PROJECT BIKE ME! RACE BIKE PART II

by Dino

Blessed is thine eBay.

The big problem facing me now is replacing the very rare and expensive forks. They are not repairable, so I started searching for a new or slightly used pair.

Competition's-eye-view

After fruitlessly casting about the world via eBay, and the network of worldwide motorcycle wreckers, it left me with the scary thought of buying new forks. I checked the Australian Triumph prices and found them to be around $1200 each (ouch), so I looked up a US OEM site and found them to be $US650. Then there would be postage on top of that, and thus way over my budget. I had to get to thinkin' bigtime!

I started looking at Jap bike forks and found that 04, 05 and 06 Suzuki GSXR 600s and 750s all had radial mounted calipers. So it was down to cost and availability. Once again I turned to eBay and found bloody hundreds of 'em in the US. With so many sets for sale, it has become a buyer's market, so me being a buyer means I got a great deal.

After carefully studying the forks available I put a low bid on the set of 05 GSXR750 forks that came with triple clamps and a wheel axle. I secured these delightful little legs for the grand sum of $US202 plus $180 postage to Oz. So for a total of $US382, my forks are winging their way to me as I tap this out on my Clever Box.

I did do some research before I took the plunge. The OEM price for the Suzi forks is $US980 per leg (!) so one would assume that at an extra $US400 per leg over the Triumph KYB units, they will be better.

I also talked to a couple of suspender gurus and they agreed that the Suzi units would be the better option.

Well bless my soul, seven days from payment the forks have arrived and look a lot better than expected. Two well-packed parcels; forks in one and triple tree and axle in the other.

In the meantime, I scored a FREE Gixxer front wheel from the great crew at Motorcycle Weaponry in Mona Vale (Thanks, Steve!). They will be mentioned in many future dispatches as they have a new whiz-bang dyno and they're not afraid to use it!

But back to the legs...

Good things about the Gixxer forks for this project:

1. They are a superior fork with much better racing potential.
2. They have been around a while, so trick internal bits and setup knowledge are readily available.
3. The legs are 43mm as opposed to the Triumph units' 41mm = better rigidity = less flex.
4. The Triumph Nissin radial calipers bolt straight on, which is a big saving!
5. And best of all, they are CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!

Not good things about the Gixxer forks for this project:

1. Thicker legs means a heavier front-end; always a consideration with a race bike project.
2. They are fatter than the Trumpy units by 2mm where they fit into the lower triple clamp
3. I will have to fit a Suzi front guard.
4. I am now forced to use all Suzuki front wheel, rotors, axle, etc. but this could be a positive thing as these items are cheaper and more readily available.

Enough to mull on for now.

Next I will divulge the sexy engineering needed to fit the forks and why I stuck with the Triumph triple tree and the parts procured from our good old Ian, temporary Mexican that he is.

Pre-Gixxer front end shot