transalp forks USD vs conventinal

[jamie92j]

ok this isnt a question on which forks will fit etc etc

its about xr600/xrv750 forks with fork brace vs USD xr650 or cr250 forks

which forks will be better for use with a transalp? looking at some of the big bikes done by www.africanqueens.de they seem to use normal forks and not the USD type? any reason for this? i know they do have the big 50mm Marzocchis on


any input would be great!!!!!

[StumpyFingers]

I think it all comes down to personal choice, some think the USD forks look the part whereas some prefer the original look.
I would expect the forks to behave in the same way regardless of them being USD.

[Plasnart]

Their advantage on off road bikes is less unsprung mass which makes suspension easier to control and also the fork legs don't have to extend past the axle where they can get caught in ruts and on rocks / roots. I'm not sure they're as strong physically on a big heavy bike as most units are designed for race type machines (on and off road) so a big bike might kill them. I've seen pics of usd forks jujst snapped off at the bottom.

[btbloke]

Ktm 950 adv is a nice fit.

[jamie92j]

I'm not sure they're as strong physically on a big heavy bike as most units are designed for race type machines (on and off road) so a big bike might kill them. I've seen pics of usd forks just snapped off at the bottom.

thats what i really dont want happening, going along off road into a rock and snap! forks/yokes bend, break, snap

the transalp standard fork width is 41mm and the africa twin 43mm same as the xr600 and 45mm xr650

so would xr600/africa twin forks be ok? the africa twin is much hevey then transalps and they seem to get along ok

also cr250 89 forks are a strait swop, anyone know the effectiveness of these forks?

should i just save my pennies and fing some marzocchi magnums at a beasty 50mm fork width??

also ktm front forks, strait swop? probly not, machining of the stem will be in order, which is something id rather not do.

although if im going to the effort of new forks i want to do it right, and surely the bigger the fork width the better? and stronger??

if i went with the xr600 forks they would be re-springed and valved or what not to make sure there set up for the extra wieght, also a fork brace would be in order??

iv got just the standard transalp 41mm forks on with progressive springs in and they have had some fair hammer off road and are still on and not broken surely a extra 2mm width would help??

although what with the extra length these forks provide, it would make the top part where the yokes join weaker?? so the fatter the fork the better??

???

[AIRWOLF]

XR250 forks are 41mm so should be an easy swop (using TA yokes), . . . and the TA springs could be used, with a suitable spacer/short spring to make up the length i expect. (it's an option i am considering)

ps.
bigger fork leg dia = stiffer = better for racing. must admit the USD's look the biz.

[jamie92j]

XR250 forks are 41mm so should be an easy swop (using TA yokes), . . . and the TA springs could be used, with a suitable spacer/short spring to make up the length i expect. (it's an option i am considering)

yes i havent really thought of that and keeping the transalp yokes, the xr400 forks are 43mm,

although both the 250 and the 400 both use the same steering bearings as the transalp so should be a strait swop.

id really want to go with wider fork width i think

[AIRWOLF]

yes i havent really thought of that and keeping the transalp yokes, the xr400 forks are 43mm,

although both the 250 and the 400 both use the same steering bearings as the transalp so should be a strait swop.

id really want to go with wider fork width i think

Do you have 600ta or 650ta ?

if 600, how do you plan to increase the rear suspension hight to suit ?

[jamie92j]

iv got the 650

was planning on flipping the rear lingage thingy

[tom81]

check out this thread. I wrote a little bit about what i did to my old TA, though it wasn't pretty
Changing the looks, doing it up, making it special etc