Fork 'Exposure' on SL?

rockitdoc said:

How much of the fork should protrude from the top of the upper triple tree on a Superlight? What effect does exposing more or less (lengthening of shortening the forks) have on handling?

S

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been wondering the same thing myself

I'm probably going to drop my frame down an inch to expose more gork up top to use regular clip-ons instead. I've read that it will sharpen up the handling a bit as well.

Raising the forks in the triple clamps (so they stick up 1/2"-3/4" above top triple clamp) will speed up steering, allowing the bike to turn more easily, as well as putting more weight on the front tire for better feel, both good things for the slow handling pre-1999 Supersports. Bad part is you will lose some cornering clearance and the fender can come up too far and hit stuff (brake lines, etc.) under the bottom triple clamp, if you raise them much more than that. If you lower the forks, so they are even with the top of the top triple clamp, it will do the opposite (slower steering, less feel). Before I got my longer-than-stock Penske shock and put Superbike forks on my 1997 SS/SP, I liked about 1/2" of fork showing above the top triple clamp. FWIW.
Joe

Not home right now to check what mine is exactly, but my 96 900SS/SP (stock Showa adjustable forks) has about an inch of fork tube showing above the triple clamp. That's the way it was when I got it and I believe it is the stock setting.

It's really just a baseline anyway. Less showing is more stable, more showing is quicker turn in/more responsive, but possibly less stable and more weight on your wrists or lower back. Just don't go too extreme and make changes in small increments and see how you like it.

I set it up at 20mm above the top triple clamp. That's from the tripple clamp to the top of the aluminum.

It feels ok, steers into the corners easier. That is, as you enter the corner the bike kind of 'helps' with the turn. Not bad, just not neutral. I will reduce the 'exposure' to 10 mm tomorrow and make another report.

BTW, I had the forks off to put in Race Tech Gold Valves and springs. WAY cooler! Firm, just not wrist-breaking stiff like stock. Everyone should do this! Oh, and don't do it with Department of Suspension in Ypsilanti! You may never see your forks again! They still have my originals...60 days and counting with an original estimate of 10 days to complete (the excuse was that FedEx 'lost' them....right?). VERY hard to deal with and unreasonable individual...LONG, SAD story. Anyway..all's right, now. Mich AG is looking into it.

S

Boulder Motor Sports

rockitdoc said:

this! Oh, and don't do it with Department of Suspension in Ypsilanti! You may never see your forks again!
S

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Hmmm, for items you cannot handle yourself you should be dealing with Brian and his crew up at BMS in Boulder! Local and the best in the business as far as I am concerned.

Thanks for the Tip

RDuck851,

Thanks much for the tip on BMS. I will.

S