Identifying forks and triples - please help, RGV250 and GSX-R 250 experts?

[GSF]

Okay, here we go:

So I bought a used set of forks for my 250cc Bandit (1992) because I have some pitting on the fork tubes which is eating fork seals and aftermarket tubes were super spendy. I found a cheap set.
The seller gave me the frame number which is a Bandit 250, made in 1992/3, and told me the tubes were clean and unpitted. I got the forks today, and they're pitted to hell and useless. :angry2: Anyway, that's a different matter.

The forks are from an entirely different bike. Definitely Suzuki though as it has 'zuki ignition barrel with corresponding Suzuki key.
Please refer to the photos below. I have a funny feeling they came off something like an early 90s GSXR 250 or RGV250, something with twin calipers.

Does anyone have any idea what the fuck I have just had delivered to me?

The fork tubes are 41mm diameter, I haven't measured the length of them but the length axle centre to top of tube is about 760mm when uncompressed. Top triple clamp looks like it's supposed to have clip-ons mounted below the clamp.

Any help greatly appreciated. I'm trying very hard to return them and get my money back but if it all goes pear-shaped I'd at least like to know what I'm stuck with.

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[GSF]

One last photo of the whole kit and caboodle:

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[Asher]

None of my rgv250 forks have that mount above the caliper mounts

[actungbaby]

[QUOTE=GSF;1130390997]Okay, here we go:

So I bought a used set of forks for my 250cc Bandit (1992) because I have some pitting on the fork tubes which is eating fork seals and aftermarket tubes were super spendy. I found a cheap set.
The seller gave me the frame number which is a Bandit 250, made in 1992/3, and told me the tubes were clean and unpitted. I got the forks today, and they're pitted to hell and useless. :angry2: Anyway, that's a different matter.
The forks are from an entirely different bike. Definitely Suzuki though as it has 'zuki ignition barrel with corresponding Suzuki key.
Please refer to the photos below. I have a funny feeling they came off something like an early 90s GSXR 250 or RGV250, something with twin calipers.

Does anyone have any idea what the fuck I have just had delivered to me?

There very rusty arent they seem they been near salt air i thought , i brought set forks from uk of ebay motofx there very good

Athough i had pay around 300.00 in freight because the weight so brought both tripple clamps and fork legs

they where exellent seals i didnt even bother changing the fork oil or checking it just bolted them on and they where fine

[GSF]

[QUOTE=GSF;1130390997]Okay, here we go:

So I bought a used set of forks for my 250cc Bandit (1992) because I have some pitting on the fork tubes which is eating fork seals and aftermarket tubes were super spendy. I found a cheap set.
The seller gave me the frame number which is a Bandit 250, made in 1992/3, and told me the tubes were clean and unpitted. I got the forks today, and they're pitted to hell and useless. :angry2: Anyway, that's a different matter.
The forks are from an entirely different bike. Definitely Suzuki though as it has 'zuki ignition barrel with corresponding Suzuki key.
Please refer to the photos below. I have a funny feeling they came off something like an early 90s GSXR 250 or RGV250, something with twin calipers.

Does anyone have any idea what the fuck I have just had delivered to me?

There very rusty arent they seem they been near salt air i thought , i brought set forks from uk of ebay motofx there very good

Athough i had pay around 300.00 in freight because the weight so brought both tripple clamps and fork legs

they where exellent seals i didnt even bother changing the fork oil or checking it just bolted them on and they where fine

Yep, they are very, very corroded. You can't see on the tubes, but the forward facing area of both tubes is speckled with corrosion and pits, looks like fly shit all over it.
I bought these for $150 after being told the tubes were in good condition without corrosion. What turned up was useless junk.
I wanted to get it done as cheaply as possible as I'm going to sell the 250 soon and I don't want to spend heaps on it - just nice clean tubes and it's good to go.

Now, I fucked up by not asking for close up and detailed photos, but now I'm being ignored. I'm a very even-keeled kinda guy, it takes a lot to get me mad but right now I am fucking spewing over this.

[White trash]

Pretty sure they're not VJ21 forks. The clamps look all wrong to me.

