Springer Fork

KDC1956

Member
Local time
8:14 AM
Joined
Dec 16, 2008
Messages
41
Location
Arkansas/Little Rock
Well today my springer fork came in man was I happy thought it was going to be easy to install.
Well it was not lol I had to cut part of the tube off to get it to fit just right I did not know you had to do this but I do recall seeing that some where that you had to cut it a little man was they so right.The hard part is getting it cut right you only get to do it one time if you screw up then you will have to reorder again.I got lucky I got mine cut right the first time Weeeeeee.
I think I told ever one here thats its going to be all chrome and have red white and blue tires.
I want to post pic asap but I need a new camera first but I will try with the one I have first when I think its time its a lot harder than I thought it was going to be on building my own trike but I am having fun learning.My wife said this bike/trike was going to look pretty cool I hope it will but any how you look at it when all said and done it will be my own and maybe my lasy bike/trike to ever build.Who knows.:rolleyes:
 
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I'm building a motored bike using a "Giant Iguana" mountain bike. It's nearly like new, but 8 or 10 years old. It is solid, but is not a springer. A guy in a bicycle shop gave me some springer forks from a "Mongoose XR-75". They are as good as new, but I will have to cut them down about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch to fit my Giant. I'm still not sure the stem is the right diameter, and I may have to change the handlebars, too.

In the past I used to cut the fork stem down by first screwing a nut on it, then using the nut as a guide when I make the cut. Then, when the nut is backed off, it trues up the threads where I made the cut. Some times I put a drop of oil
on the fork stem and screw the nut back and forth where I made the cut. Anyway, here is a picture of the forks. I haven't made the cut yet. Those are heavy forks, and if I were to ride the bike without installing the motor, I wouldn't think of using them on my bike.:cry:

(Notice how the brake bracket serves as a fork brace. I like that.)

KDC1956, let us know how you make out with your forks. I'll be glad to see your trike. It sounds like a nice idea with many possibilities. Also, what are your springer forks like? Thanks for posting about your project.
 

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My Springer Fork

This is only a pic of the springer fork that I had to cut down.I am still working on getting real pic of my trike build hope I can get some before the new year comes in.This is only a pic of the springer I have trying to get some real pic for all to look at soon.Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year to all.
 

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KDC1956's fork is of the girling fork design but commonly known as a springer. Upshifter's is commonly known as "suspension fork" and is not a springer. Just to help you guy's avoid future confusion.
The fork on my avatar bike is an actual springer.
 
I'm building a motored bike using a "Giant Iguana" mountain bike. It's nearly like new, but 8 or 10 years old. It is solid, but is not a springer. A guy in a bicycle shop gave me some springer forks from a "Mongoose XR-75". They are as good as new, but I will have to cut them down about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch to fit my Giant. I'm still not sure the stem is the right diameter, and I may have to change the handlebars, too.

In the past I used to cut the fork stem down by first screwing a nut on it, then using the nut as a guide when I make the cut. Then, when the nut is backed off, it trues up the threads where I made the cut. Some times I put a drop of oil
on the fork stem and screw the nut back and forth where I made the cut. Anyway, here is a picture of the forks. I haven't made the cut yet. Those are heavy forks, and if I were to ride the bike without installing the motor, I wouldn't think of using them on my bike.:cry:

(Notice how the brake bracket serves as a fork brace. I like that.)

KDC1956, let us know how you make out with your forks. I'll be glad to see your trike. It sounds like a nice idea with many possibilities. Also, what are your springer forks like? Thanks for posting about your project.

That is a telescopic suspension fork as opposed to a springer. They are very good if you don't buy the really cheap ones. One with about 60-65mm of travel is about right on a cruiser frame and won't make the front sit up too high. A good guide is to look for one with an alloy crown - not steel which rusts - and fittings for V-brake & disc. Strong springs are better for a motored bike.
Does anyone know of a springer that would fit on a 7" long headtube x 1&1/8" diameter?
 
Irish John, thank you for the good information. You're right about looking for an alloy crown. I live less than a half mile from the beach, and have a perpetual battle against rust. The kit I ordered claims to have a black muffler, not chrome. That suits me just fine, because paint holds up better around here than chrome. It's a lot easier to paint the muffler with Barbecue Black or engine paint from a rattle can than to fight with rust.

Paste wax applied with some "fine" steel wool seems to work well on rusty chrome around here, and it lasts for awhile. But, the rust takes over in a matter of time. Also, aluminum is attacked by the salt air, usually engine cases and cooling fins. I try to spray them with clear lacquer from a spray can. That helps, but it has to be done regularly.

After a ride down the coast highway, I try to wash the bike down with clear water to get the salt off. There is 8 miles of gentle sandy beach down the hill from me; and I see people riding bikes on the beach. I would never do that. If the salt doesn't ruin something, then the sand will. Not good.
 
Uplifter, I too live by the beach but I wipe my bike a lot with a rag soaked in parrafin. I also spray "Linox" on all the brightwork - hubs, rims, spokes, stem, bars etc and that protects them from rust although it collects dirt. Even if I wipe the dirt off the Linox spray still seems to protect the bike. I clean my chrome exhaust every day with an oily rag and it too stays bright.
Riding on the beach is for mugs because chains and cogs hate sand not tp bention bearings- even dirt roads are bad on a bike. Linox has lanolin in it and it is available from bike shops. I reckon it's great stuff but so is the old kerosene which I find great for cleaning my whitewall tyres. I ysed to let my bike get dirty but now I'm obsessively clean about it. I think I got more respect for the bike when I gave up using those pathetic 2-stroke HTs and switched to the HS and then to Honda motors. I'd never go back to the HT because they are just such total crud even with a shifter kit. Why waste a good shifter kit on an HT.
The shifter kit is a great idea but the engines they are made for are a disgrace to engineering.
 
Irish John, Thank you again for the good information. Anything that fights corrosion is valuable information around here.
 
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