Fork shortening

[rafjock]

Hi Y'all.

For a while now i've been toying with the idea of getting a 17 inch rim for the front of my '94 Pegaso.

But i've seen a picture of a bike with the mod done, and there was a massive, no, MASSIVE gap where the 19 inch wheel once lived. Anybody know if it would be feasible to get shorter springs to lower the forks and reduce the gap?

Yes, i am sure the bike will ride much better just with the smaller wheel, but i'm vain, and the one in the picture looked hideous. Well, more hideous than usual for a Peg'....

[lorenzo]

I'm just guessing here, but I'd say it'd be easier and cheaper to buy some forks (and yokes if need be) that are shorter and take a 17" wheel and go from there. If you don't go for 'fashionable' forks, then you can get some real bargains. I bet you could get change out of £100 for a complete cbr600 front end from a late model steely.

[TriGGer]

I thought that was a pre-requesit for a supermoto ?

[rafjock]

Thanks one and all for your wit and wisdom. It sounded like an easy way to do it, but maybe too easy.... I just wanted to test the water.

Although Lorenzo's idea has me thinking again - I like that idea now instead.

6 weeks and counting till i can do owt about it though......

[fastdruid]

Is it just the gap between the yokes and the wheel or the mudguard and the wheel?

I agree that if it has a high mudguard on with a tiny wheel it looks crap but with a lower mudguard it looks much better.

Druid

[r1-daz]

I've shortened forks before as part of my job(i'm a motorsport engineer).

Did some Penske gsxr1000 BSB forks a few years back.

Its not for the faint hearted,but i've been a CNC turner for 25 years,so i'm getting used to it now!!

Basically you just put them in a lathe,true them up then cut the ends off to the specified length,then re cut the fork top threads inside.They are ok to cut once you get under the chrome or in this case,titanium plating.

Obviously you need to shorten the springs as well and probably put some pre-load in to stop them bottoming out.

If you need some more advice just give us a shout,but i wouldn't recommend having a go yourself because it will be an expensive mistake if you get it wrong.

Daz

[rafjock]

Is it just the gap between the yokes and the wheel or the mudguard and the wheel?

I agree that if it has a high mudguard on with a tiny wheel it looks crap but with a lower mudguard it looks much better.

Druid

I had planned on using some bracketry to lower the mudguard to match when i swap rims (the 'Peg has a normal muddie, not a high moto-x one). The bike in the photo i saw had done that, but it was this yawing gap that gave me the heebie-jeebies, it really looked....wrong.

I'm off to see if i can find the picture again and post it up, maybe i'm just being too fussy.

[scwirral]

I'd go with what Lorenzo said. Don't forget that while there are loads of CBR6 forks out there, anyone looking for undamaged Peg forks would probably have to pay a bit more........ Ebay is your friend!