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Posted by Greg.Procter on October 11, 2009, 5:08 pm
Hi all,
returning to motorcycles after several decades of not motorcycling.
My present project is restoring an old motorscooter.
(make probably not relevant as it was a New Zealand product)
Step #2 is upgrading the motor so that I can keep up with modern traffic.
Step #3 has to be fitting modern disc brakes.
Step #4 then has to be upgrading the front suspension, which is where I
will run into big problems. The headstock is rigid enough and can be
further braced, but the forks are an inverted "Y" folded back slightly
with leading arms and short spring/damper units (parts bin engineering
from the manufacturer's motorcycle rear suspension)
My current thought is to make a more conventional motorcycle front end
with two triple plates only with much shorter sliding tube forks.
Has anyone got experience with front forks (say 250cc-350cc size) and
the possibilities of shortening them?
Regards,
Greg.P.
NZ
--
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Posted by The Older Gentleman on October 11, 2009, 5:19 pm
> Has anyone got experience with front forks (say 250cc-350cc size) and
> the possibilities of shortening them?
If you can find some forks that will fit the yokes, you don't have to
shorten them in order to make the motorcycle 'sit' correctly.
Just lift the forks through the yokes so you have an inch or two (or
whatever) protruding above the top yoke.
--
BMW K1100LT & K100RS Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER (currently Beaving) Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com
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Posted by Greg.Procter on October 22, 2009, 9:48 pm
On Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:19:40 +1300, The Older Gentleman
>> Has anyone got experience with front forks (say 250cc-350cc size) and
>> the possibilities of shortening them?
> If you can find some forks that will fit the yokes, you don't have to
> shorten them in order to make the motorcycle 'sit' correctly.
> Just lift the forks through the yokes so you have an inch or two (or
> whatever) protruding above the top yoke.
Hi Older Gentleman,
the machine currently has an upside down "Y" made of welded tube - no
triple yokes and motorscooter superstructure around the head.
I'm a bit nervous of it's strength if I install better brakes and more
horsepower. The superstructure can be braced easily inside so I can keep
the external appearance.
Apologies for delay, my provider seems only to download about weekliy!
Greg.P.
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Posted by M.Badger on October 11, 2009, 5:24 pm
Greg.Procter wrote:
> Hi all,
> returning to motorcycles after several decades of not motorcycling.
>
> My present project is restoring an old motorscooter.
> (make probably not relevant as it was a New Zealand product)
Intrigued now. Any chance of some pictures?
> Step #2 is upgrading the motor so that I can keep up with modern traffic.
Your wallet, but is it viable?
> Step #3 has to be fitting modern disc brakes.
A well setup drum brake, and very good forward planning ;-)
> Step #4 then has to be upgrading the front suspension, which is where I
> will run into big problems. The headstock is rigid enough and can be
> further braced, but the forks are an inverted "Y" folded back slightly
> with leading arms and short spring/damper units (parts bin engineering
> from the manufacturer's motorcycle rear suspension)
> My current thought is to make a more conventional motorcycle front end
> with two triple plates only with much shorter sliding tube forks.
> Has anyone got experience with front forks (say 250cc-350cc size) and
> the possibilities of shortening them?
Have a scout round a breakers and see if anything vaguely modern could be
adapted to fit. Once you have a stem/bearing set that fits, look very
carefully at the yoke offset needed from the stem.
>
> Regards,
> Greg.P.
> NZ
>
>
>
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Posted by Greg.Procter on October 22, 2009, 10:03 pm
> Greg.Procter wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> returning to motorcycles after several decades of not motorcycling.
>> My present project is restoring an old motorscooter.
>> (make probably not relevant as it was a New Zealand product)
> Intrigued now. Any chance of some pictures?
Google "NZeta". Way back when New Zealand had strict fanancial rules
and most (90%) of our exports went to Britain. UK owed the US umpteen
times it's total worth so the UK pounds could only be spent back to
the UK or Commonwealth countries.
Motor vehicles had huge duties and sales tax but the duties were dropped
from NZ built vehicles. As we only had 2-3 million people the result was
a few types of vehicles partly manufactured here, based on existing brands,
eg Volkswagens; imported components 60%/NZ manufactured 40% - 40% of duty
knocked off.
Haven't bought it yet - have put in an auction bid though.
>> Step #2 is upgrading the motor so that I can keep up with modern
>> traffic.
> Your wallet, but is it viable?
Well, the motor concept came first - scooter from teenage memories.
No wallet mostly used as moth repository, but have machine shop.
>> Step #3 has to be fitting modern disc brakes.
> A well setup drum brake, and very good forward planning ;-)
My guess is I would have a 50/50 chance of survival WITH perfect brakes, 50
minute survival with drums.
(that might be a joke, might not)
>> Step #4 then has to be upgrading the front suspension, which is where I
>> will run into big problems. The headstock is rigid enough and can be
>> further braced, but the forks are an inverted "Y" folded back slightly
>> with leading arms and short spring/damper units (parts bin engineering
>> from the manufacturer's motorcycle rear suspension)
>> My current thought is to make a more conventional motorcycle front end
>> with two triple plates only with much shorter sliding tube forks.
>> Has anyone got experience with front forks (say 250cc-350cc size) and
>> the possibilities of shortening them?
> Have a scout round a breakers and see if anything vaguely modern could be
> adapted to fit. Once you have a stem/bearing set that fits, look very
> carefully at the yoke offset needed from the stem.
No problem machining up yokes as I have the gear - the only forks I've
seen that might be near the length are childrens offroad bikes. They
wouldn't
take the weight.
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> the possibilities of shortening them?