Extended forks

nj1639 · Posted: April 22, 2008, 6:22 am Post subject: Extended forks

Getting it to where I like it. Lowered shocks, 11.5". Now thinking of extending the front end, no rake. Welcome all thoughts or comments. I don't want to screw up the handling. 2", 4", 6"?

royfisk · Posted: April 22, 2008, 10:10 am Post subject: Re: Extended forks

WELL THAT WILL SCREW UP THE HANDLEING. But I like your slammed rear look. I wouldnt go over 2" on the tubes If I were you. The longer you make them the more your handleing goes away. I think I might drop the bag bike like that in the rear.

jimmythetrucker · Full Member Joined: Mar 12, 2008 Posts: 1283

Was it my bike, I'd put a really spiffy lookin' set of forward controls on that thing and leave the forks alone. If I was gonna extend the tubes, I'd do as Roy says and not go more than two inches -- and I'd rake the neck to bring it back down to where it'll handle again. The extra wheelbase will help it ride better, less like a skateboard and more like a bigger bike. Long forks with no rake are a nightmare to handle. And if the forks are too long, a rake doesn't help much, if at all. In fact, if you stretch the thing more than four inches, I'd probably go with a girder front-end. Tube frontends don't like a long stretch. They don't work like they're supposed to if you stretch 'em too far. But I personally wouldn't go more than two inches. Your tubes will still work for you there.

nj1639 · Posted: April 22, 2008, 1:28 pm Post subject: Re: Extended forks

Didn't think about a rear mount for the bag....interesting. On the grab rail?

nj1639 · Posted: April 22, 2008, 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Extended forks

jimmythetrucker wrote:

Was it my bike, I'd put a really spiffy lookin' set of forward controls on that thing and leave the forks alone. If I was gonna extend the tubes, I'd do as Roy says and not go more than two inches -- and I'd rake the neck to bring it back down to where it'll handle again. The extra wheelbase will help it ride better, less like a skateboard and more like a bigger bike. Long forks with no rake are a nightmare to handle. And if the forks are too long, a rake doesn't help much, if at all. In fact, if you stretch the thing more than four inches, I'd probably go with a girder front-end. Tube frontends don't like a long stretch. They don't work like they're supposed to if you stretch 'em too far. But I personally wouldn't go more than two inches. Your tubes will still work for you there.

Cool, so far so good.

jimmythetrucker · Full Member Joined: Mar 12, 2008 Posts: 1283

That's a beautiful piece of machinery, by the way. You'll turn heads with that wherever you go.

Chopdoc · Full Member Joined: Aug 26, 2007 Posts: 47

Beautiful bike...I wouldn't extend it unless you are really going to chop it.

nj1639 · Posted: April 22, 2008, 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: Extended forks

I'm humbled. Thanks for the opinions and comments, means a lot.

Yamahopper · Posted: September 14, 2008, 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Extended forks

Soooo, What did you decide? I was thinking about doing the same thing, shorter rear shocks and 2" extended forks.

nj1639 · Posted: September 14, 2008, 10:03 am Post subject: Re: Extended forks

Still in the planning......I have changed out the taillight, lower on the fender, '78, and am lowering the seat. Got a standard tank for more miles 'tween fill ups, and trimmed the stems on the turn signals.
When I get the 'mad money" for the forks I will go 2" over. Will consider a rake in the future. Anybody trade a set of 2 into 1 pipes for some 2 over forks? Hmm?

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