or wheel have'nt got that far yet , But I would imagine that if tube length isnt a problem a change of bearing is an option if it doesnt fit diameter wise and i would imagine the same would probably apply to the wheel .

Just conjecture on my part hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly .

[KeefyB]

Front spindle on the 916 is differant to the 888.You will have to do something with bearings and spacers to make the 888 wheel fit.
Carby SS forks are the way to go as they are virtually identical to '91 onwards 851/888 Showa's.

[Rob B]

Go to Cyclecat guys, they make a yoke conversion for the 53mm to 8xx bikes. Bling too.

Rgds, Rob

[FiscusFish]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/fiscusfish/SBK-forks.jpg

[philthy]

I'll give you a fiver for your old forks, yes? ;)

[851neil]

yeah right - a fiver should do it...lol

[philthy]

Ooh goody - I'll pay the postage if you like.



:D;)

[paynep]

Yup,
I can confirm that carb SS yokes are the same as USD 851/888 yokes.
If you have access to a machine shop you can use carb Monster ones too if you get the bar clamps taken off.......

I've raced a 888 with Showas and the forks were better than me, so I never went the Ohlins route.......

[Monty]

"I've raced a 888 with Showas and the forks were better than me" That's because-at least whenever I've seen you-you always drop it in the gravel..........:lol::lol::lol:

Sorry Paul-couldn't resist.

John

[851neil]

ooooh catty :D

[Iconic944ss]

Quite interested in this thread as I might change the forks on my TD bike over to 43mm units from the std 41mm items.

Is setting up the front end simply a case of getting the bottom yoke the same height from the floor as std or should there be more measurements to make???

900ss forks are 50mm diameter at the top BTW - mine have been out often enough and interestingly Yammy R1 forks are also 50mm in diameter - there was a thread on here for clip-ons I believe that listed the various sizes of fork diameter (or try a search for Vortex clipons on the net)

Frank

[crust]

Originally posted by paynep

If you have access to a machine shop you can use carb Monster ones too if you get the bar clamps taken off.......



The handlebar clamps on a Monster are held on by the handlebar bolts.

You'll need to bore out the top yolk and fit spacers to the bottom yolk.

:)Crust

[851neil]

Ok, the most obvious thing I've missed is to ask if there is any difference in fork lengths ? can anybody tell me what the measurement is from the top of the fork leg to the centre of the spindle on a 916/996/998.
cheers

Neil

[Rob B]

Not enough to be an issue. This conversion has been done by a few, Fiscus and Clayton to name but two.

[851neil]

cheers Rob, also saw your response to my query in the 9** area - cheers mate.
Neil

[851neil]

got the forks - just need the yokes now - I've u2'd fiscus as those cyclecat yokes look amazing, but if anybody is aware of any other options then I'd be grateful of the pointer.
cheers

Neil

[851neil]

spoke to Steve Harris down at the NEC and I'm in the process of providing him a set of measurements to allow him to manufacture me a set of yokes (top & bottom, including steer tube) to suit Ohlins forks with 53mm top yoke and 56mm bottom yoke diameters. When they are made I'll post some pictures up but at least there's another source to look at if anybody else is thinking about an upgrade.
I also looked at the Translogic microdash - anybody have any experience of this dash and it's installation/use is it any good ???
cheers

Neil

[Rob B]

I think there are at least two on the DSC somewhere