As before...a comparison of 749 and 996 fork lengths..

749R Ohlins:
Fork body (gold bit) L = 500mm
Top of Fork Body to spindle C/L = 685mm

996 Showa:
Fork body (gold bit) L = 480mm
Top of Fork Body to spindle C/L = 685mm

Excellent... :D

and adding to the confusion, what are the chances of 996 forks fitting 749/999 yokes - is it just a question of fork diameter or is the width between the forks different between 996 and 749/999 yokes?
sorry for asking, but since we're on the subject.....cheers!

James I'm pretty sure they are a straight swap.
I did have a set of 749 forks and yokes at one time and from what I recall the fork spacing was the same as was the fork diameter where they fit in the yokes at 53mm for both top and bottom yoke

Certainly is a sweet looking bike

cheers loads for that mr skids. Since the 996 has just been sold there's a gap in my garage that's rapidly being filled by the jigsaw puzzle that is the hawkati. I'm goingto try and get as much done as possible whilst waiting for flat sale and forthcoming 998s which i'm gunning to get.

Well, after much humming and argggghhhing i decided to go for broke and got me some Ohlins forks. Worked out that by the time i did all i wanted to do to the Showa's, it only cost a couple of £100 more to get the real thing. Now all i need is the bottom yoke and stem...............;)

I fitted a set of Ohlins R&T radial forks off a 999R onto my 748 using the stock yokes. You just need to get the bottom yoke bored to suit. I know someone that can do it for you based in the South East. He did a superb job on mine.

I then sourced a set of 15mm offset discs and had a spacer made up for the wheel spindle to get the alignment correct. Was actually very simple to do.