2 springs, 1 hydraulic ram?

[Mom]

WTF was that front end I saw?

Pit bissed at the time to be fair

Bloke that owned it was far worse than me

Could not offer any knowledge

How does that work? Twas a Harley, that I might have been told what type, but I dont remember

Facinating...

[pete376403]

Like this? Referred to as the "springer" front suspension. The bit in the middle is the damper (shock absorber)

[Mom]

Like this? Referred to as the "springer" front suspension. The bit in the middle is the damper (shock absorber)

Yeah, looks familiar. How does that work? OMG!

[buggerit]

on a harley fergerson?, was it a 3 point linkage?

[pete376403]

updated version of a leading link suspension, there is a short swing arm at the bottom of the unsprung fork legs that the wheel pivots in (just like the swingarm at the back of your bike.
A long inverted U runs in front of the unsprung fork up to the top where the springs are located. As the wheel goes up and down the U compresses/releases the springs. The damper stops if getting too bouncy.

It's a triumph of form over function, but some HD people like them. Possibly they work better than tele forks when the rake angle (ie chopper) gets extreme

[AllanB]

It's a old old design updated and reintroduced a decade or two back on some HD models for the 'cool' factor.

If my memory serves me way back the chopper guys in the 70's used to get an original old HD springer fork and extend it using ford car tie-rods or something similar. There were after market companies makeing new ones for choppers back then too. Can't remember the brand. I remember a friend of mine having one made for his XS650 chopper 30 years back by some 'associate' of a suspect person. It arrived looking pretty solid, all chromed up. He had it ex-rayed by someone at Air NZ (or whatever they were back then) and it was full of cracks. It became a very expensive living room decoration.

A quick Google for 'springer front end' finds they are still available new in various styles. I reckon they look pretty cool on the right custom. No idea how they handle but I'm sure Robert T can hook up a Ohlins for one!!!!

[Sable]

Not kidding about the pissed part are ya?