Dilemma,

[borderer]

I have recently purchaced a 1981 g/s which has been somewhat modified. I have replaced the custom made 7 gallon tank and Aceberis twin headlight with standard tank and Airflow screen.The rest of the spec is as follows 1000cc twin plug gas flowed engine Bigger carbs, White power rear damper with Ohlins spring lots of stainless etc. My dilemma is the front end. it has 42mm?Maico forks with custom made Yokes floating disc and BMW caliper.
To me the front end looks too high. the options seem to be:
carry out Moorspeed conversion to rear end to bring it up,
drop the forks through the yokes, This is limited by the amount of travel on the forks which on full compression leave a couple of inches below the front mudguard
get a hold of some standard forks and start to return the bike to standard
What way would you guys go

 

[electric_monk]

Oh yes.....Welcome to the Asylum

 

[Timolgra]

Dropping the forks only takes a couple of minutes but you probably need to fit bar risers first

If you already have a decent rear shock why ruin any potential handling gain by fitting standard forks

 

[pete.keys]

Whats the max distance between the bottom of the headstock and the centre of the front spindle with the forks unloaded?

A standard g/s is around 575mm. My g/s sits at 600mm (so someone in the past must have put longer stanchions in).

Pics would be good ...

 

[borderer]

Ok will try to work out how to post pictures.
From the bottom of the bottom yoke to the centre of the wheel spindle is 66 cm!!
(static sag is 43cm and full travel in normal use is 16.7cm)

 

[pete.keys]

Ok will try to work out how to post pictures.
From the bottom of the bottom yoke to the centre of the wheel spindle is 66 cm!!
(static sag is 43cm and full travel in normal use is 16.7cm)

There are others on here more experienced than I but here are my thoughts until they turn up:

66cm - interesting: that puts your forks about the same length as my DRZ ones. I'm currently working out what to do with the rear end. Static sag figure looks weird: I presume you mean 53cm not 43cm? At 53cm means the forks have compressed 13cm with the load of the bike which means they only compress another 3.7cms with rider and road use?

As longer forks your travel will be between 260-300mm. Static sag at 130mm is about in the middle which I believe is ok. I think that ideally bike plus rider should be about half way through the suspension travel.

The ratio of static sag to full travel 130mm to 167mm looks low. If they have moved 130mm with just the weight of the bike, then with rider and hitting a road bump I would have expected them to move more that an extra 37mm

 

[borderer]

sorry it was 4.3 cm sag with just the weight of the bike,( I have a problem with full stops on this Keyboard.) I would Guess that the spring sags another couple of cm with rider.
It feels to me that the spring is a bit hard both front and rear I have a number printed on the Ohlins spring and am waiting to hear back about alternative spring rates.
One problem is that the bike has done very few (15000) miles. and only a few since all the suspension work was done so everything is still loosening up. The downside is it has been sitting in a barn for a few years so there are a few issues to sort

 

[pete.keys]

sorry it was 4.3 cm sag with just the weight of the bike,( I have a problem with full stops on this Keyboard.) I would Guess that the spring sags another couple of cm with rider.
It feels to me that the spring is a bit hard both front and rear I have a number printed on the Ohlins spring and am waiting to hear back about alternative spring rates.
One problem is that the bike has done very few (15000) miles. and only a few since all the suspension work was done so everything is still loosening up. The downside is it has been sitting in a barn for a few years so there are a few issues to sort

OK that sounds more like it. Also sounds like an interesting bike you've got there!

 

[borderer]

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa75/Borderer_photos/bmw/bmw009.jpg
with the Massive tank
http://s197.photobucket.com/albums/aa75/Borderer_photos/bmw008.jpg
As it is now (exhaust is Luftmeister)
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa75/Borderer_photos/bmw/024.jpg
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa75/Borderer_photos/bmw/023.jpg
sorry I dont seem to be able to get the pictures up on screen HELP!!!

 

[Bill-H]

3rd and 4th photos not working.

What have you done with the giant tank ?

 

[judge]

with the Massive tank

As it is now (exhaust is Luftmeister)

 

[borderer]

thats the link sorted but still cant see how to get images up. Giant tank is happily getting in the way all the time Its too big to go on a shelf Recon I will have to hoist it up to the rafters

 

[Benjamin M]

Feck! That's one funky looking airhead. Good job!

 

[slowkitty]

The side panel is interesting. Plastic or sheet metal? Much love went into this.

 

[BigyellowGS]

Nice looking bike.. Someone has spent a lot of time and money on her at sometime!

Personally I'd look at getting the s/arm & shaft extended to match the front... Would make an already cracking bike something great!

 

[pete.keys]

OMG - what a weird looking bike!!

The rear mono has already been modified in some way. It looks like it has a different rear shock and the lower shock mounting point has been modified.
This could have been done to raise the rear to compensate for the front height increase.

Check the current length of the mono arm from centre of swing arm pivot to centre of wheel. It doesn't look extended but best to check - -standard is 415mm.

 

[borderer]

Yep the shock mounting has been modified I will measure it up tonight and see if the S/A has been extended but I dont think so I know the S/A has been modified in some way to accomodate a 17inch wider rim wheel (before anyone asks the diameter is fractionally larger than the 18 inch with the narrower tyre)
The last two pictures with the smaller tank show the geometry better as the side panels are off you can see the shock fully
The side panel is a BMW plastic one not sure what model!
The previous owner certainly has spent a fortune on this bike there are as far as I can see only 3 steel nuts (the rear wheel ones) the rest is all stainless and anodised. I have a folder with all the work detailed but regarding the swinging arm all it says is modified to suit different shock and wider wheel

 

[borderer]

Measured the Swinging arm and it is standard!

 

[Shurv]

Already looks tons better with the ugly tank and even uglier twin lights removed. Rekon an extension of the SA will balance it all up.