Replacement top triple - options?

gog

Well-known member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
1,256
Reaction score
7
Location
Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
Considering an upgrade to the flimsy top triple on the R80. Seems to be a few options: ToasterTan, San Jose BMW, Skunkwerx and Boxermetal. All of which look quite similar... and all based in the USA. With shipping and import duties its not looking like its going to be cheap, no matter the supplier.

Does anyone know of anything comparable this side of the pond? Failing that, anyone with experience with the ones above from the US? There does seem to be a fair bit of price variation between them. SJBMW one is cheapest at $119 but ive had no reply to my email asking about postage to UK.
 
Skunkworks in Australia make a lovely top clamp. Under Bling http://www.cafebeemer.com.au/

Tripple1.png
 
That does look nice Rob. £120 before shipping and import is a bit more than the £75 SJBMW are asking though, if they ever reply about shipping ;)

Is the CB sticker in a recess milled into the aluminium?
 
I don't think so. You have the option of a hole for mounting an Acewell or similar speedo.

The shipping cost was very reasonable when I contacted him.

I had a San Jose top yolk. They flex like crazy if you have GS style bars fitted. I found the standard plate to be stronger.
 
Cheers, I will take your advice on the SJ one. I have an acewell and have made my own mounting plate, but its rough. The option of something more professional appeals. Ive bookmarked the site, the extra cash sounds to be worthwhile.
 
I have a SJ top triple on my G/S and it doesnt seem to be flexing.

The OEM top plate had seen better days and it was flexing so much that it would unscrew the center nut even with 100 ft lbs on it, you could see the forks twisting and fork action was terrible.

The SJ was on Ebay - best offer , and postage was reasonable - it ended up less than half the cost of the TT.

Works perfectly for me, flex is no longer visible, the center nut doesnt unscrew with 65 ft lbs on it and fork action is much better.

But I did fit a Flatracer lower brace at the same time. And I have the correct size of triple for my forks ----.
 
I have had an entirely reasonable quote from ToasterTan - $200 (£125) inc shipping. Considering that this was my first choice (on aesthetics and reviews), this is the way im going to go - I was expecting it to be a bit more expensive than that!
 
Must be the G/S one which is expensive, or he has changed his pricing as it was going to cost me over $280- incl postage to Oz, a few years ago.
My SJ was $120- shipped , does the job perfectly, and I didnt have to destroy the indicator mounts to fit it.

I bought my first billet triple a few years ago when Motobins were selling a copy of the SJ for 20 quid, so maybe that set my perception of what was a reasonable price!
 
I have a SJ top triple on my G/S and it doesnt seem to be flexing.

I took the SJ off mine because of the flexing on my G/s. Obviously more weight hanging on the bars on mine :D. It was ok for road use but off roading the bars had plenty of movement
 
Rob

Rob

If you still have the Sj top clamp, and its for sale, I would be interested for my ST. (so no off roading)

Thanks
 
Just looking at these clips ons give me a twinge - in my lower back - but nicely done job. I have 90 mm Rok risers on my G/S , with relatively flat and wide fat alloy bars.

Just checked my top triples , the Motobins ones have a 7mm thick top plate and are 24 mm where they clamp on to the stanchions, the SJ are 8 mm and 27 mm. Both are recessed below the centre nut to around OEM thickness to maintain the stock geometry.

SJ does not make a G/S specific triple, and the stock 36 mm one has to be trimmed back and the rear mounting holes used for the bars, so perhaps this has made mine a bit stiffer than Robs, but if there was any flex with 90 mm risers and wide bars I would think I would notice it.

But on the other hand the bars on my F650 Funduro are rubber mounted on 20 year old rubber mounts and I dont notice any flex there either, so maybe I have just grown used to flexibly mounted bars.

But as for the forks themselves, the 420,000 km of hard use G/S forks with the SJ triple and Fatracer lower brace flex less then the 70,000 km of road use stock forks on the F650.

Must try and find a decent lower brace for the F650 . Perhaps they need a "service and tune" too.
 
Did our posts overlap ?- the SJ 36 mm one fits the G/S but needs a bit trimming at the front to clear the headlight / speedo nacelle .Tern minutes with a hacksaw and file
The indicator brackets are switched to the opposite side and turned upside down, you wouldnt pick it after it is done.
 
Did our posts overlap ?- the SJ 36 mm one fits the G/S but needs a bit trimming at the front to clear the headlight / speedo nacelle .Tern minutes with a hacksaw and file
The indicator brackets are switched to the opposite side and turned upside down, you wouldnt pick it after it is done.

No, I did miss something - by not reading it properly! Sorry. None of those issues would affect the ST project as it doesn't have a headlamp or indicators.
 


Back
Top Bottom