[ducatilover]

Look like 400 Bandit units to me

EDIT: The tapered LHS lower leg suggests Teapot GSX600f/750f

[GSF]

Look like 400 Bandit units to me

EDIT: The tapered LHS lower leg suggests Teapot GSX600f/750f

Definitely not 400 Bandit, those are pretty much the same as early 250 Bandits (like mine, they share most parts excluding engine and 'lectric bits). They're fucking weird and the tubes are about 40mm shorter than my existing ones.

Doesn't look like Katana gear either, triples are wrong and forks wrong - just had a squizz at all the GSX600F/750F parts diagrams on BikeBandit and they're all different.

[ducatilover]

Definitely not 400 Bandit, those are pretty much the same as early 250 Bandits (like mine, they share most parts excluding engine and 'lectric bits). They're fucking weird and the tubes are about 40mm shorter than my existing ones.

Doesn't look like Katana gear either, triples are wrong and forks wrong - just had a squizz at all the GSX600F/750F parts diagrams on BikeBandit and they're all different.
I thought the GSF400 ran 41mm forks and the 250 ran the smaller ones?
As far as the legs go:
It's a twin brake set up, like a 400 bandit with similar bolt spacing, so it's not a GS or other early model, the GSX600F has the taper on the LHS fork and not on the RHS
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[GSF]

I thought the GSF400 ran 41mm forks and the 250 ran the smaller ones?
As far as the legs go:
It's a twin brake set up, like a 400 bandit with similar bolt spacing, so it's not a GS or other early model, the GSX600F has the taper on the LHS fork and not on the RHS
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Naw, two-fiddy Bandits have 41mm forks as well. I dunno about the later GJ77A Bandit 250s but nobody gives a shit about them anyway. I have learnt well over the ownership of my 250 that pretty much all 400 parts excluding engine, carb and 'lectrics will bolt straight on to my bike. Bandit 400 is one of my saved eBay searches!

You're right, the Kat legs look very similar but in all the Katana RHS fork diagrams, it has one screw at the base which is pinching the axle.
My RHS fork has two screws pinching the axle, it's hard to see in the photo.

Oh fuck, I just wanna get rid of this awful thing.

*Wait, sorry, the pinch bolt on Kats is on the left hand tapered side... mine's on the right which is not tapered.

[ducatilover]

Shit, challenging one!
I think the GSX1100F had the pinch bolt on that side?
It's not Early Gixxer from what I can tell.

[GSF]

Shit, challenging one!
I think the GSX1100F had the pinch bolt on that side?
It's not Early Gixxer from what I can tell.

Yeah pretty sure it's not Gixxer. GSX1100F and G don't seem to have that mount about the two caliper mounts, which I'm presuming are for clips to hold the brake lines and stop 'em flapping about, and they also just have a single pinch bolt.

Did I mention it seems oddly small? Like this came off a little bike. These tubes are about 40mm shorter than mine, which I think are approximately 590mm.

So these are like 540mm/550 long fork tubes. As soon as I saw them I knew I had been sent the wrong thing because it was just too small to be a Bandit front end.

[gammaguy]

Get me the dimensions of the stanchion only.

I have a list of such things as I sell brand new aftermarket forks
I will soon get you that info you seek

[ducatilover]

Yeah pretty sure it's not Gixxer. GSX1100F and G don't seem to have that mount about the two caliper mounts, which I'm presuming are for clips to hold the brake lines and stop 'em flapping about, and they also just have a single pinch bolt.

Did I mention it seems oddly small? Like this came off a little bike. These tubes are about 40mm shorter than mine, which I think are approximately 590mm.

So these are like 540mm/550 long fork tubes. As soon as I saw them I knew I had been sent the wrong thing because it was just too small to be a Bandit front end.

I'm definately stumped, but it's okay cos I'm not a Suzuki fan :bleh:
I hope you can contact the chap and get a refund (or throw his bike in the sea)

[GSF]

I'm definately stumped, but it's okay cos I'm not a Suzuki fan :bleh:
I hope you can contact the chap and get a refund (or throw his bike in the sea)

Yeah, I have managed to get in touch with him - he says they definitely came off a 250 Bandit, which they may well have, the forks are same diameter and the steering stem looks like the same part. But he insists they are standard Bandit forks, despite all evidence to the contrary. I just got a text telling me that I should have "screw-in extensions" on the top of my fork tubes which accounts for the missing 40mm. Only thing on top of my tubes are the caps.

