What would you do (fixing bikes)?

**riffer** · 21st June 2004, 13:36

Okay, here's my dilemma:

I can:

1. buy some secondhand 1987 FZR1000 forks supposedly in excellent condition from Victorian Motorcycle Wreckers in Aussie ($600)

2. buy some Tarozzi OEM replacement fork chromes (brand new - $600), and get new dust seals ($50), bushes ($100), and oil seals ($36) - total $786 and rebuild my forks myself (hopefully re-using my top oil seals or else more $$$).

3. buy the genuine Yamaha fork chromes ($960) with all included bushes and seals (except top oil and dust seals) and rebuild myself

4. Be a cheap and dodgy bastard and get the forks straightened (no guarantees) - $300

Of course I have bugger-all $$ and have to save for this anyway so its a bit moot at the moment.

What would you guys do?

**riffer** · 21st June 2004, 13:40

Typical. In my excitement at doing my first poll I type B's instead of G's.

Those first words in the first two options should obviously be "Get"

**James Deuce** · 21st June 2004, 13:42

What a silly bunt.

**Two Smoker** · 21st June 2004, 13:45

Go for the Tarozzi, as they are brand new..... The second hand forks might be dodgy as you dont know what has happened to them and wont know till you get them......

Stuff the original Yammy ones..... too expensive.....

Im sure WT will give you a hand if ya need it

**jrandom** · 21st June 2004, 13:58

Get the secondhand ones after you check up on the reputation of the place you're buying from.

If, for instance, someone from Mt Eden MCs or Colemans told me that a set of second-hand forks was mint, I'd be inclined to believe them.

If you can't be sure of the source's honesty (ie, would they tell you if they couldn't be sure that THEIR set had never been damaged?), then get the aftermarket set.

Don't straighten your old ones. A few hundred dollars difference isn't worth not being sure of their structural integrity. Particularly not at the speeds YOU travel, you filthy lawbreaker, you.

**Posh Tourer :P** · 21st June 2004, 14:00

I'd go for second hand. I hear the name Victorian Motorcycle Wreckers bandied about quite a lot, especially for classic and vintage bikes, so they ought to know what they are doing. Talk to people about their rep though... You dont want to end up with dodgy forks....

**riffer** · 21st June 2004, 14:07

Originally Posted by jrandom

Particularly not at the speeds YOU travel, you filthy lawbreaker, you.

What! I'll have you know I've never exceed the bike's recommended maximum speed

**vifferman** · 21st June 2004, 14:38

Originally Posted by celticno6

Typical. In my excitement at doing my first poll I type B's instead of G's.

Those first words in the first two options should obviously be "Get"

You sure you didn't land head-first when you crashed?

**riffer** · 21st June 2004, 14:39

Originally Posted by firestormer

You sure you didn't land head-first when you crashed?

FS you psychic! Actually I did land head first

You ought to see the visor of my helmet!

**Milky** · 21st June 2004, 14:46

I've got a dollar on the second hand forks....

**vifferman** · 21st June 2004, 15:11

Originally Posted by Milky

I've got a dollar on the second hand forks....

Yeah, me too. I take it these ones have all the bits you need, or is that just the chromes? If so, it'd be the easiest way to go, and you might get off with not much more work to do than put fresh fork oil in. I might also be a good opportunity to maybe improve your forks a bit, if they need new springs, improved damping action, etc.

Do the Tarozzis take the damper bits 'n pieces of your existing forks? Are they good kit? They sound Italian, but not all italian stuff is good (they are the Taiwan of Europe for some stuff...)

**Deano** · 21st June 2004, 15:12

Can you get some sort of warranty for the second hand option ?

And what is the max recommended speed limit ?.........flat out ???

**kerryg** · 21st June 2004, 15:27

Originally Posted by celticno6

Okay, here's my dilemma:

I can:

1. buy some secondhand 1987 FZR1000 forks supposedly in excellent condition from Victorian Motorcycle Wreckers in Aussie ($600)

2. buy some Tarozzi OEM replacement fork chromes (brand new - $600), and get new dust seals ($50), bushes ($100), and oil seals ($36) - total $786 and rebuild my forks myself (hopefully re-using my top oil seals or else more $$$).

3. buy the genuine Yamaha fork chromes ($960) with all included bushes and seals (except top oil and dust seals) and rebuild myself

4. Be a cheap and dodgy bastard and get the forks straightened (no guarantees) - $300

Of course I have bugger-all $$ and have to save for this anyway so its a bit moot at the moment.

What would you guys do?

Smythe & Yeates in Cambridge are very good at that sort of work. If anyone can do it they can and if your stanchions can't be safely repaired they'll tell you. Problem is you've got to send your stuff to Cambridge for them to have a look. They straighten sliders, brake rotors,frames as well and they do a great job repairing cast wheels (and they are not paying me for saying so)

**riffer** · 21st June 2004, 15:30

OKay, to answer Firestormer, firstly:

Forks are complete, everything except tripleclamps, brake calipers and front wheel. Just bolt on and smile

I will definitely be asking for a warranty on secondhand forks if I get them.

The CDFO is leaning towards the 2nd hand ones... particularly with the other stuff I have to get too.

As to the bike's top speed, I am estimating it as I have a 180km/hr speedo.

Jim2 can personally vouch for it doing at least 180, as I went past him one time with no brakes doing that

It does 100km/hr at 4250rpm (indicated). I have seen 10500 rpm on the bike. You do the math. This is obviously indicated speed and just after I tuned it, put in new plugs and hiflow air filter. Head was most definitely on the tank and it was not a windy day. I was going slightly downhill at the time and had about 2kms to build up to that speed, so all factors were optimum.

Yamaha claimed 155mph out of them new.

**riffer** · 21st June 2004, 15:33

Originally Posted by kerryg

Smythe & Yeates in Cambridge are very good at that sort of work. If anyone can do it they can and if your stanchions can't be safely repaired they'll tell you. Problem is you've got to send your stuff to Cambridge for them to have a look. They straighten sliders, brake rotors,frames as well and they do a great job repairing cast wheels (and they are not paying me for saying so)

Thanks Kerry. I've had Damon at Cycleworks look at them and also talked to Steve at F1 engineering and sent him pictures.

Both reckon they are marginal. Could be straightened but neither will give a guarantee on the chrome not cracking as there are creases in the fork tubes and one has a buckle in front of the crease. It's my opinion from how easily they bent that the forks have probably been straightened once before.

Hence my reticence to attempt to straighten them again. However I will keep them as parts.