From piccies and part diagrams I think they are a VJ21-type RGV250 forks, which accounts for the short tubes (found pics of an US-based VJ21 with identical sliders) that have been slotted into 41mm triples off another bike.

He's trying to give me advice on how to make a non-standard part fit, when the issue is that I paid for one thing and received something different that is not for my bike and that I cannot use. :brick:

[ducatilover]

Yeah, I have managed to get in touch with him - he says they definitely came off a 250 Bandit, which they may well have, the forks are same diameter and the steering stem looks like the same part. But he insists they are standard Bandit forks, despite all evidence to the contrary. I just got a text telling me that I should have "screw-in extensions" on the top of my fork tubes which accounts for the missing 40mm. Only thing on top of my tubes are the caps.

From piccies and part diagrams I think they are a VJ21-type RGV250 forks, which accounts for the short tubes (found pics of an US-based VJ21 with identical sliders) that have been slotted into 41mm triples off another bike.

He's trying to give me advice on how to make a non-standard part fit, when the issue is that I paid for one thing and received something different that is not for my bike and that I cannot use. :brick:
Well they aren't GSF250 forks, they never had a twin disk front, but you could be on to it about the VJ21 with different triples
But I'm certain the lower part by the axle on the left leg on the VJ21 was different?
Demand a refund, much simpler :D

[actungbaby]

Now, I fucked up by not asking for close up and detailed photos, but now I'm being ignored. I'm a very even-keeled kinda guy, it takes a lot to get me mad but right now I am fucking spewing over this.[/QUOTE]

yeah well i just been lucky but hopefully work out okay i understand why you be upset its bit mission bidiing

waiting for stuff to arrive , working out how to fit it yep been threre dude , well keep us posted

Just say to the guy look these are not worth fitting even if they where right forks there just to rusty

Well its the chrome sliders that matter but even so gezz , was this private guy or a bike wreaker or shop.

i delt with like 7 diffrent places and all been exellent so far, mind you my first ebay buy set speakers

I got riped of the bottom speaker the rubber seals where rotted and guy tryed make happend on way over

never mind i got them fixed myself

[GSF]

Now, I fucked up by not asking for close up and detailed photos, but now I'm being ignored. I'm a very even-keeled kinda guy, it takes a lot to get me mad but right now I am fucking spewing over this.

yeah well i just been lucky but hopefully work out okay i understand why you be upset its bit mission bidiing

waiting for stuff to arrive , working out how to fit it yep been threre dude , well keep us posted

Just say to the guy look these are not worth fitting even if they where right forks there just to rusty

Well its the chrome sliders that matter but even so gezz , was this private guy or a bike wreaker or shop.

i delt with like 7 diffrent places and all been exellent so far, mind you my first ebay buy set speakers

I got riped of the bottom speaker the rubber seals where rotted and guy tryed make happend on way over

never mind i got them fixed myself[/QUOTE]

Just a private sale. It's pretty frustrating, I have been asking for a return and a refund but he's insisting that I'm mistaken (funny that, I'm mistaken about my own motorcycle). I like to be polite and patient with people but I'm not doing too well at the moment and I simply can't afford to just lose $150 on buying parts that are useless so I'm finding it really hard to not blow my stack.

It's a lot more expensive but I may just have to bite the bullet and buy aftermarket Tarozzi fork tubes, although I spoke to my dad today and he knows a few firms that do very high quality hard chroming for industrial hydraulic applications. So I may try a rechrome and regrind on my existing tubes first depending on cost. This is the kind of thing that happens when you're trying to get second-hand parts for 20 year old grey-market import Japanese 250s, I can't wait to get my full in October and leave this kind of shit behind!

[GSF]

Well they aren't GSF250 forks, they never had a twin disk front, but you could be on to it about the VJ21 with different triples
But I'm certain the lower part by the axle on the left leg on the VJ21 was different?
Demand a refund, much simpler :D

Yeah, I am trying to get a refund but the guy is insisting I'm mistaken. Which between working big hours for not much pay, lots of stress at the moment and losing a wee bit of quid on useless junk parts, is not helping my diplomatic approach.

The right hand side fork looks very much similar, this is an RGV one of 1989/90 vintage:

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And the left hand side fork on this parts diagram for the 1989 RGV250 also looks very similar to me.

http://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-rgv250-1989-k_model14005/partslist/FIG-32.html#results

Those are the only 'zuki forks so far that resemble what I have. I guess the little task of figuring out what they are is distracting me from getting too aggravated over things.

[ducatilover]

The guy's a knob, punch him.
I'll have to agree, that pic in the fiche looks to be very similar.
What's the steering stem diameter?

[actungbaby]

Just a private sale. It's pretty frustrating, I have been asking for a return and a refund but he's insisting that I'm mistaken (funny that, I'm mistaken about my own motorcycle). I like to be polite and patient with people but I'm not doing too well at the moment and I simply can't afford to just lose $150 on buying parts that are useless so I'm finding it really hard to not blow my stack.

yep i emaiked guy in texas and he treated to send my email to fbi hehe oh must thought going come over beat him up gezz yeah right


It's a lot more expensive but I may just have to bite the bullet and buy aftermarket Tarozzi fork tubes, although I spoke to my dad today and he knows a few firms that do very high quality hard chroming for industrial hydraulic applications. So I may try a rechrome and regrind on my existing tubes first depending on cost. This is the kind of thing that happens when you're trying to get second-hand parts for 20 year old grey-market import Japanese 250s, I can't wait to get my full in October and leave this kind of shit behind![/QUOTE]

I rekon go with the re chroming (hard chrome ) they can strip the old stuff polish the tubes
And re chrome them it be much cheaper and as your selling the bike anyways.

as for the 150.00 you chould got to disputes tribune if lives in new zealand think 40.00 bucks

To file the compaint you go to the courthouse

[GSF]

Just a private sale. It's pretty frustrating, I have been asking for a return and a refund but he's insisting that I'm mistaken (funny that, I'm mistaken about my own motorcycle). I like to be polite and patient with people but I'm not doing too well at the moment and I simply can't afford to just lose $150 on buying parts that are useless so I'm finding it really hard to not blow my stack.

yep i emaiked guy in texas and he treated to send my email to fbi hehe oh must thought going come over beat him up gezz yeah right


It's a lot more expensive but I may just have to bite the bullet and buy aftermarket Tarozzi fork tubes, although I spoke to my dad today and he knows a few firms that do very high quality hard chroming for industrial hydraulic applications. So I may try a rechrome and regrind on my existing tubes first depending on cost. This is the kind of thing that happens when you're trying to get second-hand parts for 20 year old grey-market import Japanese 250s, I can't wait to get my full in October and leave this kind of shit behind!

I rekon go with the re chroming (hard chrome ) they can strip the old stuff polish the tubes
And re chrome them it be much cheaper and as your selling the bike anyways.

as for the 150.00 you chould got to disputes tribune if lives in new zealand think 40.00 bucks

To file the compaint you go to the courthouse[/QUOTE]

Yeah at this point rechrome and grind seems like the way to go. A few people have said Otahuhu Chrome Platers do a great job of it. Have you had it done and got any recommendations for good people?
I'm sure it will still work out cheaper than new tubes. They're looking like at least 80 pound stirling apiece plus shipping which is just unrealistic for me at the moment.

Disputes Tribunal sounds tempting 'cause I've got my feathers all ruffled over this but there's no real documentation or records of anything, most of this happened over the phone. Plus all the time spent fucking about with a tribunal, I probably wouldn't break even, even if I got my money back. I guess it's just a hard lesson learnt. As my friend pointed out today, some people blow that much in a weekend (and I have in the past).

[carburator]

go and see the chrome platers first, depending on the state of the tubes can be
from 300-600 per fork tube.

second thing is some fork tubes ( trx850 ) has vavling built into the tube and
if that gets screwed during the chroming its game over.

[GSF]

go and see the chrome platers first, depending on the state of the tubes can be
from 300-600 per fork tube.

second thing is some fork tubes ( trx850 ) has vavling built into the tube and
if that gets screwed during the chroming its game over.

Good to know. I have a list of a few places to shop for a hard chroming quote so I'll find out what the going rate is.
I have had the forks apart before, luckily the tubes are just tubes, no built-in valving or anything like that.